171 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia , they came to Thessalonica , where there was a synagogue of the Jews . 2 And according to Paul's custom , he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures , 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead , and saying, " This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas , along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number e of the leading women . 5 But the Jews , becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place , formed a mob and set the city in an uproar ; and attacking the house of Jason , they were seeking to bring them out to the people . 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities , shouting , "These men who have upset the world have come here also ; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar , saying that there is another king , Jesus ." 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things . 9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others , they released them.
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea , and when they arrived , they went into the synagogue of the Jews . 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica , for they received the word with great eagerness , examining the Scriptures daily e to see whether these things were so . 12 Therefore many of them believed , along with a number e of prominent Greek women and men . 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also , they came there as well , agitating and stirring up the crowds . 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea ; and Silas and Timothy remained there . 15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens ; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible , they left .
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens , his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols . 17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present . 18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying , "What would this idle babbler wish to say ?" Others e , "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities ,"-because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection . 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus , saying , "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming ? 20 "For you are bringing some strange things to our ears ; so we want to know what these things mean e ." 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new .)
22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said , "Men of Athens , I observe that you are very religious in all respects . 23 "For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship , I also found an altar with this inscription , 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD .' Therefore what you worship in ignorance , this I proclaim to you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 17:1-23
Commentary on Acts 17:1-9
(Read Acts 17:1-9)
The drift and scope of Paul's preaching and arguing, was to prove that Jesus is the Christ. He must needs suffer for us, because he could not otherwise purchase our redemption for us; and he must needs have risen again, because he could not otherwise apply the redemption to us. We are to preach concerning Jesus that he is Christ; therefore we may hope to be saved by him, and are bound to be ruled by him. The unbelieving Jews were angry, because the apostles preached to the Gentiles, that they might be saved. How strange it is, that men should grudge others the privileges they will not themselves accept! Neither rulers nor people need be troubled at the increase of real Christians, even though turbulent spirits should make religion the pretext for evil designs. Of such let us beware, from such let us withdraw, that we may show a desire to act aright in society, while we claim our right to worship God according to our consciences.
Commentary on Acts 17:10-15
(Read Acts 17:10-15)
The Jews in Berea applied seriously to the study of the word preached unto them. They not only heard Paul preach on the sabbath, but daily searched the Scriptures, and compared what they read with the facts related to them. The doctrine of Christ does not fear inquiry; advocates for his cause desire no more than that people will fully and fairly examine whether things are so or not. Those are truly noble, and likely to be more and more so, who make the Scriptures their rule, and consult them accordingly. May all the hearers of the gospel become like those of Berea, receiving the word with readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily, whether the things preached to them are so.
Commentary on Acts 17:16-21
(Read Acts 17:16-21)
Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fine arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning and ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, as occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the most directly contrary to Christianity, made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, which are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a future state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed at Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new and strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired into such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it was good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies. They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable account they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious, and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upon it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.
Commentary on Acts 17:22-31
(Read Acts 17:22-31)
Here we have a sermon to heathens, who worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world; and to them the scope of the discourse was different from what the apostle preached to the Jews. In the latter case, his business was to lead his hearers by prophecies and miracles to the knowledge of the Redeemer, and faith in him; in the former, it was to lead them, by the common works of providence, to know the Creator, and worship Him. The apostle spoke of an altar he had seen, with the inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." This fact is stated by many writers. After multiplying their idols to the utmost, some at Athens thought there was another god of whom they had no knowledge. And are there not many now called Christians, who are zealous in their devotions, yet the great object of their worship is to them an unknown God? Observe what glorious things Paul here says of that God whom he served, and would have them to serve. The Lord had long borne with idolatry, but the times of this ignorance were now ending, and by his servants he now commanded all men every where to repent of their idolatry. Each sect of the learned men would feel themselves powerfully affected by the apostle's discourse, which tended to show the emptiness or falsity of their doctrines.