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Acts 17

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

So Paul departed from among them.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

What does Acts 17:13 mean?

Explanation

Acts 17:13 speaks about the reaction of the Jews in Thessalonica when they learned that Paul, a key figure in early Christianity, was spreading the message of Christianity in Berea, another city in Macedonia.

These Thessalonian Jews were likely not pleased with Paul's successful ministry in their city, which led to some of the Thessalonians converting to Christianity.

Their reaction to his preaching in Berea was to follow him there and incite the local population against him.

This verse highlights the opposition that the early Christian evangelists faced while spreading their teachings.

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Historical Context

The verse in question is set during Paul's second missionary journey, which took place in the first century A.D.

Thessalonica, at that time, was a bustling port city and the capital of the province of Macedonia.

Paul initially visited the city to preach, but as recorded in earlier verses of Acts 17, he and his companions faced opposition and a violent response from some Jews who were unhappy with the Christian message.

In response to the unrest, they traveled to Berea, a city known for the noble character of its citizens who were more open-minded to Paul's message.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 17:13 underscores the theme of persistence in the face of persecution.

The Thessalonian Jews' actions are often viewed as an embodiment of resistance to the Gospel.

This event adds to the narrative within the Acts of the Apostles that illustrates the spread of Christianity despite opposition, which is a recurrent theme within this book.

Their pursuit of Paul to Berea illustrates the extent to which opponents of early Christianity would go to resist its spread.

Practical Applications

The teaching in this verse serves as a reminder of the challenges that can come with spreading one's beliefs and standing firm in the face of opposition.

For contemporary Christians, it may suggest the importance of perseverance in ministry and evangelism, even when confronted with hostility.

It also emphasizes the value of assessing the receptivity of an audience when sharing the Gospel, as Paul moved to Berea seeking a more receptive crowd after the violent response in Thessalonica.

Cross-References

Acts 17:5-6: But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 14:19: And there came thither [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek text of Acts 17:13 include:

"Jews" (Ίουδαῖοι, Ioudaioi): Referring to the Jewish people, indicating those who adhere to traditional Jewish religious practices and beliefs.
"Word of God" (λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, logon tou Theou): This phrase often refers to the message of the Gospel or the teachings about Jesus Christ.
"Preached" (κατήγγελλεν, katēngellen): The term used here implies a formal proclamation or announcement.
"Stirred up" (σαλεύοντες, saleuontes): This word conveys the idea of agitating or causing a disturbance among the people.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of other ancient religions, opposition to new religious movements was not uncommon.

Movements that challenged established religious norms were often met with hostility.

In comparing early Christianity to other religious movements of the time, one can see parallels in the way that new teachings were met with resistance from those who held traditional beliefs.

Scientific Perspectives

From a behavioral science perspective, the actions of the Thessalonian Jews might be analyzed in terms of group dynamics and the psychology of persuasion.

Understanding the social and psychological factors that contribute to religious conflict can offer insights into the historical events depicted in this verse.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 17:13 provide various interpretations of the events described.

Some highlight the role of Paul as a courageous and tireless missionary, while others focus on the theme of Jewish opposition to the early Christian message as a significant obstacle for the spread of Christianity.

Several commentators mention the zeal of the Thessalonian Jews in preserving their beliefs and preventing the rise of what they perceived as a heretical movement.

Others emphasize the strategic move of Paul and his companions to find more receptive audiences for their message, despite ongoing persecution.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 17:13 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?