Preaching in Thessalonica and Opposition
Acts 17:1-9
Acts.17.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Διοδευσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Αμφιπολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- Απολλωνιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Θεσσαλονικην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- συναγωγη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Ιουδαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 17:2 (structural): Immediate continuation: Paul goes from arrival in Thessalonica into the Jewish synagogue to argue the Scriptures, showing the next step after reaching a city with a synagogue.
- Acts 13:14 (thematic): On arriving at Pisidian Antioch Paul and his companions enter the synagogue on the Sabbath to speak—parallel pattern of mission activity: upon entering a city they first address the synagogue.
- Acts 14:1 (thematic): In Iconium Paul and Barnabas enter the synagogue and speak so that many Jews and Greeks believe—another instance of the missionaries’ regular practice of engaging synagogues on arrival.
- Acts 18:4 (verbal): In Corinth Paul 'reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath'—verbal and functional parallel to Paul’s synagogue ministry upon arriving in Thessalonica.
- Acts 16:12 (structural): Part of the Macedonian travel itinerary: earlier and later passages list city-to-city movement in Macedonia (Neapolis, Philippi, etc.), placing Thessalonica within the travel route and missionary strategy.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
- And passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Acts.17.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατα: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειωθος: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Παυλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- σαββατα: NOUN,dat,pl,neut
- τρια: NUM,acc,pl,n
- διελεξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- γραφων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
Parallels
- Acts 13:14-15 (structural): Paul and Barnabas follow the same synagogue pattern—entering the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch and addressing the assembled Jews on the Sabbath, mirroring Acts 17:2's description of Paul’s customary synagogue activity.
- Acts 13:42-44 (thematic): Sabbath preaching to both Jews and God‑fearers; shows the recurring theme in Acts of Paul proclaiming and reasoning from Scripture on the Sabbath, often drawing large crowds.
- Acts 18:4 (verbal): Explicitly states that Paul 'reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath,' a close verbal and functional parallel to Acts 17:2’s note about his customary Sabbath lectures from the Scriptures.
- Luke 24:27 (thematic): Jesus 'beginning at Moses and all the Prophets' interprets Scripture about himself—paralleling Acts 17:2’s emphasis that Paul expounded to Jews 'from the Scriptures,' often with Christ‑centered interpretation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
- As was his custom Paul went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts.17.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διανοιγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- παρατιθεμενος: VERB,pres,mid/pass,part,nom,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χριστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εδει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- παθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- αναστηναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εκ: PREP
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- καταγγελλω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Luke 24:46-47 (verbal): Jesus explains that 'the Christ must suffer and rise from the dead' and commissions preaching repentance and forgiveness—same formulation Luke attributes to Jesus and to the preaching about the necessity of Messiah's suffering and resurrection.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (quotation): Paul's creedal summary that Christ 'died for our sins... was buried, and was raised on the third day' reflects the same core proclamation about Christ's suffering and resurrection preached in Acts 17:3.
- Mark 8:31 (allusion): Jesus foretells that the Son of Man must suffer, be killed, and rise again—an earlier proclamation of the necessity of Messiah's suffering that undergirds the apostles' preaching in Acts.
- Acts 10:39-40 (structural): Peter's sermon in Acts affirms that Jesus was killed and that God raised him on the third day; structurally parallel as another apostolic argument in Acts that links Jesus' death and resurrection to his identity as Christ.
- Isaiah 53:10-12 (thematic): The Suffering Servant passage portrays vicarious suffering and vindication (often read by NT writers as predictive of Messiah's death and vindication), providing the prophetic theological background for claims that the Christ must suffer and be raised.
Alternative generated candidates
- explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.
- explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead; and he said, "This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ."
Acts.17.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- εξ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- επεισθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- προσεκληρωθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Παυλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Σιλα: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- τε: CONJ
- σεβομενων: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,pl,m
- Ελληνων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- πληθος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- πολυ: ADV
- γυναικων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τε: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πρωτων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ολιγαι: ADJ,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Acts 16:14-15 (thematic): Lydia, a 'worshiper of God,' is persuaded, believed, and her household is associated with Paul — parallels Gentile (including female) conversions and household attachment noted in Acts 17:4.
- Acts 18:8 (thematic): Crispus and 'many of the Corinthians' believe and are baptized — similar report of numerous Gentile converts joining the Christian community after Paul’s preaching.
- Acts 11:20-21 (verbal): Some evangelists 'preached to Greeks' and 'a great number believed and turned to the Lord,' language and situation closely paralleling the conversion of 'the worshiping Greeks' in Acts 17:4.
- Acts 2:41 (structural): Those 'who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added' — echoes the pattern of persuasion, joining/being added to the community after hearing the apostolic proclamation (parallel to 'persuaded and joined' in Acts 17:4).
Alternative generated candidates
- Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and a large number of devout Greeks, and not a few of the prominent women.
- Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great multitude of the God‑fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
Acts.17.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ζηλωσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Ιουδαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- προσλαβομενοι: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγοραιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- ανδρας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τινας: PRON,acc,pl,m
- πονηρους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οχλοποιησαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εθορυβουν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- πολιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- επισταντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οικια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- Ιασονος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εζητουν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- προαγαγειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- δημον·: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 13:50 (verbal): Similarly reports 'the Jews' stirring up opposition against Paul and Barnabas (raising persecution and expelling them) — same actor and tactic of inciting the populace against the missionaries.
