Acts 17:1 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

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

CSB: After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

NLT: Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

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

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

In Philippi, apparently there were too few Jews for a synagogue, so Paul and Silas met God-fearing Gentile women by the river outside of town (Acts 16:13). In Thessalonica, they can return to their normal mode of operation: showing the Jews and the Gentiles who worship the Jewish God how Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. As in Pisidian Antioch, Paul explains how the Messiah had to die and rise again (Acts 13:26–41). And, as in Pisidian Antioch, some believe while the remaining run them out of town (Acts 13:48–51; 17:4–7).

Synagogues developed after the destruction of the temple by Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:18–19). They provided a way for the Jews to learn what the Mosaic law expected of them without having to go to the temple or find a Levite. As the Jews spread across the Roman Empire, Gentiles joined in synagogue worship, realizing the Jews had knowledge of the true God. In Paul's time, the synagogue leaders regularly invited traveling Jews to speak to give a fresh perspective on the Scriptures. In Thessalonica, they invite Paul for three Sabbaths (Acts 17:2).

Paul's companions are Silas and Timothy; the third-person point of view indicates they left Luke in Philippi. Silas had come to Syrian Antioch with Paul and Barnabas after the council in Jerusalem and joined Paul's mission to plant churches after Paul and Barnabas fell out (Acts 15). Timothy, a young half-Jewish man, lived in Lystra. When Paul met him, he felt Timothy had the potential to be a good church leader and brought him along (Acts 16:1–3).

Amphipolis is 29 miles southwest of Philippi; Apollonia is another 24 miles southwest. Thessalonica is 30 miles west of Apollonia. Thessalonica is the largest city and capital of Macedonia. It is a "free city" of the Roman Empire; unlike in the Roman outpost of Philippi, it is legal to teach a non-state affirmed god (Acts 16:21). Paul's enemies don't charge them with promoting a foreign god but with teaching that Jesus is king in opposition to Caesar (Acts 17:7), much like the Sanhedrin did to Jesus (John 19:12).

Acts 17:1–9 relates that Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled to Thessalonica, having left Luke in Philippi. As usual, they start in the synagogue, showing how the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures say the Messiah must die and rise from the dead. And as usual some of the Jews and many of the Gentiles believe them, while other Jews reject their message. For the first time, however, Paul's antagonists can't find him or his team, so they attack several converts. The new church protects Paul, Silas, and Timothy and sends them southwest to Berea.

Acts 17 describes how Paul's ministry travels down the coast of Greece. In Thessalonica, some Jews and God-fearing Gentiles believe while other Jews start a riot (Acts 17:1–9). The Bereans study the veracity of Paul's statements—until the Thessalonian Jews arrive and threaten to start another riot (Acts 17:10–15). Paul flees to Athens where the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers accept Paul's argument when he uses Greek poets to introduce God as the creator of the world, but lose interest when he mentions the resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:16–34).

Acts 17 continues Paul and Silas' travels out of Macedonia and on to Greece. The two have been through modern-day Asia minor where they picked up Timothy in Lystra and Luke in Troas (Acts 16:1–10). They have established a strong church in Philippi but were forced to leave after being falsely imprisoned (Acts 16:11–40). They now skip down the coast to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. From here, they will spend a considerable amount of time in Corinth before heading back to Judea and Syrian Antioch (Acts 18:1–22).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.