Acts 17:5

Context
17:5 But the Jews became jealous,¹ and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace,² they formed a mob³ and set the city in an uproar.⁴ They attacked Jason’s house,⁵ trying to find Paul and Silas⁶ to bring them out to the assembly.⁷

[17:5] ¹tn 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] ²tn 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] ³tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.

[17:5] ⁴tn 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] ⁵sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.

[17:5] ⁶tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.

[17:5] ⁷tn 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.”