Acts 17

Attacked by a Mob in Thessalonica

1 Now [after they] traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 {And as was his custom}, Paul went in to them and on three Sabbath [days] he discussed with them from the scriptures,

3 explaining and demonstrating that it was necessary [for] the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and [saying], "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and [also] a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.

5 But the Jews were filled with jealousy and, taking along some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace and forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar. And attacking Jason's house, they were looking for them to bring [them] out to the popular assembly.

6 And [when they] did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, "These [people] who have stirred up trouble [throughout] the world have come here also,

7 whom Jason has entertained as guests! And these [people] [are] all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus!"

8 And they threw the crowd into confusion, and the city officials who heard these [things].

9 And [after] taking money as security from Jason and the rest, they released them.

Paul and Silas in Berea

10 Now the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas at once, during the night, to Berea. {They} went into the synagogue of the Jews [when they] arrived.

11 Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. {They} accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day [to see] if these [things] were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the message of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and stirring up the crowds.

14 So then the brothers sent Paul away at once to go to the sea, and both Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 And those who conducted Paul brought [him] as far as Athens, and [after] receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.

Paul in Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him [when he] observed the city was full of idols.

17 So he was discussing in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing [Gentiles], and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

18 And even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, "What does this babbler want to say?" But [others said], "He appears to be a proclaimer of foreign deities," because he was proclaiming the good news [about] Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took hold of him [and] brought [him] to the Areopagus, saying, "May we learn what [is] this new teaching being proclaimed by you?

20 For you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what {these things mean}."

21 (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend [their] time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)

Paul Speaks to the Areopagus

22 So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus [and] said, "Men of Athens, I see you [are] very religious {in every respect}.

23 For [as I] was passing through and observing carefully your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, 'To an unknown God.' Therefore what you worship without knowing [it], this I proclaim to you--

24 the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,

25 nor is he served by human hands [as if he] needed anything, [because] he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything.

26 And he made from one [man] every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining [their] fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation,

27 to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find [him]. And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,

28 for in him we live and move and exist, as even some of {your own} poets have said: 'For we also are {his} offspring.'

29 Therefore, [because we] are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.

30 Therefore [although] God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone [by] raising him from the dead."

32 Now [when they] heard about the resurrection of the dead, [some] scoffed, but [others] said, "We will hear you about this again also."

33 So Paul went out from the midst of them.

34 But some people joined him [and] believed, among whom also [were] Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman {named} Damaris and others with them.

Acts 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

Paul at Thessalonica. (1-9) The noble conduct of the Bereans. (10-15) Paul at Athens. (16-21) He preaches there. (22-31) The scornful conduct of the Athenians. (32-34)

Verses 1-9 The drift and scope of Paul's preaching and arguing, was to prove that Jesus is the Christ. He must needs suffer for us, because he could not otherwise purchase our redemption for us; and he must needs have risen again, because he could not otherwise apply the redemption to us. We are to preach concerning Jesus that he is Christ; therefore we may hope to be saved by him, and are bound to be ruled by him. The unbelieving Jews were angry, because the apostles preached to the Gentiles, that they might be saved. How strange it is, that men should grudge others the privileges they will not themselves accept! Neither rulers nor people need be troubled at the increase of real Christians, even though turbulent spirits should make religion the pretext for evil designs. Of such let us beware, from such let us withdraw, that we may show a desire to act aright in society, while we claim our right to worship God according to our consciences.

Verses 10-15 The Jews in Berea applied seriously to the study of the word preached unto them. They not only heard Paul preach on the sabbath, but daily searched the Scriptures, and compared what they read with the facts related to them. The doctrine of Christ does not fear inquiry; advocates for his cause desire no more than that people will fully and fairly examine whether things are so or not. Those are truly noble, and likely to be more and more so, who make the Scriptures their rule, and consult them accordingly. May all the hearers of the gospel become like those of Berea, receiving the word with readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily, whether the things preached to them are so.

Verses 16-21 Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fine arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning and ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, as occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the most directly contrary to Christianity, made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, which are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a future state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed at Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new and strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired into such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it was good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies. They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable account they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious, and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upon it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.

Verses 22-31 Here we have a sermon to heathens, who worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world; and to them the scope of the discourse was different from what the apostle preached to the Jews. In the latter case, his business was to lead his hearers by prophecies and miracles to the knowledge of the Redeemer, and faith in him; in the former, it was to lead them, by the common works of providence, to know the Creator, and worship Him. The apostle spoke of an altar he had seen, with the inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." This fact is stated by many writers. After multiplying their idols to the utmost, some at Athens thought there was another god of whom they had no knowledge. And are there not many now called Christians, who are zealous in their devotions, yet the great object of their worship is to them an unknown God? Observe what glorious things Paul here says of that God whom he served, and would have them to serve. The Lord had long borne with idolatry, but the times of this ignorance were now ending, and by his servants he now commanded all men every where to repent of their idolatry. Each sect of the learned men would feel themselves powerfully affected by the apostle's discourse, which tended to show the emptiness or falsity of their doctrines.

Verses 32-34 The apostle was treated with more outward civility at Athens than in some other places; but none more despised his doctrine, or treated it with more indifference. Of all subjects, that which deserves the most attention gains the least. But those who scorn, will have to bear the consequences, and the word will never be useless. Some will be found, who cleave to the Lord, and listen to his faithful servants. Considering the judgement to come, and Christ as our Judge, should urge all to repent of sin, and turn to Him. Whatever matter is used, all discourses must lead to Him, and show his authority; our salvation, and resurrection, come from and by Him.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("traveled through") which is understood as temporal
• [b]. Literally "and in accordance with what he was accustomed to"
• [c]. Or "Messiah"
• [d]. Or "Messiah"
• [e]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [f]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("find") which is understood as temporal
• [g]. Or "empire"
• [h]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("taking") which is understood as temporal
• [i]. Literally "who" (referring to Paul and Silas)
• [j]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("arrived") which is understood as temporal
• [k]. Literally "who"
• [l]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [m]. *Here "[after]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("receiving") which is understood as temporal
• [n]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("observed") which is understood as temporal
• [o]. *Here the word "[Gentiles]" is not in the Greek text but is implied
• [p]. *The words "[others said]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [q]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("took hold of") has been translated as a finite verb
• [r]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [s]. Literally "these [things] want to be"
• [t]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("stood there") has been translated as a finite verb
• [u]. Literally "with respect to all [things]"
• [v]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("was passing through") which is understood as temporal
• [w]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [x]. *Here "[as] if" is supplied as a component of the conditional adverbial participle ("needed")
• [y]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("gives") which is understood as causal
• [z]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [aa]. Some interpreters hold that the phrase "in him we live and move and exist" is a quotation from Epimenides of Crete, but more likely it is a traditional Greek formula
• [ab]. Literally "with respect to you"
• [ac]. Literally "of [him]"
• [ad]. A quotation from Aratus, Phaenomena 5
• [ae]. *Here "[because]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("are") which is understood as causal
• [af]. *Here "[although]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("has overlooked") which is understood as concessive
• [ag]. *Here "[by]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("raising") which is understood as means
• [ah]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard about") which is understood as temporal
• [ai]. *Here the Greek term "men" is used as a generic for "people"; note the presence of of a woman (Damaris) in the group
• [aj]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("joined") has been translated as a finite verb
• [ak]. Literally "by name"