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Acts 17

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

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.

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.

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.

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;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

So Paul departed from among them.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

What does Acts 17:10 mean?

Explanation

In Acts 17:10, we find Paul and Silas taking a sudden nighttime journey to the city of Berea, which was prompted by local brethren in Thessalonica concerned for their safety.

Upon arriving in Berea, Paul and Silas continue their ministry by going to the synagogue to share the teachings about Jesus Christ with the local Jewish community.

This verse emphasizes the immediacy of their departure ("immediately"), the protective actions of fellow believers ("sent away...by night"), and the consistency of their mission ("went into the synagogue of the Jews").

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 17:10 occurs within the context of Paul's second missionary journey, which is detailed in the book of Acts in the New Testament.

Prior to this verse, Paul and Silas had faced opposition in Thessalonica, where their preaching provoked unrest among the Jews who did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

To escape potential harm, they were sent to Berea.

Berea was a city in the region of Macedonia, known for its more noble-minded Jewish community as described later in Acts 17:11.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives might focus on the elements presented in this verse:

Divine providence and guidance: This passage can be viewed as evidence of God's direction in the missionary work of Paul and Silas, ensuring they are led to a place where their message can be received with openness.
The missionary calling: Some denominations emphasize the importance of spreading the Gospel message, even in the face of opposition, a calling mirrored by Paul and Silas's immediate response to relocate and continue their work.
The unity and care within the body of Christ: The brethren in Thessalonica's concern for Paul and Silas illustrates the early Christian community's protective nature towards its members.

Practical Applications

From this verse, one can derive applications for contemporary life such as:

Being adaptable and ready to take action when circumstances demand it, similar to how the early Christians had to be flexible in their missionary work.
Showing solidarity and support for fellow believers or community members, especially those facing adversity or threats because of their beliefs or actions.
Prioritizing spiritual duties and opportunities to share one's faith or important moral teachings, even when it requires relocation or new environments.

Cross-References

Acts 17:14 - "And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still."
Acts 17:11 - "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
1 Thessalonians 2:14 - "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:"

Language Study

The phrase "immediately sent away by night" includes the Greek words "euthys" (immediately) and "nyktos" (by night), emphasizing the urgency and covert nature of the departure.

The term "synagogue" is the Greek word "synagoge", which means a gathering place or assembly, used in this context to refer to the local Jewish place of worship and community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of going to the synagogue shows a similarity with ancient religious practices of visiting temples or places of assembly for worship and teaching in various cultures.

In the Greco-Roman world, similar to Jewish synagogues, there were also philosophical schools and forums where ideas and teachings were shared and debated.

Scientific Perspectives

While there are no direct scientific concepts mentioned in this verse, the practice of traveling by night, as suggested in the text, could invoke discussions on the use of astronomy (navigation by stars), which was common in ancient times, as well as the biological implications of stress related to abrupt travel and nocturnal activities.

commentaries

Commentators generally agree that Acts 17:10 underscores the urgency and danger of Christian missionary activity in the face of persecution.

They note that Paul and Silas's prompt departure to Berea illustrates the need for discretion in ministry work.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary, points out that though Paul and Silas had to flee for safety, they did not cease in their God-given mission to preach the Gospel.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges highlights the brethren's role in ensuring Paul’s safety, portraying the incident as evidence of the close-knit nature and mutual care found within the early Christian communities.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 17:10 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?