Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days 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.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against 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. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Amphipolis - "A town on the Egnatian Road. It was on the eastern bank of the river Strymon, about three miles from the sea. The river winds round the hill on which it was built in a semi-circle, and some have thought that it took its name (All-around city) from this fact. Other, however, attribute the name to the city's conspicuousness, visible all around, from sea and land. its ancient name was 'Nine-ways'. After passing into the hands, successively, of the Athenians, Macedonians, and Romans, it was made a free city by the latter and the chief town of that division of Macedonia. It was about thirty-two miles south-west of Philippi. The missionaries may have spent the night there, but do not seem to have preached." (Walker)
Thessalonica - "About 100 mi (160 km) from Philippi." (Ryrie)
"About thirty-eight miles west of Apollonia, on the Egnatian Road, situated in the north-eastern recess of the Gulf of Salonia (modern name, Saloniki). Its maritime advantages, added to the fact that the waters of three rivers flow into the sea there, made it an important commercial centre. Its name is much later than the original city, and was given to it by Cassander, who rebuilt it in 315 B.C., in honour of his wife, Alexander the Great's step-sister. Under the Romans, it became the metropolis of the province of Macedonia, and the residence of the governor. It was allowed by them to retain its freedom and to have its own Macedonia constitution. Jews were numerous there, as in other centres of commerce." (Walker)
"Thessalonica was one of the most influential cities in those days. Even today it is a city of almost 100,000 inhabitants and its ancient name is still to be traced in its present one, that is, Saloniki, the second largest city in European Turkey. It has an excellent location on the Aegean Sea and by a direct road, the Egnatian way, had communication with the capital of the Roman Empire. It was one of the free cities of the Empire and had its own constitution. This was democratic, its authority resting with the Demos, the people. The chief magistrates were called Politarchs, as we would call them now, city father or rulers. This word is used by Luke in verses 6 and 8. As it is not found at all in classical literature, certain Bible critics accused the writer of the Book of Acts of inaccuracy and impeached in this way the inspiration of the book. But like all other criticism, this charge has come back upon the critics. There is in the British Museum today a stone block in which the word 'Politarch' is chiselled. The stone was taken from a triumphal arch, which stood in Thessalonica in the first century and which was preserved till 1867, when it was destroyed. The one stone block containing an inscription was transferred to the famous British Museum. The inscription is translated as follow: 'The Politarchs being Sopater, son of Cleopatra, and Lucius Pontius Secundus, Aulus Arius Sabinus, Demetrius son of Faustus, Demetrius son of Nicopolis, Foilus son of Parmenio also called Meniscus, Caius Agilleius Potitus.' It is intensely interesting to find that some of these names are mentioned in Acts 20:4." (Gaebelein)
there was a synagogue of the Jews - "...there was a synagogue at Thessalonica and it was still Paul's custom to seek out such places first. This was doubtless partly because the Jews, believing in the true god, and having gathered about them proselytes and interested gentiles, afforded him a good starting point from which to proclaim Christ. But in the program of God there was another important reason, Israel, as a nation, had rejected Christ and was already being set aside, the establishment of the Messianic kingdom being deferred until a later date. And now, as Paul was sent 'far hence unto the Gentiles,' he still went to 'the Jew first,' not with a view to the establishment of the kingdom after all, but that from Jerusalem to Rome the Jews might be left without excuse for their rejection of Christ and, as he explains: 'If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them' (Rom 11:14). The record of these facts is in harmony with the nature and purpose of the Book of Acts which, we must remember, is not to relate the story of 'the birth and growth' of the Church of this dispensation, but rather to give an account of the fall of Israel and to explain why salvation was sent to the Gentiles apart from her instrumentality ... In 'opening' (explaining) and 'alleging' (Lit., setting before, facing with, or maintaining a thing to be so) that Messiah, according to Scripture 'must needs have suffered and risen again' and that the Jesus whom he preached was the Messiah, Paul was simply establishing the identity of Christ so that they might come to trust in Him. This was the natural point of contact, the logical place of beginning ... In this part of Acts, however, we have a transition from the old program to the new. The old gradually disappears as the new takes its place. It is perfectly natural, therefore, to find Paul, here and elsewhere in the Acts record, proving to the Jews by the scriptures [OT] that 'Jesus is the Christ,' that some may be won to trust in Him and that those who join the nation in refusing to do so may be left wholly without excuse as God continues to set the nation aside. This is where he had to begin, for if the Jesus who had been crucified was not the Messiah, He was an impostor and surely could not be the dispenser of grace to a lost world, nor the Head of the Body." (Stam)
