Acts 17 2

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,

Acts 17:2 nkjv

Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 17:2 niv

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 17:2 esv

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 17:2 nlt

As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 2 Meaning

Acts 17:2 describes the apostle Paul's customary approach to evangelism upon arriving in a new city. He entered the local Jewish synagogue, as was his consistent practice, and on the Sabbath days for three weeks, he engaged the people by reasoning and discussing the Old Testament Scriptures with them. This verse highlights his strategic methodology, targeting the Jewish community first and utilizing the established Jewish worship setting as a platform to proclaim the Gospel.

Acts 17 2 Context

This verse is part of Paul's Second Missionary Journey, specifically in the city of Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). Having journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and his companions Silas and Timothy arrive in Thessalonica, an important Roman provincial capital. His immediate environment is a bustling Hellenistic city with a significant Jewish community, as indicated by the presence of a synagogue.

Historically and culturally, synagogues were not merely places of worship but also centers for community gathering, learning, and public discourse. They would read from the Torah and Prophets, offer prayers, and allow invited teachers or visitors to speak. Paul, a trained rabbi himself, understood this setting well and strategically used the Sabbath gatherings—a time of religious observance and study for the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles—to present the Gospel. His approach reflects both his commitment to sharing the message with his own people first (Rom 1:16) and his use of a culturally appropriate and accessible venue.

Acts 17 2 Word analysis

• As was his custom (κατὰ τὸ εἰωθός - kata to eiōthos):
  • custom: From eiōthos, meaning habit or regular practice. This indicates Paul's consistent missionary strategy, evident in many cities he visited. It highlights a pre-established pattern of seeking out the Jewish community and their gathering places. This consistency underlines a purposeful method, not merely chance.
• Paul went in to them (ὁ Παῦλος εἰσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτούς - ho Paulos eisēlthen pros autous):
  • went in: Eisēlthen, an ingressive aorist, emphasizing the definite act of entering.
  • to them: Pros autous, meaning towards them, indicating his direct engagement with the synagogue members.
• and for three Sabbaths (ἐπὶ σάββατα τρία - epi sabbata tria):
  • three Sabbaths: Specifically tria sabbata, meaning three weeks. This signifies a sustained period of ministry, not a one-off visit. This duration provided sufficient time for deep engagement and repeated teaching, laying foundational truth before opposition or a new phase of ministry arose.
• he reasoned with them (διελέγετο αὐτοῖς - dielegeto autois):
  • reasoned: Dielegeto, an imperfect tense verb, meaning he continually or repeatedly reasoned, debated, or dialogued. It implies an interactive discourse, a logical and persuasive presentation of arguments, rather than just lecturing. It speaks to an intellectual engagement. This Greek term signifies the careful, critical exposition and discussion of ideas.
• from the Scriptures (ἀπὸ τῶν γραφῶν - apo tōn graphōn):
  • from: Apo, indicating the source or origin of his arguments.
  • the Scriptures: Tōn graphōn, referring to the Old Testament writings, the sacred texts recognized by the Jewish community. This is crucial as it signifies Paul's authority and appeal to a shared divine revelation, demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "As was his custom, Paul went in to them": This phrase emphasizes Paul's habitual and intentional methodology. His entry into the synagogue was not coincidental but a deliberate part of his missionary strategy, reflecting a principle to bring the Gospel to the Jew first.
• "for three Sabbaths": This group specifies the duration of Paul's engagement within the synagogue. Three consecutive weekly gatherings suggest a dedicated and methodical period of teaching and discussion, allowing for progressive revelation and response from his audience.
• "he reasoned with them from the Scriptures": This critical phrase reveals the method and content of Paul's evangelism. His primary tool was the Old Testament, which he used logically and persuasively to articulate and prove his message. This approach grounded the Gospel in existing divine revelation, appealing to the religious framework of his Jewish listeners.

Acts 17 2 Bonus section

Paul's method of reasoning from the Scriptures often involved demonstrating how the Old Testament prophecies, types, and foreshadowings found their fulfillment in Jesus (Acts 17:3). This wasn't merely quoting verses, but interpreting them Christocentrically. This polemicized against a Rabbinic understanding that often interpreted the Scriptures within an elaborate legal framework, missing the prophetic voice pointing to a suffering Messiah. Furthermore, beginning in the synagogue provided Paul not only an initial audience but often generated intellectual ferment that could then spill over into the broader Gentile community when the synagogue rejected his message. This served as a catalyst for wider evangelism, establishing beachheads for the church.

Acts 17 2 Commentary

Acts 17:2 encapsulates the apostolic mission's intellectual rigor and strategic method. Paul did not just declare truth; he reasoned from Scripture. This demonstrates that faith is not a blind leap but is deeply rooted in verifiable historical and textual evidence. His choice of the synagogue and the Sabbath shows a recognition of established spiritual disciplines and an intelligent engagement with his target audience on their own terms. For three weeks, he systematically built his case, a duration that suggests not mere proclamation, but careful explanation and interaction, characteristic of profound theological discourse. The passage thus underscores the importance of grounded, thoughtful presentation of the Gospel, always appealing to the authoritative Word of God as its foundation and proof. It illustrates a timeless model for communicating Christian truth, focusing on accessible venues and thorough, biblically-based argument.