Verse 5
The Jews treated Paul harshly here as they had in Galatia (Acts 13:45; Acts 13:50; Acts 14:2; Acts 14:19) because they were again jealous of the popularity and effectiveness of his message.
"Loungers of the type employed here by the Jews to attack Paul and Silas were common in the agora or forum of Graeco-Roman cities. They invariably assembled around the rostrum where an orator was speaking, and applauded or heckled according to who paid them . . ." [Note: Merrill F. Unger, "Historical Research and the Church at Thessalonica," Bibliotheca Sacra 119:473 (January-March 1962):41.]
The AV translators described these men colorfully as "lewd fellows of the baser sort." Jason was evidently Paul’s host in Thessalonica as Lydia had been in Philippi (Acts 16:15; Acts 16:40). This Jason may not be the same one Paul named in Romans 16:21 since that name was common among the Greeks. It is the Greek equivalent of "Joshua."
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