Acts 17:4 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 17:4

And consorted - Literally, had their lot with Paul and Silas; that is, they united themselves to them, and became their disciples. The word is commonly applied to those who are partakers of an inheritance.And of the devout Greeks - Religious Greeks; or, of those who worshipped God. Those are denoted who had renounced the worship of idols, and who attended on the worship of the synagogue, but who were not fully admitted to the privileges of Jewish proselytes. They were called, by the Jews,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 17:4

Acts 17:4. And some of them believed Notwithstanding Paul’s arguments were all taken out of the Scriptures, his discourse did not make such an impression on the Jews as might have been expected; for only a few of them believed, and consorted with or adhered to, Paul and Silas. Of the religious proselytes, indeed, a great multitude were converted, among whom were many women of the first distinction in the city. Our freethinkers pique themselves upon observing, that women are more... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 17:1-15

Click image for full-size versionThrough Macedonia to Athens (17:1-15)In recording the groups’ departure from Philippi and subsequent movements, the writer uses ‘they’ rather than ‘we’, indicating that Luke stayed behind in Philippi. The others moved on to Thessalonica, where over the next three Sabbaths their preaching in the synagogue brought good results (17:1-4). (If this visit to Thessalonica was the one referred to in Philippians 4:16, they probably stayed longer than three weeks, since... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 17:4

some = certain. Greek. tis. App-123 . of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 . believed = were persuaded. Greek. peitho. App-150 . were convinced, not by persuasive words of Paul's (1 Corinthians 2:4 ), but by the opening and expounding of the Scriptures. Hence the Thessalonians became a type of all true believers (see 1 Thessalonians 1:7 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 ). This and verses: Acts 17:11 , Acts 17:12 beautifully illustrate Romans 10:17 . consorted with = cast in their lot with. Greek. ... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 17:4

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.Some were persuaded ... By the very nature of the gospel, some believe it, others do not; but the difference lies in the hearts of the hearers. The gospel is a message of life to some, death to others (2 Corinthians 2:16).The devout Greeks ... "Not necessarily proselytes, but persons who had given up idolatry, attended synagogue services and worshiped... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 17:4

4. consorted—cast in their lot. with Paul and Silas—Compare 2 Corinthians 8:5. of the chief women—female proselytes of distinction. From the First Epistle to the Thessalonians it appears that the converts were nearly all Gentiles; not only such as had before been proselytes, who would be gained in the synagogue, but such as up to that time had been idolaters (1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). During his stay, while Paul supported himself by his own labor (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 17:1-9

Ministry in Thessalonica 17:1-9 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Acts 17:4

Paul’s reasoning persuaded (epeisthesan) some in the synagogue services (cf. Acts 26:28; Acts 28:23). His converts seem to have been mainly Gentiles (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:9) many of whom were God-fearers (cf. Acts 10:4; Acts 13:43; Acts 16:14), but some of them were Jews. Jason (Acts 17:5), Aristarchus (Colossians 4:10), and Secundus (Acts 20:4) appear to have been among these new believers. The "leading women" could have belonged to the upper classes or they may have been the wives of leading... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Acts 17:4

17:4 believed, (d-5) * Lit. 'were convinced' or 'persuaded,' as Luke 16:31 . worshipped, (e-18) See Note, ch. 13.43. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:1-34

Second Missionary Journey (continued)1-15. Thessalonica and Berœa.1. Amphipolis] 32 m. W. of Philippi.Apollonia] 30 m. W. of Amphipolis.Thessalonica] now Salonika, was the capital of the province of Macedonia, and an important commercial centre. St. Paul’s plan was first to evangelise the seats of government and the trade centres, knowing that if Christianity was once established in these places it would spread through the Empire. 3. Christ] RV ’the Christ,’ i.e. the Messiah. 4. Devout Greeks]... read more