Thessalonica. Slowly Paul made his way among the great cities of Greece. He was sowing seeds of which others would reap the harvest. His one theme was the risen Lord, whether amid the less or the more cultivated, Acts 17:3; Acts 17:31. This is surely the true method of world evangelization-not to argue but to proclaim the glorious personality of our risen Lord. Notice the distinction in Acts 17:3 between the human name, Jesus, and the royal name, Christ. As Jesus, our Lord lived, ministered, and died; as Christ, He was raised from the dead, and as such He is the crowned King of men, Acts 17:7. However loyal we may be to the civil government, our first allegiance is to another king, Acts 17:7.
Berea. True nobility consists in being open to any new truth that God may reveal to us from His Word. The one test of truth is Scripture as interpreted to the pure heart by the Holy Spirit; but we should examine the Scriptures daily as the Bereans did. It is not to be wondered at that many believed. If only our people would love the Bible, saturating their minds with it and teaching it to their children, what different results would follow the preaching of the gospel! [source]
Chapter Summary: Acts 17
1Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe, 5and others persecute him 10He is sent to Berea, and preaches there 13Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica, 16he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown; 32whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ
Greek Commentary for Acts 17:8
They troubled the multitude and the rulers [εταραχαν τον οχλον και τους πολιταρχας] First aorist active of ταρασσω tarassō old verb to agitate. The excitement of the multitude “agitated” the politarchs still more. To the people it meant a revolution, to the politarchs a charge of complicity in treason if they let it pass. They had no way to disprove the charge of treason and Paul and Silas were not present. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 17:8
Acts 17:6Rulers of the city [πολιτάρχας] Another illustration of Luke's accuracy. Note that the magistrates are called by a different name from those at Philippi. Thessalonica was not a colony, but a free city (see on colony, Acts 16:12), and was governed by its own rulers, whose titles accordingly did not follow those of Roman magistrates. The word occurs only here and Acts 17:8, and has been found in an inscription on an arch at Thessalonica, where the names of the seven politarchs are mentioned. The arch is thought by antiquarians to have been standing in Paul's time. [source]
Acts 17:13Of Paul [υπο Παυλου] By Paul, of course. Stirring up and troubling the multitudes (σαλευοντες και ταρασσοντες τους οχλους saleuontes kai tarassontes tous ochlous). Shaking the crowds like an earthquake (Acts 4:31) and disturbing like a tornado (Acts 17:8). Success at Thessalonica gave the rabbis confidence and courage. The attack was sharp and swift. The Jews from Antioch in Pisidia had likewise pursued Paul to Iconium and Lystra. How long Paul had been in Beroea Luke does not say. But a church was established here which gave a good account of itself later and sent a messenger (Acts 20:4) with their part of the collection to Jerusalem. This quiet and noble town was in a whirl of excitement over the attacks of the Jewish emissaries from Thessalonica who probably made the same charge of treason against Paul and Silas. [source]
Acts 17:13Stirring up and troubling the multitudes [σαλευοντες και ταρασσοντες τους οχλους] Shaking the crowds like an earthquake (Acts 4:31) and disturbing like a tornado (Acts 17:8). Success at Thessalonica gave the rabbis confidence and courage. The attack was sharp and swift. The Jews from Antioch in Pisidia had likewise pursued Paul to Iconium and Lystra. How long Paul had been in Beroea Luke does not say. But a church was established here which gave a good account of itself later and sent a messenger (Acts 20:4) with their part of the collection to Jerusalem. This quiet and noble town was in a whirl of excitement over the attacks of the Jewish emissaries from Thessalonica who probably made the same charge of treason against Paul and Silas. [source]
Galatians 1:7Only [ει μη] Literally, “except,” that is, “Except in this sense,” “in that it is an attempt to pervert the one true gospel” (Lightfoot). Who disturb you (οι ταρασσοντες hoi tarassontes). The disturbers. This very verb ταρασσω tarassō is used in Acts 17:8 of the Jews in Thessalonica who “disturbed” the politarchs and the people about Paul. Would pervert “Wish to turn about,” change completely as in Acts 2:20; James 4:9. The very existence of the gospel of Christ was at stake. [source]
Galatians 1:7Who disturb you [οι ταρασσοντες] The disturbers. This very verb ταρασσω tarassō is used in Acts 17:8 of the Jews in Thessalonica who “disturbed” the politarchs and the people about Paul. [source]
What do the individual words in Acts 17:8 mean?
They stirred upthenthecrowdandthecity authoritieshearingthese things
Greek Commentary for Acts 17:8
First aorist active of ταρασσω tarassō old verb to agitate. The excitement of the multitude “agitated” the politarchs still more. To the people it meant a revolution, to the politarchs a charge of complicity in treason if they let it pass. They had no way to disprove the charge of treason and Paul and Silas were not present. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 17:8
Another illustration of Luke's accuracy. Note that the magistrates are called by a different name from those at Philippi. Thessalonica was not a colony, but a free city (see on colony, Acts 16:12), and was governed by its own rulers, whose titles accordingly did not follow those of Roman magistrates. The word occurs only here and Acts 17:8, and has been found in an inscription on an arch at Thessalonica, where the names of the seven politarchs are mentioned. The arch is thought by antiquarians to have been standing in Paul's time. [source]
By Paul, of course. Stirring up and troubling the multitudes (σαλευοντες και ταρασσοντες τους οχλους saleuontes kai tarassontes tous ochlous). Shaking the crowds like an earthquake (Acts 4:31) and disturbing like a tornado (Acts 17:8). Success at Thessalonica gave the rabbis confidence and courage. The attack was sharp and swift. The Jews from Antioch in Pisidia had likewise pursued Paul to Iconium and Lystra. How long Paul had been in Beroea Luke does not say. But a church was established here which gave a good account of itself later and sent a messenger (Acts 20:4) with their part of the collection to Jerusalem. This quiet and noble town was in a whirl of excitement over the attacks of the Jewish emissaries from Thessalonica who probably made the same charge of treason against Paul and Silas. [source]
Shaking the crowds like an earthquake (Acts 4:31) and disturbing like a tornado (Acts 17:8). Success at Thessalonica gave the rabbis confidence and courage. The attack was sharp and swift. The Jews from Antioch in Pisidia had likewise pursued Paul to Iconium and Lystra. How long Paul had been in Beroea Luke does not say. But a church was established here which gave a good account of itself later and sent a messenger (Acts 20:4) with their part of the collection to Jerusalem. This quiet and noble town was in a whirl of excitement over the attacks of the Jewish emissaries from Thessalonica who probably made the same charge of treason against Paul and Silas. [source]
Literally, “except,” that is, “Except in this sense,” “in that it is an attempt to pervert the one true gospel” (Lightfoot). Who disturb you (οι ταρασσοντες hoi tarassontes). The disturbers. This very verb ταρασσω tarassō is used in Acts 17:8 of the Jews in Thessalonica who “disturbed” the politarchs and the people about Paul. Would pervert “Wish to turn about,” change completely as in Acts 2:20; James 4:9. The very existence of the gospel of Christ was at stake. [source]
The disturbers. This very verb ταρασσω tarassō is used in Acts 17:8 of the Jews in Thessalonica who “disturbed” the politarchs and the people about Paul. [source]