three Sabbath days - "The time spent witnessing to the Jews. In addition, Paul must have had a longer ministry speaking to Gentiles outside the Synagogue." (Ryrie)
the house of Jason - "Where the missionaries had their lodging. They were absent when the mob arrived there. 'Jason' is the name of a Christian at Corinth (Rom 16:21), and many identify him with this man. He was most likely a Jew by birth, and Josephus tells us (Antiq. 12:5.1) of a Hebrew called Joshua who changed his name to the more Gentile form of 'Jason'. We have other evidence of a similar kind. On the other hand, this man may have been a Gentile convert, though this is less probable." (Walker)
"If this Jason is the same as the one mentioned in Rom 16:21, he was a relative of Paul's." (Stam)
the city authorities - "Greek, 'politarchs'. This was the title given to the supreme board of magistrates at Thessalonica, the heads of the democracy, as is proved by a stone inscription from a Roman arch there, now in the British Museum. The use of it is a remarkable instance of St. Luke's extreme accuracy, since it is not found in any classical author." (Walker)
acting against the decrees of Caesar - "However, the charge as they meant it was not true, nor was it true that Paul and his associates had violated the decrees of Caesar or sought to incite sedition (Ver. 7). But the Jews had put into their mouths that charge which being widely spread Imperial Rome was always most apt to secure the attention of the magistrates—that of treason against the Emperor. this was the same false charge that had been brought against our Lord Himself when brought before Pilate (Luke 23:2). To what extremes of intolerance and injustice religious bigotry can lead men! The Jews had raised the tumult, yet they accused the Christians of doing it. They themselves believed from their Scriptures that Messiah would overthrow the kingdoms of this world to reign over them, and they would have been the first to accept a king who would destroy Rome, if only he would leave them in their sins. Yet now they profess allegiance to Caesar!" (Stam)
taken money as security from Jason - "The authorities made Jason put up bond, forfeitable if there was further trouble." (Ryrie)
"That is, security (by money or sureties) for their good behaviour, so as to prevent further disturbance in the city. Ramsay suggest that the 'security' took the form of an undertaking, on the part of Jason and his friends, that St. Paul should not return to Thessalonica, and he quotes in support of his view 1 Thess 2:17-18." (Walker)
Amphipolis - "A town on the Egnatian Road. It was on the eastern bank of the river Strymon, about three miles from the sea. The river winds round the hill on which it was built in a semi-circle, and some have thought that it took its name (All-around city) from this fact. Other, however, attribute the name to the city's conspicuousness, visible all around, from sea and land. its ancient name was 'Nine-ways'. After passing into the hands, successively, of the Athenians, Macedonians, and Romans, it was made a free city by the latter and the chief town of that division of Macedonia. It was about thirty-two miles south-west of Philippi. The missionaries may have spent the night there, but do not seem to have preached." (Walker)
Thessalonica - "About 100 mi (160 km) from Philippi." (Ryrie)
"About thirty-eight miles west of Apollonia, on the Egnatian Road, situated in the north-eastern recess of the Gulf of Salonia (modern name, Saloniki). Its maritime advantages, added to the fact that the waters of three rivers flow into the sea there, made it an important commercial centre. Its name is much later than the original city, and was given to it by Cassander, who rebuilt it in 315 B.C., in honour of his wife, Alexander the Great's step-sister. Under the Romans, it became the metropolis of the province of Macedonia, and the residence of the governor. It was allowed by them to retain its freedom and to have its own Macedonia constitution. Jews were numerous there, as in other centres of commerce." (Walker)
"Thessalonica was one of the most influential cities in those days. Even today it is a city of almost 100,000 inhabitants and its ancient name is still to be traced in its present one, that is, Saloniki, the second largest city in European Turkey. It has an excellent location on the Aegean Sea and by a direct road, the Egnatian way, had communication with the capital of the Roman Empire. It was one of the free cities of the Empire and had its own constitution. This was democratic, its authority resting with the Demos, the people. The chief magistrates were called Politarchs, as we would call them now, city father or rulers. This word is used by Luke in verses 6 and 8. As it is not found at all in classical literature, certain Bible critics accused the writer of the Book of Acts of inaccuracy and impeached in this way the inspiration of the book. But like all other criticism, this charge has come back upon the critics. There is in the British Museum today a stone block in which the word 'Politarch' is chiselled. The stone was taken from a triumphal arch, which stood in Thessalonica in the first century and which was preserved till 1867, when it was destroyed. The one stone block containing an inscription was transferred to the famous British Museum. The inscription is translated as follow: 'The Politarchs being Sopater, son of Cleopatra, and Lucius Pontius Secundus, Aulus Arius Sabinus, Demetrius son of Faustus, Demetrius son of Nicopolis, Foilus son of Parmenio also called Meniscus, Caius Agilleius Potitus.' It is intensely interesting to find that some of these names are mentioned in Acts 20:4." (Gaebelein)
