17:1 After they traveled through 1 Amphipolis 2 and Apollonia, 3 they came to Thessalonica, 4 where there was a Jewish synagogue. 5 17:2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, 6 as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed 7 them from the scriptures, 17:3 explaining and demonstrating 8 that the Christ 9 had to suffer and to rise from the dead, 10 saying, 11 “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” 12 17:4 Some of them were persuaded 13 and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group 14 of God-fearing Greeks 15 and quite a few 16 prominent women. 17:5 But the Jews became jealous, 17 and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, 18 they formed a mob 19 and set the city in an uproar. 20 They attacked Jason’s house, 21 trying to find Paul and Silas 22 to bring them out to the assembly. 23 17:6 When they did not find them, they dragged 24 Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, 25 screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble 26 throughout the world 27 have come here too, 17:7 and 28 Jason has welcomed them as guests! They 29 are all acting against Caesar’s 30 decrees, saying there is another king named 31 Jesus!” 32 17:8 They caused confusion among 33 the crowd and the city officials 34 who heard these things. 17:9 After 35 the city officials 36 had received bail 37 from Jason and the others, they released them.
17:10 The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea 38 at once, during the night. When they arrived, 39 they went to the Jewish synagogue. 40 17:11 These Jews 41 were more open-minded 42 than those in Thessalonica, 43 for they eagerly 44 received 45 the message, examining 46 the scriptures carefully every day 47 to see if these things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few 48 prominent 49 Greek women and men. 17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica 50 heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God 51 in Berea, 52 they came there too, inciting 53 and disturbing 54 the crowds. 17:14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast 55 at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 56 17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, 57 and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. 58
17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, 59 his spirit was greatly upset 60 because he saw 61 the city was full of idols. 17:17 So he was addressing 62 the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles 63 in the synagogue, 64 and in the marketplace every day 65 those who happened to be there. 17:18 Also some of the Epicurean 66 and Stoic 67 philosophers were conversing 68 with him, and some were asking, 69 “What does this foolish babbler 70 want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” 71 (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 72 17:19 So they took Paul and 73 brought him to the Areopagus, 74 saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 17:20 For you are bringing some surprising things 75 to our ears, so we want to know what they 76 mean.” 17:21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time 77 in nothing else than telling 78 or listening to something new.) 79
17:22 So Paul stood 80 before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious 81 in all respects. 82 17:23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, 83 I even found an altar with this inscription: 84 ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, 85 this I proclaim to you.
1 tn BDAG 250 s.v. διοδεύω 1 has “go, travel through” for this verse.
2 sn Amphipolis. The capital city of the southeastern district of Macedonia (BDAG 55 s.v. ᾿Αμφίπολις). It was a military post. From Philippi this was about 33 mi (53 km).
3 sn Apollonia was a city in Macedonia about 27 mi (43 km) west southwest of Amphipolis.
4 sn Thessalonica (modern Salonica) was a city in Macedonia about 33 mi (53 km) west of Apollonia. It was the capital of Macedonia. The road they traveled over was called the Via Egnatia. It is likely they rode horses, given their condition in Philippi. The implication of v. 1 is that the two previously mentioned cities lacked a synagogue.
5 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
6 tn Grk “he went in to them”; the referent (the Jews in the synagogue) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 17:2. As G. Schrenk (TDNT 2:94-95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21.
8 tn BDAG 772 s.v. παρατίθημι 2.b has “demonstrate, point out” here.
9 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
10 sn The Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead. These two points (suffering and resurrection) would have been among the more controversial aspects of Paul’s messianic preaching. The term translated “had to” (δεῖ, dei) shows how divine design and scripture corresponded here.
11 tn The Greek words used here (καὶ ὅτι, kai {oti, “and that”) mark the switch from indirect to direct discourse. Contemporary English requires the use of an introductory verb of speaking or saying to make this transition.
12 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
13 tn Or “convinced.”
14 tn Or “a large crowd.”
15 tn Or “of devout Greeks,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44. Luke frequently mentions such people (Acts 13:43, 50; 16:14; 17:17; 18:7).
16 tn Grk “not a few”; this use of negation could be misleading to the modern English reader, however, and so has been translated as “quite a few” (which is the actual meaning of the expression).
17 tn Grk “becoming jealous.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. So elsewhere in Acts (5:17; 7:9; 13:45).
18 tn Literally ἀγοραῖος (agoraio") refers to the crowd in the marketplace, although BDAG 14-15 s.v. ἀγοραῖος 1 gives the meaning, by extension, as “rabble.” Such a description is certainly appropriate in this context. L&N 15.127 translates the phrase “worthless men from the streets.”
