Acts 17:5
Context17:5 But the Jews became jealous, 1 and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, 2 they formed a mob 3 and set the city in an uproar. 4 They attacked Jason’s house, 5 trying to find Paul and Silas 6 to bring them out to the assembly. 7
Acts 17:7
Context17:7 and 8 Jason has welcomed them as guests! They 9 are all acting against Caesar’s 10 decrees, saying there is another king named 11 Jesus!” 12


[17:5] 1 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).
[17:5] 2 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.”
[17:5] 3 tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.
[17:5] 4 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.
[17:5] 5 sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.
[17:5] 6 tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
[17:5] 7 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.”
[17:7] 8 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follow one another (“who have stirred up trouble…whom Jason has welcomed”) the relative pronoun here (“whom”) has been replaced by the conjunction “and,” creating a clause that is grammatically coordinate but logically subordinate in the translation.
[17:7] 9 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.
[17:7] 10 tn Or “the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
[17:7] 11 tn The word “named” is not in the Greek text, but is supplied for clarity.
[17:7] 12 sn Acting…saying…Jesus. The charges are serious, involving sedition (Luke 23:2). If the political charges were true, Rome would have to react.