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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 17:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 17:5 recounts a part of Apostle Paul's second missionary journey, specifically an event in the city of Thessalonica.

The verse tells us that some non-believing Jews were incited by jealousy to cause unrest in response to Paul and Silas's successful ministry.

They enlisted the help of some 'lewd fellows of the baser sort,' indicating they sought out individuals of ill-repute or those who were easily swayed to create trouble.

The city was thrown into an uproar as these agitators formed a mob, attacked the house of a man named Jason where Paul and Silas were believed to be staying, with the intent of dragging them out to face the crowd, likely to harm them or to forcibly present them before the local authorities.

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Historical Context

The event described in Acts 17:5 occurred around AD 50-51 when Paul was spreading the gospel throughout the Hellenistic world.

Thessalonica was an important city in Macedonia, a Roman province, and served as a commercial and political hub.

Because of its strategic location on the Egnatian Way, the main road from Rome to the east, Thessalonica was a melting pot of cultures and religions.

Theological Insights

This verse reflects the theme of opposition to the Christian message that recurs throughout Acts.

Theologically, it underscores the idea that proclaiming the Gospel often meets resistance, not only due to disbelief but also out of other motivations like envy.

It also illustrates the trials the early Christians had to undergo when spreading their faith.

Theological interpretations vary by denomination, but many view this opposition as a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy that his followers would face persecution.

Practical Applications

Acts 17:5 can be applied in daily life as a reminder of the potential cost of discipleship and standing up for one's beliefs. It encourages believers to be prepared for opposition and to respond with resilience and faithfulness when faced with adversity for their convictions.

Additionally, it is a sobering reminder to examine one's own actions in conflict, ensuring that envy or mob mentality doesn't guide one's behavior.

Cross-References

Acts 14:2: "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren."
Acts 17:13: "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."
Acts 5:17-18: "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

Language Study

In Acts 17:5, the phrase 'lewd fellows of the baser sort' translates the Greek 'agoraios alguns androtōn ponērōn,' referring to men of low status or bad character, commonly found in the marketplace, the 'agora.' The term 'moved with envy' comes from the Greek 'zēloō,' which means to be zealous or jealous in a negative sense.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar episodes of mob action motivated by religious or socio-cultural tensions are also seen in other ancient texts.

For instance, in the Roman world, uprisings against minority groups or those with differing religious views were not uncommon, often leading to persecution.

In many mythologies, the idea of jealousy inciting chaos and conflict among the gods or heroes is prevalent, reflecting a timeless human sentiment.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific study of mob psychology may offer insight into the dynamics described in Acts 17:5.

Understanding how emotions like envy can escalate into collective violence helps explain such historical events.

Modern social psychology explores how individuals in groups can be influenced to act in ways that they might not otherwise, a phenomenon evident in this verse.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries highlight the themes of jealousy, resistance to change, and the danger of mob mentality in this verse.

They note that Paul's success in converting some Thessalonians to Christianity threatened the established Jewish religious leaders' influence, provoking a hostile reaction.

Commentators often point to this incident as an example of the challenges faced by the early church as it expanded into the Greco-Roman world.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:5 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 17:5 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?