Some
of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17:4-10
Acts 17 [1.] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Acts 17 [4.] Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people. When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also, whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!” The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things. When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17 [11.] Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes. Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there. But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
Meaning:
In the synagogue at Thessalonica Paul had shown from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise, and declared, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ” (Acts 17:3). These verses tell of the response: a new church was born, opposition flared into a riot, and the missionaries had to leave by night.
- “Some of them were persuaded… of the devout Greeks a great multitude”
A few Jews believed, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and many leading women of the city. Paul later reminded the Thessalonians how they “turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). They “received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). As at Philippi, women of standing are mentioned among the first believers.
- “The unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace”
Those who rejected the message stirred up idle men in the marketplace, gathered a mob and threw the city into uproar. The World English Bible notes that the Textus Receptus adds that they were “becoming envious”. Luke does not suggest that all the Jews of the city acted this way; he speaks of those who were not persuaded.
- “Assaulting the house of Jason”
Jason had welcomed the missionaries into his home. When the mob could not find Paul and Silas, they seized Jason and other believers instead. Showing hospitality to God’s servants could be costly. Some think he is the Jason whom Paul later calls one of his relatives in Romans 16:21, but this is uncertain. Luke calls the officials “the rulers of the city”, using a title for the city’s magistrates that has also been found in inscriptions from Thessalonica.
- “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also”
The accusation was meant as an insult, but it was a testimony to the power of the Good News. In only twenty years the message about Jesus had spread from Jerusalem across much of the Roman world, as Jesus had said: “You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
- “Saying that there is another king, Jesus!”
This was a dangerous political charge, for loyalty to Caesar was demanded throughout the empire. The same kind of charge had been used against Jesus: “Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!” (John 19:12). It twisted the truth. Jesus is indeed King, but he said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Paul did not preach rebellion, yet the claim that Jesus is Lord did challenge every other loyalty.
- “When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go”
The rulers were troubled but acted with restraint. They made Jason and the others give a pledge, probably promising to keep the peace and perhaps to see that Paul left. This may be one reason Paul could not return, although he longed to: “we wanted to come to you… but Satan hindered us” (1 Thessalonians 2:18). The believers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea, about fifty miles to the west. Even there, Paul went straight to the synagogue.
The Significance of Acts 17:4-10
- The cost of welcoming Christ
Jason opened his home and paid the price. Following Jesus and supporting his work may bring misunderstanding or loss, but faithfulness is never wasted.
- Jesus as King
The charge was false in its accusation of rebellion, but true in its claim that Jesus is King. Christians respect earthly authorities while giving their highest loyalty to Christ.
Cross-References:
1 Thessalonians 1:9: "How you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God." The conversion of the Thessalonians.
John 19:12: "Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!" The same charge against Jesus.
John 18:36: "My Kingdom is not of this world." The nature of Christ’s kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 2:18: "We wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us." Paul’s longing to return.
Conclusion: In Thessalonica a few Jews and many devout Greeks and leading women believed, but opponents raised a mob, attacked Jason’s house and dragged him before the city rulers, accusing the believers of turning the world upside down and proclaiming another king, Jesus. Jason gave security, and the believers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible