Acts 17:1-34 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:1

Now when they had passed through Amphipolls ,.... A city of Macedonia, where it is placed by Pliny F17 Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 10. ; according to Ptolomy F18 Geograph. l. 3. c. 13. , it was in that part of Macedonia, which is called Edonis, and was near Philippi, and lay in the way from thence to Thessalonica; Harpocratian F19 Lexic. Decem. Orat. p. 20, 104. Vid. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 8. says, it was a city of Thrace, formerly called "the Nine Ways"; it was upon the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:2

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them ,.... To the Jews in their synagogue; for though the Jews had put away the Gospel from them, and the apostle had turned to the Gentiles; yet he still retained a great affection for his countrymen the Jews, and as often as he had opportunity, attended their synagogues, in order to preach the Gospel to them; and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures : that is, out of the Old Testament, concerning the Messiah, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:3

Opening ,.... That is, the Scriptures of the Old Testament, explaining and expounding them, giving the true sense of them; so this word is frequently used in Jewish writings F5 Zohar passim. , as that such a Rabbi פתח , "opened", such a Scripture: and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead ; he set this matter in a clear light, and made it plain and manifest, from the writings of the Old Testament, that there was a necessity of the Messiah's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:4

And some of them believed ,.... That is, some of the Jews, power went along with the word, and faith came by it, and they believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, and that what the apostle preached concerning him was the truth; and this they received in the love of it, and cordially embraced it, and made a profession of it: and consorted with Paul and Silas ; associated with them, and privately conversed with them, as well as publicly attended their ministry; for when souls... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:5

But the Jews which believed not ,.... The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions leave out the words, "which believed not"; but whether this character is expressed or not, it is certain that the unbelieving Jews are here intended: moved with envy ; at the success of the apostles, many of their own people and of their proselytes, and some of the better sort being converted by them: or "with zeal"; for what they called the glory of God, but it was not according to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:6

And when they found them not ,.... In Jason's house, as they expected: they drew Jason, and certain brethren : the Syriac version adds, "who were there": in Jason's house, who either came along with the apostle, and lodged with him there; or they were some of the inhabitants of Thessalonica, who were lately converted, and were come thither in order to have some Christian conversation; these with Jason the rabble seized on, and in a rude and violent manner dragged them out of the house,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:7

Whom Jason hath received ,.... Into his house in a private manner, and has entertained, contrary to law, which forbids men to receive and entertain persons of seditious principles, and practices, for this is mentioned as a charge against Jason: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar ; both the apostle and those with him, and Jason, and the brethren, whom they now had set before the magistrates, who were all of the same sentiments and practices; and which were opposite to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:8

And they troubled the people, and the rulers of the city ,.... Fearing some revolution would be made, and some new king, or rather tyrant, would start up, and usurp a power over them; or that they should come under some suspicion or charge with the Roman government, and should be called to an account, for admitting such men and tenets among them; with such fears were they possessed, when they heard these things ; alleged against the apostle and his company. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:9

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other ,.... That is, received satisfaction from them, by the defence which they made for themselves, and the apostles, by the account that they gave of them and of their doctrines; whereby it plainly appeared to the full satisfaction of the magistrates, that their principles had no tendency to move sedition, or to alter the form of their government, or to do anything detrimental to Caesar, as was suggested: the Syriac, and Arabic versions... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:10

And the brethren ,.... The believers in Thessalonica, the young converts there, who were full of love and affection to their spiritual fathers: immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea ; another city in Macedonia: and so it is placed by Pliny F12 Nat. Hist. l. 4. c. 10. in the north part of it; and, according to Ptolomy F13 Geograph. l. 3. c. 13. it was, in that part of Macedonia called Emathia, and was not far from Pella, the native place of Alexander the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:10

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