- Acts 16:19-21 (thematic): In Philippi owners and a crowd seize Paul and Silas in the marketplace and drag them before the magistrates for disturbing the city — parallels the use of market-place agitators and public accusation.
- Acts 18:12-17 (structural): A united attack by some Jews brings Paul before the city proconsul (Gallio) to answer charges — mirrors the pattern of bringing Christians before civic authorities via organized Jewish opposition.
- Acts 21:27-30 (thematic): Jews from Asia stir up the crowd in Jerusalem, seize Paul and drag him from the temple — another instance of mob action instigated by opponents to arrest and expose an apostle.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the Jews who were not persuaded, taking some wicked men from the marketplace, set the city in an uproar; and attacking Jason's house they sought to bring them out to the crowd.
- But the Jews, jealous, and taking with them some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked Jason's house, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
Acts.17.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- ευροντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εσυρον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- Ιασονα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τινας: PRON,acc,pl,m
- αδελφους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πολιταρχας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- βοωντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικουμενην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αναστατωσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ενθαδε: ADV
- παρεισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 19:27 (verbal): The Ephesian craftsmen accuse Paul with the same wording—'these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also'—a near-verbatim repetition of the crowd's charge in Thessalonica.
- Acts 16:20-21 (thematic): In Philippi local authorities complain that Paul and Silas 'exceedingly trouble our city' and teach unlawful customs; parallels the civic accusation that the missionaries disturbed public order.
- Acts 19:29 (structural): The riot in Ephesus fills 'the whole city with confusion,' mirroring the mob uproar and civic disturbance described in the Thessalonian episode.
- Acts 14:2-5 (thematic): In Iconium unbelieving Jews stir up the Gentiles and foment violence against Paul and Barnabas, showing the recurrent pattern of local agitation, mob action, and attempts to bring the missionaries before authorities.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, crying out, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also."
- And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, crying out, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also;"
Acts.17.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- υποδεδεκται: VERB,perf,mp,ind,3,sg
- Ιασων·και: PROPN,acc,sg,m
- ουτοι: PRO,nom,pl,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- απεναντι: PREP,gen
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- δογματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- Καισαρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πρασσουσι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- βασιλεα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ετερον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- λεγοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,masc
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:20–21 (verbal): Same accusation used against Paul and Silas in Philippi — Christians are charged with acting against Caesar’s decrees and ‘saying there is another king, Jesus.’
- Luke 23:2 (quotation): Jewish leaders accuse Jesus before Pilate of ‘perverting the nation’ and of claiming kingship and forbidding tribute to Caesar, echoing the political charge in Acts 17:7.
- John 19:12 (allusion): Pilate’s remark that ‘every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar’ reflects the Roman political logic underlying the accusation that Christians proclaim ‘another king.’
- Mark 12:17 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching ‘Render unto Caesar…’ frames the broader issue of Jesus’ kingship versus Roman authority, the theological-political tension behind the charge in Acts 17:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jason has received them; and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
- whom Jason has received, and they are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king—Jesus.
Acts.17.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εταραξαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πολιταρχας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- ακουοντας: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,m
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
Parallels
- Acts 17:6 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same pericope: the crowd’s disturbance is further described (‘‘These who have turned the world upside down…’’), showing the reaction to Paul and Silas’ preaching.
- Acts 14:2 (verbal): Reports that unbelieving Jews ‘‘stirred up’’ (ταράσσω) the minds of the Gentiles—same motif and similar verb of agitating the populace against the missionaries.
- Acts 16:20 (verbal): Accusers charge Paul and Silas with ‘‘disturbing our city’’—a near verbal parallel in the language used to mobilize civic authorities against the apostles.
- Acts 13:50 (thematic): Describes Jews persuading the leading city women and chief men against Paul and Barnabas—parallel instance of instigating civic leaders to oppose Christian missionaries.
- Acts 19:23 (thematic): A large public disturbance ‘‘concerning the Way’’ at Ephesus; parallels the pattern of local uproar and civic unrest provoked by Christian activity.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities when they heard these things.
- And the crowd and the city officials were stirred up when they heard these things.
Acts.17.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λαβοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ικανον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- παρα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιασονος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- λοιπων: ADJ,gen,pl,nt
- απελυσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 16:37-40 (thematic): Local magistrates intervene in an altercation involving Paul and companions and order their release and departure—parallels the civic resolution in Thessalonica where authorities accept security and release the men.
- Acts 18:12-17 (thematic): A public disturbance in a synagogue is brought before civic authorities (Gallio), who dismiss the case—similar pattern of civic authorities handling a religiously motivated uproar and determining the outcome.
- Romans 16:21 (verbal): Paul’s greetings include a man named Jason—likely the same Jason who hosted Paul in Thessalonica and who is required to give security in Acts 17:9, showing continuity of the early Christian network.
- 2 Corinthians 11:32-33 (thematic): Paul’s escape from hostile Jews in Damascus with help from friends (lowered in a basket) parallels the theme of rescue/assistance and use of local supporters when Paul and companions face mob hostility and civil processes in Thessalonica.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they released them.
- So they required Jason and the rest to give security, and then they released them.
And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as was his custom, went in to them; and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.'
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas; and a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women became believers. But the Jews who were not persuaded, taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, crying, 'These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also;'
and Jason has received them. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. But after they had taken a pledge from Jason and the rest, they released them.