Acts 17:1 kjv
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Acts 17:1 nkjv
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:1 niv
When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17:1 esv
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:1 nlt
Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:40 | "...departed... encouraged the brothers." | Paul's previous departure |
| Acts 17:2 | "And Paul... reasoned with them..." | Paul's method of teaching |
| Acts 17:4 | "...persuaded a multitude of Greeks..." | Success in Thessalonica |
| Acts 18:5 | "And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia..." | Silas and Timothy's rejoin |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus..." | Reference to Silas (Silvanus) |
| 2 Thess 1:1 | "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus..." | Another reference to Silas |
| Gal 2:9 | "...gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship;" | Partnership in ministry |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "...gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints..." | The varied roles in ministry |
| 1 Cor 12:28 | "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." | Divine appointment of ministry roles |
| Acts 20:2, 6 | "...gathered the disciples together, and encouraged them, and departed into Macedonia.... spent seven days in Trogyllium." | Journeys through Macedonia |
| Acts 20:4 | "And Paul had appointed him with him: Sopater of Berea: and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia" | Thessalonians involved in ministry |
| Acts 16:11-12 | "...sailed to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia..." | Paul's earlier arrival in Macedonia |
| John 1:44-45 | "Now Philip was of Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." | Philip's evangelistic pattern |
| Acts 13:5 | "And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews..." | Early synagogue ministry |
| Acts 14:1 | "And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed." | Ministry in Iconium |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." | Gospel to Jew and Greek |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ beyond ethnicity |
| Acts 9:20 | "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." | Paul's immediate preaching |
| 2 Cor 11:26 | "In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;" | Hardships of missionary work |
| Rom 15:19 | "...through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." | Fullness of the Gospel preaching |
| Phil 4:15-16 | "Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." | Philippian church support |
Acts 17 verses
Acts 17 1 Meaning
The verse describes the continuation of Paul and Silas's ministry journey, moving from Amphipolis to Thessalonica. They traveled through two distinct regions, demonstrating the systematic nature of their evangelistic efforts and their persistence in spreading the Gospel to different urban centers within Macedonia.
Acts 17 1 Context
The immediate context follows Paul's significant encounter in Philippi, where Lydia was converted and the apostle and Silas were miraculously delivered from prison. After their release, they encouraged the believers and then left the city. This verse marks the beginning of their journey into the next major city in Macedonia, Thessalonica. Historically, Thessalonica was a prominent and bustling port city, serving as the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. It was a hub of commerce and culture, populated by diverse peoples, including a significant Jewish community. This provided Paul with an established place to engage in his usual ministry pattern: first to the Jews in the synagogue, then to the Gentiles.
Acts 17 1 Word Analysis
- After (ἔπειτα - epeita): Signifies a sequence in time or events, indicating that the journey to Thessalonica followed their departure from Philippi.
- Paul (Παῦλος - Paulos): The primary apostle, leader of this missionary endeavor.
- and (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting Paul and Silas.
- Silas (Σίλας - Silas): A fellow-laborer and companion of Paul, previously imprisoned with him in Philippi. Silas, also known as Silvanus (16:25), was a prominent leader in the early church and a companion of Peter as well (1 Peter 5:12).
- and (καὶ - kai): Conjunction connecting Silas and Timothy (though Timothy isn't explicitly mentioned here as accompanying them on this specific leg of the journey from Philippi, he was later sent to them and rejoined Paul with Silas in Corinth - Acts 18:5).
- went through (διῆλθον - diēlthen): A verb in the aorist tense, signifying completed action. It means to go through, pass through, or travel across. This implies movement across these regions.
- Amphipolis (Ἀμφιπόλεως - Amphipoleōs): A city in Macedonia, significant in its history and location, marking a stop on their itinerary. Amphipolis was a significant ancient Greek city situated on the Strymon River. It was a strategically important administrative center.
- and (καὶ - kai): Conjunction connecting Amphipolis and Apollonia.
- Apollonia (Ἀπολλωνίαν - Apollōnian): Another city in Macedonia they passed through. Apollonia was a coastal town of Macedonia.
- came to (εἰς - eis): A preposition indicating movement toward a destination.
- Thessalonica (Θεσσαλονίκην - Thessalonikēn): Their ultimate destination in this particular journey segment. Thessalonica was a major Roman port city and the capital of Macedonia. It was a thriving center of trade and governance, with a diverse population including a significant Jewish community. This is the key focus for Paul's subsequent ministry.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Paul and Silas": This pairing highlights their collaborative ministry. Both were chosen vessels of God and had endured hardship together, strengthening their bond and effectiveness.
- "went through Amphipolis and Apollonia": This phrase outlines their geographical movement. They did not necessarily preach extensively in these cities but passed through them as they progressed toward their primary missionary objective, Thessalonica. This indicates strategic planning and prioritization in their evangelistic efforts. The route was a main road connecting major Macedonian cities.
- "came to Thessalonica": This indicates their arrival at their next significant preaching center. Thessalonica was a strategically important city for ministry due to its size, influence, and the presence of a Jewish population (Acts 17:1-4).
Acts 17 1 Bonus Section
The itinerary from Philippi through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica was a standard route along the Via Egnatia, a major Roman road. This logistical detail highlights the practical aspects of missionary work in the ancient world, requiring planning for travel and lodging. The deliberate progression to Thessalonica suggests that Paul and Silas had heard about or had information regarding the spiritual receptivity and the presence of a synagogue in that city, which was their customary starting point for evangelism. Their endurance in continuing their journey after the intense experience in Philippi (including imprisonment) demonstrates a remarkable commitment to the Great Commission.
Acts 17 1 Commentary
The verse succinctly describes a stage in Paul's second missionary journey. It shows the continuation of his mission to preach the Gospel, moving from one significant urban center in Macedonia to another. Paul and Silas, having established their itinerary, passed through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia en route to Thessalonica. This route reflects their systematic approach to evangelism, targeting major populated areas. The mention of these cities underscores the tangible nature of their journeys and the challenging distances covered for the sake of the Gospel. Their eventual arrival at Thessalonica is significant because it was a strategically important city where Paul would find receptive ears among both Jews and Gentiles, though this would also lead to significant opposition.