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Acts 17:1-4 - Thessalonica
1. Acts 17:1-4 - Thessalonica
Paul is leaving Philippi from the end of Acts 16 to go to Thessaloniki (then Athens then Ephesus).
Timothy is not mentioned in the verses until they are ready to leave. It appears he was with Paul for some or all of the time covered by the following verses.
2. Thessalonica
Paul wrote several letters to the church at Thessalonica. The ancient Greek word
"Θεσσαλονίκη" ≈ "Thessalonica" comes from two Greek words.
The ancient Greek word "Θεσσᾰλός" ≈ "Thessalos", a name given to the daughter of Phillip II (father of Alexander the Great) after his victory in Thessaly - a region in northern Greece.
The ancient Greek word "νική" ≈ "victory". Later, the city was named after her for the victory there.
3. Victory and strife: bema seat
4. Victory and strife: bema seat
5. Saint Nicholas
6. Acts 17:1
KJV: Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Greek: διοδευσαντες δε την αμφιπολιν και την απολλωνιαν ηλθον εις θεσσαλονικην οπου ην η συναγωγη των ιουδαιων
Latin: cum autem perambulassent Amphipolim et Apolloniam venerunt Thessalonicam ubi erat synagoga Iudaeorum
7. Gathering together a synagogue
Today, one thinks of a "
synagogue" as a place where Jewish worship takes place. The word "
synagogue" is a
Greek word made of up two parts.
The prefix "syn" meaning together as in "symphony" (sounding together).
The root "ago" meaning leading or bringing, reduplicated as is not uncommon.
The meaning, both in the
LXX and
GNT (and today) is that of people being led to come or be brought together.
8. Strongs
- *G4864 *56 συναγωγή (soon-ag-o-gay') : from (the reduplicated form of) 4863; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church:--assembly, congregation, synagogue.
- συναγωγαις *15
- Matthew 4:23 ... teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel ...
- Matthew 6:2 ... the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, ...
- Matthew 6:5 ... to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners ...
- Matthew 9:35 ... teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel ...
- Matthew 10:17 ... you in their synagogues;
- Matthew 23:6 ... and the chief seats in the synagogues,
- Matthew 23:34 ... shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from ...
- Mark 12:39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
- Luke 4:15 ... taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
- Luke 11:43 ... ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
- Luke 20:46 ... and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
- Acts 9:20 ... he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is ...
- Acts 13:5 ... the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had ...
- Acts 15:21 ... him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
- Acts 24:12 ... the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
- συναγωγη *14
- Matthew 13:54 ... them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, ...
- Mark 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean ...
- Mark 6:2 ... he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing ...
- Luke 4:20 ... of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
- Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
- Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had ...
- John 6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
- John 18:20 ... ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, ...
- Acts 17:1 ... Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
- Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, ...
- Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and ...
- Acts 18:7 ... whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
- Acts 18:26 ... began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila ...
- Revelation 2:9 ... are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
- συναγωγην *12
- Matthew 12:9 ... he went into their synagogue:
- Mark 1:21 ... on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
- Mark 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man ...
- Luke 4:16 ... custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, ...
- Luke 6:6 ... that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and ...
- Luke 7:5 ... he hath built us a synagogue.
- Acts 13:14 ... and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
- Acts 14:1 ... both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so ...
- Acts 17:10 ... coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
- Acts 18:19 ... himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
- Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three ...
- James 2:2 ... there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in ...
- συναγωγας *8
- Mark 1:39 ... preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, ...
- Mark 13:9 ... councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought ...
- Luke 4:44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
- Luke 12:11 ... they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and ...
- Luke 21:12 ... you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought ...
- Acts 9:2 ... to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found ...
- Acts 22:19 ... and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:
- Acts 26:11 ... oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and ...
- συναγωγης *6
- Mark 1:29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house ...
- Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's ...
- Luke 8:41 ... he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at ...
- Acts 6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, ...
- Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews ...
- Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they ...
- συναγωγων
- Luke 13:10 ... teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
9. Acts 17:2
KJV: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Greek: κατα δε το ειωθος τω παυλω εισηλθεν προς αυτους και επι σαββατα τρια διελεγετο διελεξατο αυτοις απο των γραφων
Greek today: Και κατα την συνηθειαν του ο Παυλος εισηλθε προς αυτους, και τρια σαββατα διελεγετο μετ αυτων απο των γραφων,
How long is the period of "
three sabbath days"?
10. Strongs
- *G1486 *4 ἔθω (eth'-o) : a primary verb; to be used (by habit or conventionality); neuter perfect participle usage:--be custom (manner, wont).
- ειωθει *2
- Matthew 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people ...
- Mark 10:1 ... again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
- ειωθος *2
- Luke 4:16 ... and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue ...
- Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, ...
11. Scriptures
The Greek "
writings" are the
KJV "
scriptures".
12. Writing sounds
The Greek word for "
I write", today as in Bible times, is «
γράφω» (gra-fo), from which we get words such as "
graph", "
graphic", "
photograph", etc.
Many Greek linguistics books describe the word «
γράφω» is onomatopoeic in that it sounds like what it describes. That is, in ancient times.
