171 And having passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews, 2 and according to the custom of Paul, he went in unto them, and for three sabbaths he was reasoning with them from the Writings, 3 opening and alleging, 'That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ—Jesus whom I proclaim to you.' 4 And certain of them did believe, and attached themselves to Paul and to Silas, also of the worshipping Greeks a great multitude, of the principal women also not a few. 5 And the unbelieving Jews, having been moved with envy, and having taken to them of the loungers certain evil men, and having made a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; having assailed also the house of Jason, they were seeking them to bring 'them' to the populace, 6 and not having found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the city rulers, calling aloud—'These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present, 7 whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying another to be king—Jesus.' 8 And they troubled the multitude and the city rulers, hearing these things, 9 and having taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 17:1-9
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.