Acts 17:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.

NIV: When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.

NASB: They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.

CSB: The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset.

NLT: The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.

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

NKJV: And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

Jews from the local synagogue have accused travelers—Paul, Silas, and Timothy—of promoting a king other than Caesar and have incited "wicked men of the rabble" (Acts 17:5) to start a riot (Acts 17:4–7). The people and leadership of Thessalonica are alarmed by both issues.

The Roman Empire was governed by a complicated hierarchical system. Some areas were administered by the council while others fell directly under the authority of the Emperor: the "Caesar." The position of "king" was a political appointment and not something a leader could assume. At the time of Jesus' crucifixion, the Sanhedrin convinced Pilate to crucify Jesus officially because He claimed to be king (John 19:12). For extra incentive, they obliquely threatened a riot, knowing that if Pilate lost control of Jerusalem, he would likely lose his job (Mark 15:11–15). Not long after Jesus' ascension, Caligula exiled Herod Antipas—the Herod of Jesus' adulthood—in part for treason, but in part because he assumed the title of king.

With the Roman garrison not far away in Philippi, the people of Thessalonica don't want any trouble. The charge is true that Paul is preaching that Jesus is King—it's a vital component of His identity as Messiah (Daniel 7:13–14). They don't know Jesus will not take His throne for thousands of years, long after the Roman Empire is gone. But they do know these riots will bring nothing but trouble.

It is easier to rid the city of Paul and Silas than the Jewish residents and the mob. No one can find Paul and Silas, so the authorities hold Jason, the evangelists' host, responsible and let him out on bail. If the church causes any more issues, Jason will lose a lot of money (Acts 17:9). Paul and Silas head southwest to Berea, but the church at Thessalonica is well established.

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.