College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 17:1-10
PASSING THROUGH THE CITIES OF AMPHIPOLIS AND APOLLONIA. Acts 17:1 a.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia,
For a brief description of these towns you are referred to Cunningham Geikie, pages 398-401, a part of which we quote here:
Leaving Philippi, with its mingled memories of suffering and happiness, Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus took an easy day's journey of about three and thirty miles to the beautiful town of Amphipolis. It lies to the south of a splendid lake, under sheltering hills, three miles from the sea and on the edge of a plain of boundless fertility. The strength of its natural position, nearly encircled by a great bend of the river, the mines which were near it, and the neighboring forests, which furnished to the Athenian navy so many pines, fit -to be the mast of some great Admiral-' made it a position of high importance during the Peloponnesian wars. They proceeded the next day thirty miles further, through scenery of surpassing loveliness, along the Strymonic Gulf, through the wooded pass of Aulon, where St. Paul may have looked at the tomb of Euripides, and along the shores of Lake Bolbe to Apollonia. Here again they rested for a night, and the next day, pursuing their journey across the neck of the promontory of Chelcidice, and leaving Olynthus and Potidaea, with their heart-stirring memories, far to the south, they advanced nearly forty miles further to the farfamed town of Thessalonica, the capital of all Macedonia, and though a free city, the residence of the Roman Proconsul.
613.
How far from Philippi to Amphipolis? From Amphipolis to Apollonia? What was Amphipolis?
614.
Why not stop in the two above towns?
13.
IN THESSALONICA. Acts 17:1 b - Acts 17:10 a.
they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,
opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
THESSALONICA.
Situated on a bay of the Aegean Sea, called the Thermaic Gulf, the city had for its original name Therma and was called Thessalonica after the sister of Alexander the Great. It was the metropolis of Macedonia and under the name of Saloniki is a strategic Balkan metropolis today; present population is about 200,000. The emperor Augustus Caesar made it a free city as a reward for aid given him by it during his war with the Roman Senate. From its position on the much used Roman road, the Via Egnatia, and as a port it was an important trade center as well as a center of influence over the surrounding country. (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8) It was almost on a level with Corinth and Ephesus for a port of trade. There were many Jews here in Apostolic time and there is yet a large Jewish population.
And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people,
And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
Acts 17:1 b - Acts 17:3 As has already been observed the reason for coming to Thessalonica was that here was a synagogue of the Jews, and hence there was afforded an opening for the gospel. To Paul the presence of a synagogue was an invitation to preach Christ. Being acquainted with the service of the synagogue, and most especially with the law, he was able to utilize this opportunity to the fullest. The order of service in the synagogues allowed opportunity for free expression by any deemed worthy to speak. This chance was eagerly sought by the apostle. In the large town of Thessalonica the numerous Jews must have maintained a thriving place of worship. In this place as in all other Jewish assemblies it was necessary not only to convince the Jew that a certain man from the city of Nazareth in Galilee was the Messiah, but totally apart from that startling fact, that when the Messiah did come He was not to rule from an earthly throne but to hang from a Roman cross. Indeed, the cross to the Jews was a stumbling block. Like the eyes of the two on the road to Emmaus they were holden to these things. And if, as in the case of the two, the Messiah Himself were to open the scriptures to them, and show from the law, the prophets and the Psalms that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, they would scarcely believe.
615.
How is it Paul could speak so readily in the synagogues?
616.
What two facts had to be established in the Jewish mind before they could become Christians?
617.
Why was the cross a stumbling block to the Jew?
For three sabbaths Paul opened and alleged these very truths, or we might say, giving scriptural statement and proving that these things were so. For three weeks Paul made an appearance in the synagogue and without a doubt he was found on the streets going from house to house. He further states in his epistle to the Thessalonians that while there he spent some time laboring at his trade as tentmaker. This was done by way of example and that he might not be a burden to any of the brethren. It might be well to refer to the two letters of Paul to the Thessalonians and read a first hand account of the effect of his preaching upon these folks.
Note: It would at the same time be interesting and profitable to read the many geographical and historical comments given concerning these various towns (Conybeare and Howson is one of the best), but it is not the purpose of this book to emphasize that portion of the study.