Whenever, in ancient times, scribes would create a scripts (both "
scribe" and "
script" are from the Latin "
scriba" and "
scriptor") they would use sharp tools to inscribe the letters onto stones or clay tablets.
Listening to all those tools inscribing one would hear the sound of "
grph", "
grph", "
grph", from which came the Greek word «
γράφω» (gra-fo).
13. Strongs
- *G1124 *50 γραφή (graf-ay') : a document, i.e. holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it):--scripture.
- γραφη *23
- Luke 4:21 ... This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
- John 2:22 ... unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which ...
- John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his ...
- John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ ...
- John 10:35 ... of God came, and the scripture can not be broken;
- John 13:18 ... I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth ...
- John 17:12 ... the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
- John 19:24 ... whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted ...
- John 19:28 ... were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
- John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him ...
- John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on ...
- Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, ...
- Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this ...
- Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on ...
- Romans 11:2 ... Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? ...
- Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify ...
- Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, ...
- Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and ...
- 1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle ...
- 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for ...
- James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed ...
- James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit ...
- 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in ...
- γραφας *9
- Matthew 22:29 ... Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
- Mark 12:24 ... because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
- Luke 24:32 ... while he opened to us the scriptures?
- Luke 24:45 ... understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
- John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye ...
- Acts 17:11 ... all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things ...
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 ... our sins according to the scriptures;
- 1 Corinthians 15:4 ... the third day according to the scriptures:
- 2 Peter 3:16 ... as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- γραφαις *4
- Matthew 21:42 ... never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders ...
- Luke 24:27 ... unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
- Acts 18:24 ... and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
- Romans 1:2 ... prophets in the holy scriptures,)
- γραφην *4
- Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders ...
- John 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must ...
- Acts 1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which ...
- James 2:8 ... the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour ...
- γραφων *4
- Acts 17:2 ... reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
- Acts 18:28 ... and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
- Romans 15:4 ... patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
- Romans 16:26 ... is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment ...
- γραφαι *3
- Matthew 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus ...
- Matthew 26:56 ... this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then ...
- Mark 14:49 ... me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
- γραφης *3
- Acts 8:32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, ...
- Acts 8:35 ... began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
- 2 Peter 1:20 ... that no prophecy of the scripture is of any ...
14. Logical arguments
15. Strongs
- *G1256 *13 διαλέγομαι (dee-al-eg'-om-ahee) : middle voice from G1223 and G3004; to say thoroughly, i.e. discuss (in argument or exhortation):--dispute, preach (unto), reason (with), speak.
- διελεγετο *4
- Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and ...
- Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, ...
- Acts 20:7 ... to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart ...
- Jude 1:9 ... when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, ...
- διελεξατο *2
- Acts 17:2 ... and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
- Acts 18:19 ... entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
- διαλεγομενος *2
- Acts 19:8 ... for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things ...
- Acts 19:9 ... them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school ...
- διαλεγομενου *2
- Acts 20:9 ... and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with ...
- Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, ...
- διελεχθησαν
- Mark 9:34 ... for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
- διαλεγομενον
- Acts 24:12 ... me in the temple disputing with any man, neither ...
- διαλεγεται
- Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, ...
16. 1 Peter 3:15
KJV: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Greek: κυριον δε τον θεον χριστον αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων ετοιμοι δε αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος αλλα μετα πραυτητος και φοβου
Latin: Dominum autem Christum sanctificate in cordibus vestris parati semper ad satisfactionem omni poscenti vos rationem de ea quae in vobis est spe
Wycliffe: But halewe ye the Lord Crist in youre hertis, and euermore be ye redi to satisfaccioun to ech man axynge you resoun of that feith and hope that is in you,
17. Acts 17:3
KJV: 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.
Greek: διανοιγων και παρατιθεμενος οτι τον χριστον εδει παθειν και αναστηναι εκ νεκρων και οτι ουτος εστιν ο χριστος ο ιησους ον εγω καταγγελλω υμιν
18. Eyewitness versus prophetic scriptures
What is the
better evidence that the Jesus and the resurrection are true?
eye-witness testimony
prophetic scriptures
something else
In 2 Peter 1:16-20, Peter says that he (and others) were eyewitnesses, but that we have a more sure word of prophecy.
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [kjv]
1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; ... [kjv]
In Luke 24:27, after the resurrection, on the Road to Emmaus, Jesus could have used eye-witness testimony to convince the travelers that it was he, Jesus, who was resurrected. Instead, he expounds on the "
scriptures". Later, he would reveal himself as in eye-witness testimony.
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. [kjv]
Paul appears to have made some very convincing arguments at Thessaloníki.
The same types of arguments would be made through the centuries by great evangelists of other ages.
19. Acts 17:4
KJV: And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Greek: και τινες εξ αυτων επεισθησαν και προσεκληρωθησαν τω παυλω και τω σιλα των τε σεβομενων ελληνων πολυ πληθος πολυ γυναικων τε των πρωτων ουκ ολιγαι
Note again that the "
chief women" can be quite influential.
We continue at
Acts 17:5-9 - Jason with Jason and Berea in the rest of Acts 17.
20. End of page