Acts 28:27
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.
The verse belongs to the account of Paul's journey to Rome after wintering at Melita and sailing on the Alexandrian ship Castor and Pollux to Puteoli. It describes a heart grown dull, gross, hard and unimpressible, with dull ears and closed eyes, that shuts people off from seeing, hearing, understanding, being converted and being healed, leaving them unable to be reached because the state of their feelings and impressions blocks explanation. The closed eyes, dull hearing and gross heart are willful, for prejudice makes people unwilling to see, hear and understand, lest they turn from their course and receive healing. This resistance persists even when people are convinced by the evidence, for they had seen the works done and understood their force, but pride, prejudice and self-righteousness kept them from acknowledging the Messiah, and no additional signs would overcome a will set on unbelief.
In Christ's day the Jews rejected clearer truth in order not to be disturbed in their sense of security, and people who cling to error and resist new light follow the same course. Paul directed these words to the Jews in Rome who rejected the evidence about Jesus, and further argument with them was useless. This condition outlines the present situation, so that salvation is sent to the Gentiles who will hear it, calling for a world-wide work of preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with confidence. The verse is connected with Paul's example of trusting God's word and standing against worldly power though in chains and facing a criminal's death.