Acts 17:4 Upon consideration of the scriptural facts presented by Paul some among the Jews believed and embraced Christianity. They cast their lot with these two strangers. Of the many, many interested Gentiles who attended the services a vast multitude were added to the Lord. Yea, among these would-be-proselytes there were some from among the influential women of the town who became Christians. These Gentiles were the ones Paul said turned from -dumb idols-' to serve the true and living God. Conspicuous among the Jews to accept Christ was Aristarchus who was with Paul at Ephesus, at Jerusalem, and sailed with him to home and imprisonment.
Acts 17:5 But there was a monster abroad in the town which would influence certain of the leaders among the Jews and having done so would use them as his ambassadors to oppose and persecute the work of God. I refer to the monster of jealousy or envy.
The disbelief of these men involved more than a mere refusal to accept the promise of Paul's message; it had in it a hatred for the man himself. Why was it, they thought, in three weeks a new doctrine so full of apparent contradictions of the law, could secure such a following when we who have been teaching the law and traditions of God for all these years have not interested half so many? There is only one thing to do; these heretics must go, and with them their influence and teaching.
No amount of argument from the Old Testament would suffice to remove these men. There must be a general opposition from the town itself, and on such a scale as to involve the power of the city magistrates. Thessalonica being a Free City of Rome had complete control of its civic affairs and the word of the seven Politarchs was final. It was also true that the conditions of the town were particularly adaptable to the ends of these jealous Jews. In this town and in other such Roman cities it was considered disgraceful to participate in manual work. But all did not have the money to live the life of the noblethe result? A town full of idlers and parasites, men who would literally do anything for a price. These idlers or certain vile fellows gathered a crowd. To this crowd a word was sufficient, and a cry was soon raised against Paul and Silas: Why such an opposition was raised no one really seemed to know; something about treason against Caesar. We have no king but Caesar was doubtless soon on the lips of everyone.
They were led by the Jews to the house of one, Jason, where it was known that these men were staying. Somehow the Lord saw to it that on this day Paul and Silas were not home. Jason was home and they found certain others whom they took to be followers of the Way. Pulling and hauling these through the streets they soon appeared before the authorities.
618.
What is the meaning of opened and alleged?
619.
How long did Paul preach before he was persecuted?
620.
Who supported Paul while he was here? Why?
621.
Who was in the majority among the converts, the Gentiles or the Jews?
622.
What noted co-laborer of Paul was converted here in Thessalonica?
623.
What was the monster abroad in the town? How did it effect the Jews? Paul and company?
Acts 17:6-9 In dealing with the seven Politarchs, under the very shadow of the proconsular residence, they were dealing with judges of much higher position and much more imbued with the Roman sense of law than the provincial duumviri of Philippi. These men were not going to be rushed into anything rash and the whole affair looked to the critical eye of these men too ludicrous for belief that hard-working citizens like Jason and his friends could be seriously contemplating revolutionary measures.
Not only to the rulers did it thus appear but also to the ordinary citizens of the town. A short hearing soon proved that it was only a matter of religious opinions and of no such proportions as at first suggested. But even so, such a thought must not be left afloat in the town. A certain bond was taken from Jason and the others as security against a continuation of this preaching of another king, one Jesus. That such a bond was taken is no evidence that Jason wanted to discourage their preaching, but when Paul and Silas arrived home and learned of the events of the day, they forth- with decided that this was indication that they were to move on to another field.
624.
Who were the Politarchs?
625.
Who were the helpers of the Jews in their opposition to the apostles, how secure their help?
626.
Who was Jason?
627.
What difference is noticed between the judges here and those in Philippi?
628.
What was the accusation?
629.
Why take security from Jason?
Acts 17:10 a The extreme care of the apostle that he might not burden any of you (1 Thessalonians 2:9) would seem to have an application here. After all, the hard earned money of these citizens meant something. All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. So it was that that same night Paul and Silas were taken out of the city and they set their course toward a country town called Berea. It could have been that Timothy was left behind here, as Luke was in Philippi, to strengthen and confirm the church.