19 tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.
20 tn BDAG 458 s.v. θορυβέω 1 has “set the city in an uproar, start a riot in the city” for the meaning of ἐθορύβουν (eqoruboun) in this verse.
21 sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.
22 tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
23 tn BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2 has “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly προάγειν εἰς τὸν δ. Ac 17:5.”
24 tn See BDAG 977-78 s.v. σύρω on this verb. It was used in everyday speech of dragging in fish by a net, or dragging away someone’s (presumably) dead body (Paul in Acts 14:19).
25 tn L&N 37.93 defines πολιτάρχης (politarch") as “a public official responsible for administrative matters within a town or city and a member of the ruling council of such a political unit – ‘city official’” (see also BDAG 845 s.v.).
26 tn Or “rebellion.” BDAG 72 s.v. ἀναστατόω has “disturb, trouble, upset,” but in light of the references in the following verse to political insurrection, “stirred up rebellion” would also be appropriate.
27 tn Or “the empire.” This was a way of referring to the Roman empire (BDAG 699 s.v. οἰκουμένη 2.b).
28 tn Grk “whom.” Because of the awkwardness in English of having two relative clauses follow one another (“who have stirred up trouble…whom Jason has welcomed”) the relative pronoun here (“whom”) has been replaced by the conjunction “and,” creating a clause that is grammatically coordinate but logically subordinate in the translation.
29 tn Grk “and they.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.
30 tn Or “the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
31 tn The word “named” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
32 sn Acting…saying…Jesus. The charges are serious, involving sedition (Luke 23:2). If the political charges were true, Rome would have to react.
33 tn Grk “They troubled the crowd and the city officials”; but this could be understood to mean “they bothered” or “they annoyed.” In reality the Jewish instigators managed to instill doubt and confusion into both the mob and the officials by their false charges of treason. Verse 8 suggests the charges raised again Paul, Silas, Jason, and the others were false.
34 tn L&N 37.93 defines πολιτάρχης (politarch") as “a public official responsible for administrative matters within a town or city and a member of the ruling council of such a political unit – ‘city official.’”
35 tn Grk “And after.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
36 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the city officials) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
37 tn That is, “a payment” or “a pledge of security” (BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 1) for which “bail” is the most common contemporary English equivalent.
38 sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) west of Thessalonica.
39 tn Grk “who arriving there, went to.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (οἵτινες, Joitine") has been left untranslated and a new English sentence begun. The participle παραγενόμενοι (paragenomenoi) has been taken temporally.
40 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
41 tn Grk “These”; the referent (the Jews in the synagogue at Berea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
42 tn Or “more willing to learn.” L&N 27.48 and BDAG 404 s.v. εὐγενής 2 both use the term “open-minded” here. The point is that they were more receptive to Paul’s message.
43 sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).
44 tn Or “willingly,” “readily”; Grk “with all eagerness.”
45 tn Grk “who received.” Here the relative pronoun (“who”) has been translated as a pronoun (“they”) preceded by a semicolon, which is less awkward in contemporary English than a relative clause at this point.
46 tn This verb (BDAG 66 s.v. ἀνακρίνω 1) refers to careful examination.
47 tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase in this verse.
48 tn Grk “not a few”; this use of negation could be misleading to the modern English reader, however, and so has been translated as “quite a few” (which is the actual meaning of the expression).
49 tn Or “respected.”
50 sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).
51 tn Grk “that the word of God had also been proclaimed by Paul.” This passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.
52 sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) from Thessalonica.
53 tn BDAG 911 s.v. σαλεύω 2 has “incite” for σαλεύοντες (saleuonte") in Acts 17:13.
54 tn Or “stirring up” (BDAG 990-91 s.v. ταράσσω 2). The point is the agitation of the crowds.
55 tn Grk “to the sea.” Here ἕως ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν ({ew" epi thn qalassan) must mean “to the edge of the sea,” that is, “to the coast.” Since there is no mention of Paul taking a ship to Athens, he presumably traveled overland. The journey would have been about 340 mi (550 km).
56 tn Grk “remained there”; the referent (Berea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
57 map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2.
58 sn They left. See 1 Thess 3:1-2, which shows they went from here to Thessalonica.
59 map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2.
60 tn Grk “greatly upset within him,” but the words “within him” were not included in the translation because they are redundant in English. See L&N 88.189. The term could also be rendered “infuriated.”
61 tn Or “when he saw.” The participle θεωροῦντος (qewrounto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle; it could also be translated as temporal.
62 tn Although the word διελέξατο (dielexato; from διαλέγομαι, dialegomai) is frequently translated “reasoned,” “disputed,” or “argued,” this sense comes from its classical meaning where it was used of philosophical disputation, including the Socratic method of questions and answers. However, there does not seem to be contextual evidence for this kind of debate in Acts 17:17. As G. Schrenk (TDNT 2:94-95) points out, “What is at issue is the address which any qualified member of a synagogue might give.” Other examples of this may be found in the NT in Matt 4:23 and Mark 1:21.
63 tn Or “and the devout,” but this is practically a technical term for the category called God-fearers, Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 743-44, and the note on the phrase “God-fearing Greeks” in 17:4.
64 sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.
65 tn BDAG 437 s.v. ἡμέρα 2.c has “every day” for this phrase in this verse.
66 sn An Epicurean was a follower of the philosophy of Epicurus, who founded a school in Athens about 300
67 sn A Stoic was a follower of the philosophy founded by Zeno (342-270
68 tn BDAG 956 s.v. συμβάλλω 1 has “converse, confer” here.
69 tn Grk “saying.”
70 tn Or “ignorant show-off.” The traditional English translation of σπερμολόγος (spermologo") is given in L&N 33.381 as “foolish babbler.” However, an alternate view is presented in L&N 27.19, “(a figurative extension of meaning of a term based on the practice of birds in picking up seeds) one who acquires bits and pieces of relatively extraneous information and proceeds to pass them off with pretense and show – ‘ignorant show-off, charlatan.’” A similar view is given in BDAG 937 s.v. σπερμολόγος: “in pejorative imagery of persons whose communication lacks sophistication and seems to pick up scraps of information here and there scrapmonger, scavenger…Engl. synonyms include ‘gossip’, ‘babbler’, chatterer’; but these terms miss the imagery of unsystematic gathering.”
71 tn The meaning of this phrase is not clear. Literally it reads “strange deities” (see BDAG 210 s.v. δαιμόνιον 1). The note of not being customary is important. In the ancient world what was new was suspicious. The plural δαιμονίων (daimoniwn, “deities”) shows the audience grappling with Paul’s teaching that God was working through Jesus.
72 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.
73 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
74 tn Or “to the council of the Areopagus.” See also the term in v. 22.
75 tn BDAG 684 s.v. ξενίζω 2 translates the substantival participle ξενίζοντα (xenizonta) as “astonishing things Ac 17:20.”
76 tn Grk “these things”; but since the referent (“surprising things”) is so close, the repetition of “these things” sounds redundant in English, so the pronoun “they” was substituted in the translation.
77 tn The imperfect verb ηὐκαίρουν (hukairoun) has been translated as a customary or habitual imperfect.
78 tn BDAG 406-7 s.v. εὐκαιρέω has “used to spend their time in nothing else than telling Ac 17:21.”
79 sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. The reference to newness may be pejorative.
80 tn Grk “standing…said.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
81 tn The term δεισιδαιμονεστέρους (deisidaimonesterou") is difficult. On the one hand it can have the positive sense of “devout,” but on the other hand it can have the negative sense of “superstitious” (BDAG 216 s.v. δεισιδαίμων). As part of a laudatory introduction (the technical rhetorical term for this introduction was capatatio), the term is probably positive here. It may well be a “backhanded” compliment, playing on the ambiguity.
82 tn BDAG 513 s.v. κατά B.6 translates the phrase κατὰ πάντα (kata panta) as “in all respects.”
83 tn Or “your sanctuaries.” L&N 53.54 gives “sanctuary” (place of worship) as an alternate meaning for the word σεβάσματα (sebasmata).
84 tn Grk “on which was written,” but since it would have been carved in stone, it is more common to speak of an “inscription” in English. To simplify the English the relative construction with a passive verb (“on which was inscribed”) was translated as a prepositional phrase with a substantive (“inscription”).
85 tn BDAG 13 s.v. ἀγνοέω 1.b has “Abs. ὅ ἀγνοοῦντες εὐσεβεῖτε what you worship without knowing it (on the subject matter Maximus Tyr. 11, 5e: all sorts of philosophers ἴσασιν οὐκ ἑκόντες καὶ λέγουσιν ἄκοντες sc. τὸ θεῖον = they know and name God without intending to do so) Ac 17:23.” Paul, in typical Jewish Christian style, informs them of the true God, of whom their idols are an ignorant reflection.