Acts Chapter 17

At a Glance

  • Acts 17 captures Paul’s ministry in two contrasting cities—Thessalonica and Berea—illuminating different responses to the gospel within Jewish and Gentile contexts.
  • When the situation becomes untenable, Paul and Silas move to Berea, where the response is markedly different.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • Luke writes Acts as a narrative bridge from the Jewish-Christian infancy to the Gentile mission across the Roman world.
  • - Scriptural basis for proclamation: Paul’s method of arguing from Scripture stresses that Jesus fulfills Old Testament expectations.

Chapter Overview

Acts 17 captures Paul’s ministry in two contrasting cities—Thessalonica and Berea—illuminating different responses to the gospel within Jewish and Gentile contexts. In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures for three sabbath days, arguing that Christ must needs have suffered, risen again, and that Jesus is the Christ. Some believed, including a mix of Gentiles and “devout Greeks,” but others, driven by envy, incited a mob, attacked the house of Jason, and caused public uproar. The opponents’ response centers on challenging allegiance to the “other king,” Jesus, which undercuts the Roman imperial order, leading to societal tension and attempts to suppress the message.

When the situation becomes untenable, Paul and Silas move to Berea, where the response is markedly different. The Bereans are praised for their noble character because they receive the word with readiness and daily examine the Scriptures to verify the claims. Many believed, including Greeks and prominent women, signaling a more open and thoughtful engagement with the gospel. Yet even here, opposition follows—Jews from Thessalonica come to stir up trouble, prompting a rapid relocation of Paul to the sea while Silas and Timothy remain.

Across these episodes, Luke emphasizes how reception of the gospel depends on the hearts and mindsets of hearers—receptive, thoughtful, and discerning in Berea, while resistant and hostile in Thessalonica. The chapter ends with Paul’s journey continuing toward Athens, continuing the theme of a gospel that confronts idolatry and calls all people to repentance and faith. The overall arc underscores both the universality of the gospel and the variety of human responses to it.

Historical & Literary Context

Luke writes Acts as a narrative bridge from the Jewish-Christian infancy to the Gentile mission across the Roman world. Acts 17 sits within Paul’s second missionary journey, likely around the late 40s to early 50s CE. The genre is historical narrative with embedded theological interpretation, showing how early Christians engaged Scripture, reasoned with opponents, and navigated social and political pressures. The Thessalonian episode reflects early urban mission among Jews and Gentiles in a major city with imperial anxieties; Berea showcases a more scholarly, Scriptures-centered approach. Luke’s juxtaposition of these responses invites readers to consider the maturity of faith, the role of reason in belief, and the dangers of social hostility to the gospel.

Key Themes

- Scriptural basis for proclamation: Paul’s method of arguing from Scripture stresses that Jesus fulfills Old Testament expectations.

- Noble-minded reception vs. opposition: Bereans’ critical engagement contrasts with Thessalonians’ envy-driven uproar.

- The universality of the gospel: Gentile and Jewish responses show the gospel speaks to diverse audiences.

- The tension between faith and social/political pressures: Opposition demonstrates the gospel’s disruptive effect on existing power structures.

- The ongoing journey of mission: Paul’s mobility reflects persistence in mission despite obstacles.

Modern Application

Modern readers can learn from the Bereans’ approach: test what we hear against Scripture, study diligently, and seek to understand before embracing a claim. The chapter invites Christians to engage faith critically yet humbly, combining devotion with discernment. It also highlights how truth claims about Jesus can provoke both positive acceptance and social friction; communities should prepare to respond with integrity, seeking peace without compromising essential truths. The dynamic between welcoming open-minded pursuit (Bereans) and resisting closed-off opposition (Thessalonians) encourages churches to cultivate environments where inquiry, teaching, and accountability flourish. Finally, the chapter reminds believers that the gospel challenges idols—whether in personal life or culture—calling people to repentance and allegiance to Jesus as Lord.

- Acts 10–11 (Peter’s openness to Gentiles and God’s inclusivity)

- Acts 13–14 (reaching Gentiles through reasoned proclamation)

- Romans 10:17 (faith comes from hearing)

- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (receiving the word not as human words but as God’s)

- Paul (for apologetic reasoning and cross-cultural outreach)

- The Bereans (symbolic of thoughtful faith and scriptural verification)

Chapter Text

1

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

2

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3

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.

4

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.

5

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.

6

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;

7

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8

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

9

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

10

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11

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.

12

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

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.

14

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

15

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.

16

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17

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.

18

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.

19

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21

(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.)

22

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.

23

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.

24

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;

25

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26

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;

27

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:

28

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.

29

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.

30

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31

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.

32

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33

So Paul departed from among them.

34

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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