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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 17:6 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 17:6 is part of the account of Paul and Silas's visit to Thessalonica during their second missionary journey, as recorded in the book of Acts in the New Testament.

The phrase "turned the world upside down" is a metaphor describing the profound impact that the preaching of the Christian gospel had on the society of the time.

The residents of Thessalonica, led by Jewish opponents, accuse Paul and his companions of causing trouble and upheaval by challenging the status quo with their teachings about Jesus Christ.

Jason, a convert to Christianity, is seized along with some other believers because Paul and Silas could not be found, and they are brought before the city authorities to answer for the actions attributed to the missionaries.

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Historical Context

Acts 17:6 is set in Thessalonica (modern-day Thessaloniki, Greece), a significant city of the Roman province of Macedonia.

At the time of Paul and Silas's visit, around 50-52 AD, the city was a bustling hub of trade and culture.

The arrival of the new Christian doctrine, which proclaimed Jesus as the promised Messiah and insisted on loyalty to God over the Roman emperor, was seen as a direct challenge to both the Jewish religious establishment and the Roman civic order.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse demonstrates the disruptive nature of the Christian gospel; how it posed a threat to the established religious authority, and how it emphasized a new kingdom with Jesus as the king.

This was in contrast to the emperor worship prevalent in the Roman world.

It illustrates the tension between adhering to the Christian faith and the potential conflicts it might create within a society.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse highlights the courage it takes to stand for one's beliefs amidst opposition. It can inspire contemporary believers to be steadfast in their faith, even if it may lead to social or political unrest.

Additionally, it encourages Christians to understand the societal impact their beliefs can have and to be prepared for potential backlash when spreading these beliefs.

Cross-References

Acts 17:1-5 - Describes Paul and Silas’s work in Thessalonica and the Jewish opposition to their ministry.
Acts 16:20-21 - Similar accusations were made in Philippi, claiming that Paul and Silas were advocating customs unlawful for Romans to adopt.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 - Paul, in his letter, speaks of how the Thessalonians turned from idols to serve God, indicating the transformation spurred by the gospel.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase for "turned the world upside down" is "ἀναστατώσαντες τὴν οἰκουμένην" (anastatosantes ten oikoumenen), where "ἀναστατώσαντες" (anastatosantes) can mean to stir up, unsettle, or create disorder, and "τὴν οἰκουμένην" (ten oikoumenen) refers to the inhabited earth, or the known world.

This term gives a sense of the profound influence the Christian message was perceived to have, suggesting not just local but global upheaval.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural context of the Greco-Roman world, accusing someone of turning the world upside down could be compared to the category of hubris or chaotic disorder against the established norms and deities.

In many ancient myths, such acts often come with grave consequences.

Religious leaders would see themselves as guardians of the societal order, and any new religious movement would be seen with suspicion much like the case of the early Christian movement.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the phrase "turned the world upside down" is metaphorical and does not intersect directly with physical scientific understandings.

Indirectly, it highlights the psychological and sociological impact of new ideas or beliefs on human communities, which is a subject of study in social sciences.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse generally focus on the opposition faced by early Christians and the effectiveness of their missionary work.

Some commentators, like Matthew Henry, see this as an example of Paul's and Silas’s success in their missionary endeavors and commend their resilience in the face of adversity.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasizes the radical nature of the Christian message and its ability to challenge the societal norms to the point of causing significant disruption or change within the community.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:6 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 17:6 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?