Acts 17 1

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 verses

Acts 17 1 Meaning

Acts 17:1 describes the immediate itinerary of Paul, Silas, and Timothy after their time in Philippi. They swiftly traversed Amphipolis and Apollonia without pausing for ministry, reaching Thessalonica as a targeted destination. The central observation in the verse highlights the presence of a "synagogue of the Jews" in Thessalonica, indicating Paul's customary starting point for evangelism in a new city. This verse sets the stage for significant gospel proclamation and subsequent challenges in a vital Macedonian center.

Acts 17 1 Context

This verse is the opening to one of Paul's most challenging yet significant missionary engagements during his second missionary journey. Following their imprisonment, miraculous release, and quiet departure from Philippi (Acts 16:35-40), Paul, Silas, and Timothy continued westward along the Egnatian Way, a major Roman road. Acts 17:1 establishes their next strategic stop. Amphipolis and Apollonia were traversed swiftly, serving merely as points on the journey rather than locations for ministry, possibly due to lack of a significant Jewish population, prior commitments, or divine direction toward Thessalonica. Thessalonica was the bustling capital of the Roman province of Macedonia, a major port city, and a vital commercial hub. Its strategic importance for disseminating the Gospel made it a crucial target. The specific mention of "a synagogue of the Jews" highlights Paul's consistent evangelistic methodology: to present the Messiah first to the Jewish community, leveraging their existing understanding of the Old Testament scriptures. This pattern often served as the gateway for outreach to God-fearing Gentiles as well.

Acts 17 1 Word analysis

• Now (δὲ, de): A transitional particle. It serves to connect the narrative seamlessly from the events in Philippi, indicating a continuation of their journey and mission.
• when they had passed through (διελθόντες, dielthontes): This is an aorist participle of dierchomai, meaning "to go through," "to pass through," or "to travel through." The emphasis is on transit, indicating quick movement without an evangelistic stop or any reported ministry. It differentiates these locations from their intended destination.
• Amphipolis (Ἀμφίπολις, Amphipolis): Meaning "around the city." A significant Macedonian city, about 33 miles southwest of Philippi. It was the Roman capital of the first district of Macedonia. The team passed through it, indicating no specific ministry focus here.
• and Apollonia (καὶ Ἀπολλωνία, kai Apollōnia): Meaning "belonging to Apollo." Another city on the Egnatian Way, roughly 30 miles from Amphipolis and 37 miles from Thessalonica. Like Amphipolis, it was a waypoint rather than a ministry focus.
• they came to (ἦλθον εἰς, ēlthon eis): The verb ērchomai (came) indicates a definite arrival and intention to stay. Unlike the "passing through," this phrase implies a deliberate and planned stop for ministry, making Thessalonica their primary destination.
• Thessalonica (Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessalonikē): Meaning "victory of Thessalians." The capital and largest city of the Roman province of Macedonia, located on the Thermaic Gulf. It was a thriving port, an administrative center, and a major hub on the Egnatian Way. Its strategic position made it a crucial city for establishing a gospel presence.
• where (οὗ, hou): Indicates the specific location within Thessalonica.
• there was a synagogue (ἦν ἡ συναγωγὴ, ēn hē synagōgē): Synagogē (συναγωγὴ) means "gathering" or "assembly" and refers specifically to a Jewish house of worship and community center. Its presence was key to Paul's evangelistic strategy, as it provided an audience already familiar with the Old Testament scriptures and monotheistic beliefs. This phrase is the strategic core of the verse, highlighting Paul's consistent method of beginning his outreach with the Jewish community and God-fearing Gentiles who associated with the synagogue.
• of the Jews (τῶν Ἰουδαίων, tōn Ioudaiōn): Clearly identifies the specific nature of the assembly and differentiates it from any other gathering place. It signals the initial target audience for Paul's message, as it was his custom to present Jesus as the Messiah from the Hebrew scriptures first to them.

Acts 17 1 Bonus section

• The Egnatian Way: The road taken by Paul and his companions was the Via Egnatia, a vital Roman highway. This extensive network of Roman roads facilitated swift travel and communication, indirectly aiding the rapid spread of the Gospel message across the empire. It connected Byzantium (later Constantinople) in the east to Dyrrhachium (modern Albania) on the Adriatic coast in the west, and thus indirectly to Rome.
• Thessalonica as a "Free City": Though under Roman rule, Thessalonica enjoyed the status of a "free city" (civitas libera), which granted it local self-governance and certain privileges, including the right to collect its own taxes and run its internal affairs through a local assembly and magistrates called politarchs (mentioned in Acts 17:6). This status meant that Roman military intervention was generally not as immediate or direct unless significant unrest threatened Roman order. This local autonomy could either provide more freedom for missionaries or intensify local opposition from those who felt their customs or autonomy were threatened.
• Paul's Intentionality: The narrative consistently shows Paul, Silas, and Timothy as driven, not merely by wanderlust, but by divine purpose. The 'passing through' of the previous towns (Amphipolis and Apollonia) signifies a strategic bypass, focusing efforts on where the Spirit guided and where there was maximum potential impact – indicated here by the presence of a synagogue in a major city. Paul understood the significance of urban centers for broader dissemination of the message, seeing them as strategic hubs from which the Gospel could radiate.

Acts 17 1 Commentary

Acts 17:1 concisely yet powerfully unveils the missionary progress and methodology of Paul, Silas, and Timothy. The swift movement through Amphipolis and Apollonia underscores Paul's strategic discernment, focusing limited resources and time on pivotal urban centers. Thessalonica was not just another town but a provincial capital and economic powerhouse, making it an ideal nexus for Gospel dissemination. The critical phrase "where there was a synagogue of the Jews" directly articulates Paul's customary approach, deeply rooted in the theological principle of reaching "the Jew first" (Rom 1:16). The synagogue offered a pre-established platform: a monotheistic audience, a foundational understanding of the Scriptures (Torah and Prophets), and often, a receptive group of "God-fearers" (Gentile adherents to Judaism). This established framework allowed Paul to introduce Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecies, initiating the core message of the Gospel with common ground. This strategic entry into Thessalonica was not coincidental but providentially guided, marking a crucial step in the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman world.