Translation: "The passages you presented destroyed my premise, so my only choice at this point is to dismiss it as irrelevant and go back to my original assertion as if you never said anything."
So, you want to do a work study? OK.
Akouo - strongs #191 occurs 454 times in 402 verses (including Acts 28:28)
Epakroaomai - strongs #1874 occurs 1 time: Acts 16:25--weird, are the prisoners the only ones who listen in all of scripture?
Translations that use the word "hear" in Acts 28:28:
KJV, Websters, Robert Young Literal Tranlation.
All of these translation also translate Epakroaomai as "heard" in Acts 16:25. So that doesn't help you any.
Translations that interpret both words as "listen" in both of the passages in question: KJV, NLT, NASB, HNV, RSV to name a few.
Now lets look at some examples of passages that use the word "akouo" that contradict your translation, shall we: (I could literally use dozens of passages, but here are just two)
Jhn 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard (akouo) of my Father I have made known unto you.
Does Jesus merely hear sounds from the Father? Or does he "LISTEN"? Hmmmmm....I wonder?
Mat 13:13-16 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear (akouo) not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear (akouo), and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing (akouo), and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear(akouo) with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (akouo)
This passage is in the exact same context as Paul's passage in Acts 28 as they both are speaking of Israel's hardening. The difference is that Jesus contrasts the Apostles with Hardened Israel and Paul contrasts the Gentiles with Harden Israel. And looky here, the same work "akouo" is used to speak about the apostles "hearing" as is spoken of about the Gentiles.
Your argument that "akouo" somehow dismisses the relevance of the rest of my argument is pure nonsense and you know it. You're smart enough to see that the word "akouo" is used to mean "listen" or understand throughout the scripture. You only focus on this because you cannot answer the arguments or direct questions I have presented in relation to this text.
And even if the word "akouo" could possibly only be refering to the noise of the call, we can definately say that even the Israelites don't have the ability to "hear the noise of the calling" but the Gentiles do! And because they can hear the text clearly spells out what "might" happen if one was not hardened:
otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear (akouo) with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted--and I would heal them.'
This verse shows us the ability of men who are not hardened!!!! A point that Calvinist's teaching of Total Inability completely contradicts
If "Total Inability" is true then how can this phrase make any sense? Especially in the light of the fact that "hardening" is unique to Israel and it is only temporary. In other words, these things don't discribe the "normal" man. They discribe a uniquely "hardened" man who has continually refused the things of God.
Before Israel was "hardened," you believe that they were "total unable" because of the Fall. So, why the word "otherwise" as if they "might" be able to "see, hear and understand" if the hardening had not occured? Or when the Hardening ends, are they going to then have the ability to see, hear, understand and be converted as this passages says, or are they still going to be "Totally Depraved" and complelety unable as Calvinism assumes?
YOU ARE AVOIDING THESE QUESTIONS!!!
ur rebellion against God is total.Apart from the grace of God there is no delight in the holiness of God,and there is no glad submission to the sovereign authority of God.Now of course totally depraved men can be very religious and very philanthropic.They can pray and fast and give alms,as Jesus said in Mt.6:1-18.But their very religion is rebellion against the rights of their creator,if it does not come from a childlike heart of trust in the free grace of God.Religion is one of the chief ways that man conceals his unwillingness to forsake self-reliance and bank all his hopes on the unmerited mercy of God,Lk.18:9-14;Col.2:20-23.The totality of our rebellion is seen in Rom.3:9-10,18.It is a myth that man in his natural state is genuinely seeking God.Men do seek God.But they do notseek Him for who He is.They seek Him in a pinch as one who might preserve them from death or enhance their worldly enjoyments.Apart from conversion,no one comes to the light of God.Some do come to the light.But remember what Jn.3:20-21 says about them? Yes there are those who come to the light,namely those whose deeds are the work of God."Wrought in God"means worked by God.Apart from this gracious work of God all men hate the light of God and will not come to Him lest their evil be exposed,this is total rebellion."No one seeks for God...There is no fear of God before their eyes!"
