1Having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. [17:2] Now according to what was customary with Paul, he went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [17:3] opening and setting forth that it was necessary for the Christ to have suffered and to have risen from the dead, and that this is the Christ — Jesus — whom he himself proclaimed to them. [17:4] And some of them were persuaded and joined themselves to Paul and to Silas, along with a great multitude of the worshipping Greeks and not a few of the leading women. [17:5] Now the Jews, having become jealous, and having taken to them certain wicked men from the market-loungers, and having collected a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; and having assailed the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. [17:6] Not having found them, however, they were dragging Jason and certain brothers before the politarchs, crying out that, "The ones having upset the world, these also have come here, [17:7] whom Jason has received; and all these act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, proclaiming another king to be — Jesus." [17:8] They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities hearing these things. [17:9] And having taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
ACT 17:1-9
The Uproar in Thessalonica
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Thessalonica, a Roman colony and bustling trade hub, the Jewish synagogue served as a focal point for both Jewish and Gentile religious activity. Paul’s arrival and engagement with the synagogue audience followed a common pattern of diaspora Jewish practice, where visiting teachers would reason from Scripture. His argument that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead challenged traditional Jewish expectations of a triumphant, political deliverer. The term (were persuaded) reflects the deliberative rhetoric of the synagogue, where persuasion was key. The inclusion of (God-fearers), Gentiles who revered the Jewish God without full conversion, highlights the porous boundaries between Jewish and Gentile religious identity. The uproar involving (market-loungers) underscores the volatile nature of urban crowds, often manipulated by local elites. The (city magistrates), responsible for maintaining order, faced pressure from both the Jewish leaders and the mob, reflecting the delicate balance of power in Roman cities.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
ACT 17:1
- KJV
- Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
- BSB
- When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
- Koinōnos
- Having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
ACT 17:2
- KJV
- And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
- BSB
- As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
- Koinōnos
- Now according to what was customary with Paul, he went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
ACT 17:3
- KJV
- Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
- BSB
- explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
- Koinōnos
- opening and setting forth that it was necessary for the Christ to have suffered and to have risen from the dead, and that this is the Christ — Jesus — whom he himself proclaimed to them.
ACT 17:4
- KJV
- And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
- BSB
- Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
- Koinōnos
- And some of them were persuaded and joined themselves to Paul and to Silas, along with a great multitude of the worshipping Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
ACT 17:5
- KJV
- But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
- BSB
- The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jasonʼs house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
- Koinōnos
- Now the Jews, having become jealous, and having taken to them certain wicked men from the market-loungers, and having collected a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; and having assailed the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.
ACT 17:6
- KJV
- And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
- BSB
- But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
- Koinōnos
- Not having found them, however, they were dragging Jason and certain brothers before the politarchs, crying out that, "The ones having upset the world, these also have come here,
ACT 17:7
- KJV
- Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
- BSB
- and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesarʼs decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”
- Koinōnos
- whom Jason has received; and all these act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, proclaiming another king to be — Jesus.
ACT 17:8
- KJV
- And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
- BSB
- On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
- Koinōnos
- They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities hearing these things.
ACT 17:9
- KJV
- And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
- BSB
- And they collected bond from Jason and the others, and then released them.
- Koinōnos
- And having taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.9.3
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.10.3
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.9.3
“On the next day Pilate sat upon his tribunal, in the open market-place, and called to him the multitude, as desirous to give them an answer”
Cited to ground: The uproar involving (market-loungers) underscores the volatile nature of urban crowds, often manipulated by local elites.
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.10.3
“So he was prevailed upon by the multitude of the supplicants, and by their supplications, and left his army and the statues at Ptolemais”
Cited to ground: The (city magistrates), responsible for maintaining order, faced pressure from both the Jewish leaders and the mob, reflecting the delicate balance of power in Roman cities.
Translator's notes
ACT 17:4
- were obedient:The word translated 'were obedient' often implies being persuaded or convinced, suggesting a change of mind that leads to compliance rather than simple submission to authority.
- worshipping:The term used here for 'worshipping' carries a sense of profound awe and reverence, often accompanied by a feeling of shame or humility before the divine.
ACT 17:5
- having taken to [them]:The phrase translated 'having taken to [them]' refers to individuals found in the marketplace, often implying idlers or those without regular employment, who might be easily swayed to cause trouble.
ACT 17:6
- the:The word translated 'the' here is a specific title, 'politarchs,' referring to a unique type of civic magistrate found in Thessalonica and other Macedonian cities, not a generic city official.