there was a synagogue of the Jews - "...there was a synagogue at Thessalonica and it was still Paul's custom to seek out such places first. This was doubtless partly because the Jews, believing in the true god, and having gathered about them proselytes and interested gentiles, afforded him a good starting point from which to proclaim Christ. But in the program of God there was another important reason, Israel, as a nation, had rejected Christ and was already being set aside, the establishment of the Messianic kingdom being deferred until a later date. And now, as Paul was sent 'far hence unto the Gentiles,' he still went to 'the Jew first,' not with a view to the establishment of the kingdom after all, but that from Jerusalem to Rome the Jews might be left without excuse for their rejection of Christ and, as he explains: 'If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them' (Rom 11:14). The record of these facts is in harmony with the nature and purpose of the Book of Acts which, we must remember, is not to relate the story of 'the birth and growth' of the Church of this dispensation, but rather to give an account of the fall of Israel and to explain why salvation was sent to the Gentiles apart from her instrumentality ... In 'opening' (explaining) and 'alleging' (Lit., setting before, facing with, or maintaining a thing to be so) that Messiah, according to Scripture 'must needs have suffered and risen again' and that the Jesus whom he preached was the Messiah, Paul was simply establishing the identity of Christ so that they might come to trust in Him. This was the natural point of contact, the logical place of beginning ... In this part of Acts, however, we have a transition from the old program to the new. The old gradually disappears as the new takes its place. It is perfectly natural, therefore, to find Paul, here and elsewhere in the Acts record, proving to the Jews by the scriptures [OT] that 'Jesus is the Christ,' that some may be won to trust in Him and that those who join the nation in refusing to do so may be left wholly without excuse as God continues to set the nation aside. This is where he had to begin, for if the Jesus who had been crucified was not the Messiah, He was an impostor and surely could not be the dispenser of grace to a lost world, nor the Head of the Body." (Stam)
three Sabbath days - "The time spent witnessing to the Jews. In addition, Paul must have had a longer ministry speaking to Gentiles outside the Synagogue." (Ryrie)
the house of Jason - "Where the missionaries had their lodging. They were absent when the mob arrived there. 'Jason' is the name of a Christian at Corinth (Rom 16:21), and many identify him with this man. He was most likely a Jew by birth, and Josephus tells us (Antiq. 12:5.1) of a Hebrew called Joshua who changed his name to the more Gentile form of 'Jason'. We have other evidence of a similar kind. On the other hand, this man may have been a Gentile convert, though this is less probable." (Walker)
"If this Jason is the same as the one mentioned in Rom 16:21, he was a relative of Paul's." (Stam)
the city authorities - "Greek, 'politarchs'. This was the title given to the supreme board of magistrates at Thessalonica, the heads of the democracy, as is proved by a stone inscription from a Roman arch there, now in the British Museum. The use of it is a remarkable instance of St. Luke's extreme accuracy, since it is not found in any classical author." (Walker)
acting against the decrees of Caesar - "However, the charge as they meant it was not true, nor was it true that Paul and his associates had violated the decrees of Caesar or sought to incite sedition (Ver. 7). But the Jews had put into their mouths that charge which being widely spread Imperial Rome was always most apt to secure the attention of the magistrates—that of treason against the Emperor. this was the same false charge that had been brought against our Lord Himself when brought before Pilate (Luke 23:2). To what extremes of intolerance and injustice religious bigotry can lead men! The Jews had raised the tumult, yet they accused the Christians of doing it. They themselves believed from their Scriptures that Messiah would overthrow the kingdoms of this world to reign over them, and they would have been the first to accept a king who would destroy Rome, if only he would leave them in their sins. Yet now they profess allegiance to Caesar!" (Stam)
taken money as security from Jason - "The authorities made Jason put up bond, forfeitable if there was further trouble." (Ryrie)
"That is, security (by money or sureties) for their good behaviour, so as to prevent further disturbance in the city. Ramsay suggest that the 'security' took the form of an undertaking, on the part of Jason and his friends, that St. Paul should not return to Thessalonica, and he quotes in support of his view 1 Thess 2:17-18." (Walker)
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