Acts 17:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

NIV: But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.

NASB: But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people.

CSB: But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.

NLT: But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.

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.

NKJV: But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Paul has been preaching in a synagogue in Thessalonica, explaining how the Jewish prophets said the Messiah would die and rise again. He then shows how Jesus of Nazareth fits the description of the prophecies. Some of the Jews and many of the God-fearing Gentiles believe his message (Acts 17:1–4).

As in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:45, 50), many of the other Jews grow jealous that Paul so quickly earns such a large following. As with the Sanhedrin's accusations against Jesus, they have no rebuttal for Paul's assertions. They have no defense against the idea that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah they have long awaited. But more than the Messiah, they value the standing and influence they've carved out in this pagan society.

The threat and use of civil unrest both seem common weapons in the Roman Empire. The Jews in Pisidian Antioch used it (Acts 13:50). A riot seemed to be a by-product of the attack on Paul and Silas in Philippi (Acts 16:19–22). Perhaps the biggest riot will occur when the silversmiths in Ephesus realize the more people worship Jesus, the less need they have of idols of Athena (Acts 19:23–41). In all these cases, it is jealousy and resentment that lead people to reject Jesus' offer of salvation, not disbelief. They would rather maintain their position in their culture than accept the truth.

Sadly, we know nothing about Jason. He either hosts Paul, Silas, and Timothy, or he hosts the church once it moves out of the synagogue (Acts 17:7). He may be the Jason of Romans 16:21, but "Jason" is a common Greek translation of the Hebrew "Joshua," so they may be different people. This is the first time persecution strikes a local who has come to faith in Christ while Paul and his team remain unscathed.

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.