But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But we desire to hear from you what you think. For, as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”
- KJV But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
- BSB But we consider your views worth hearing, because we know that people everywhere are speaking against this sect.”
- NKJV But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”
- NASB But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They ask Paul to explain his views, noting that this 'sect' is everywhere spoken against. Curiosity and controversy surround the Christian message.
Overview
The leaders want to hear Paul's own account, acknowledging that the Christian movement is opposed throughout the world. Their words echo the wider hostility the early church faced. Yet their willingness to listen creates the occasion for Paul's fullest recorded gospel presentation to Roman Jews.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 1 Pet 2:12having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
- Acts 24:14But this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;
- 1 Pet 3:16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
- Acts 16:20–21When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city,
- Acts 24:5–6For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
- Acts 17:6–7When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
- 1 Pet 4:14–16If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.
- Acts 15:5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
- Acts 26:5having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
- Luke 2:34and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
- Acts 5:17But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
- 1 Cor 11:19For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 28:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.