Does it matter? Does Acts 28.29 belong in your Bible?

AV/KJV: And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

ESV: [missing]

It does matter … Because every word of God matters (Proverbs 30.5). But also because there is overwhelming documentary evidence since the earliest times for this reading. They are in the majority of manuscripts and they are quoted by early Christian writers.

Background

The omission of this phrase is supported by Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and even E08 and Lavra B 64. That said, Chrysostom (fourth century) directly cites the text in his Homily LV on Acts 28.17-20.¹ The verse also appears in the overwhelming majority of the Byzantine manuscripts and in the Latin Vulgate.

Doctrinal Difference

Without this verse an important historical fact is omitted. We would defer to the time honoured, demonstrably more reliable Byzantine Text.

Endnote

^1.Chrysostom, NPNF111, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily LV.