28:27 For the heart of this people has become dull, 4
and their ears are hard of hearing, 5
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, 6 and I would heal them.”’ 7
1 tn BDAG 1093-94 s.v. χώρα 2.b states, “of the provincial name (1 Macc 8:3) ἡ χώρα τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας Ac 26:20.”
2 sn That they should repent and turn to God. This is the shortest summary of Paul’s message that he preached.
3 tn BDAG 93 s.v. ἄξιος 1.b, “καρποὶ ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας fruits in keeping with your repentance…Lk 3:8; Mt 3:8. For this ἄ. τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα Ac 26:20.” Note how Paul preached the gospel offer and the issue of response together, side by side.
4 tn Or “insensitive.”
sn The heart of this people has become dull. The charge from Isaiah is like Stephen’s against the Jews of Jerusalem (Acts 7:51-53). They were a hard-hearted and disobedient people.
5 tn Grk “they hear heavily with their ears” (an idiom for slow comprehension).
6 sn Note how the failure to respond to the message of the gospel is seen as a failure to turn.
7 sn A quotation from Isa 6:9-10.