Why does God say Israel would not hear, see, or be converted in Acts 28?
Scripture says Israel's heart had waxed gross, their ears were dull, and their eyes were closed. So they would hear without understanding and see without perceiving, lest they see, hear, understand, be converted, and be healed. This explains why many Jewish leaders at Rome rejected Paul's message.
Les teaches that Paul was addressing the Jewish leaders at Rome, the heads of their synagogues. Some believed the things spoken, and some did not; when they could not agree among themselves, they departed. Paul then cited the Holy Spirit speaking by Isaiah to their forefathers: 'Go to this people, Israel, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and you shall not understand; seeing you shall see and not perceive.' The reason was that their heart was waxed gross, their ears were dull of hearing, and their eyes they had closed, lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, be converted, and God should heal them—spiritually, and maybe also physically. Les points out God spoke this through Isaiah 600 years before Christ. After that, Paul declared the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it. The Jews departed with great reasoning among themselves, and Paul dwelt two whole years in his rented house, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.