Acts 17:4 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Acts 17:4

(4) And some of them . . .—Obviously but a few in comparison with the “great multitude of the Greek proselytes of the gate. The Thessalonian Church was predominantly Gentile, some, apparently, won from idolatry without passing through Judaism (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Some good MSS., indeed, express this, by reading, devout persons and Greeks.Of the chief women not a few.—These, like the women in the Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:50), had probably come previously under Jewish influence. Here, However,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Acts 17:1-34

Acts 17:6-7 Trust is the postulate of the capacity to help ourselves in any great or noble work. It becomes impossible to do our part bravely without this perfect reliance on the co-operation of God.... No man will dare to follow a gleam of conviction which tends to overturn a world, unless he is sure that he is the interpreter of a Power who gave him that conviction, and who can guard it after his interpreter is gone. R. H. Hutton, Theological Essays, p. 13. References. XVII. 9. Expositor... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Acts 17:1-34

CHAPTER 17 1. The Gospel in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9 ). 2. The Gospel in Beroea (Acts 17:10-14 ). 3. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:15-34 ). Three cities in which the Gospel is next preached are before us in this chapter. But there is a marked difference between these three places. In Thessalonica there was much hostility, the result of the success of the Gospel. In Beroea a more noble class of Jews were found. Their nobility consisted in submission to the Scriptures, the oracles of God, and in... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:1-34

From Philippi Paul and his company travelled westward in Greece to Thessalonica (also in Macedonia). A Jewish synagogue being there, they attended this for three sabbath days, reasoning with the Jews from their own scriptures, showing from these that the Messiah promised of God must necessarily first be a sufferer before He could reign; in fact must suffer death and be raised again. The scriptures were definitely clear about this matter; and Paul goes further to declare that Jesus was this... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Acts 17:1-34

SECOND JOURNEY Though the text of this lesson is long, it will be interesting to read it through at a single sitting, and get the whole journey at one view. The events are clear cut, easily remembered and apparent in their spiritual teaching. STARTING FORTH It begins with the contention between Paul and Barnabas men “of like passions” with ourselves, which was providentially overruled so that two missionary journeys grew out of it instead of one (Acts 15:36-41 ). Note that there were... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Acts 17:1-9

Chapter 59 Prayer Almighty God, we come to thee in the name of Jesus Christ, and breathe our prayer through him who makes all prayer prevalent. We plead not our own case before thee; we stand beside the Cross of the Crucified, and through Christ the Lord our prayer is clothed with might. There is one Intercessor between God and man; there is a Days-Man who can lay his hand upon both and plead the human cause. All we can say is what he taught us "God, be merciful unto me a sinner." So are we... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Acts 17:1-9

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,... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Acts 17:4

And some of them, that is, of the Jews, in whose synagogue he preached, believed, and of those that [1] worshipped God, that is, of those who adored the only true God, though they had not submitted themselves to circumcision, and to the ceremonies of the Jewish law, and of the Gentiles, that is, of such as till that time had been heathens, and idolaters; so that here three sorts of persons were converted by St. Paul: 1. Jews; 2. worshippers of the true God that were not Jews; and 3. ... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:1-9

1-9 The drift and scope of Paul's preaching and arguing, was to prove that Jesus is the Christ. He must needs suffer for us, because he could not otherwise purchase our redemption for us; and he must needs have risen again, because he could not otherwise apply the redemption to us. We are to preach concerning Jesus that he is Christ; therefore we may hope to be saved by him, and are bound to be ruled by him. The unbelieving Jews were angry, because the apostles preached to the Gentiles, that... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Acts 17:1-99

Acts 17 LUKE GIVES US no details as to what transpired in Amphipolis and Apollonia, but passes on to the happenings in Thessalonica. In this chapter, we notice, the pronoun “we” is not used, so possibly Luke, not being as much involved as Paul and Silas were in the disturbances at Philippi, stayed on there to help the converts further. Paul first addressed the Jews in their synagogue, as was his custom. Verse Act_17:3 gives us the line on which he approached them. He proved from their own... read more