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 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 17:2 | Paul, as was his custom, went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures | Deut 9:16, Ps 139:2, Jer 1:5, Luke 4:16 |
| Acts 17:3 | explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” | Gen 3:15, Ps 22:1, Ps 110:4, Is 53:1, Dan 9:26, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44-46 |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | Acts 3:26, Acts 13:46, Gal 3:28 |
| 1 Cor 1:22-24 | For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. | Ps 110:1, Is 29:14, Rom 2:9-10 |
| Gal 2:9 | James and Cephas and John, who were supposed to be pillars, agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, while they would go to the circumcision. | Acts 1:8, Rom 11:13 |
| Rom 3:22 | the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction | Rom 10:12, 1 Cor 12:13 |
| Acts 18:4 | And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. | Acts 13:5, Acts 13:14, Acts 14:1 |
| Acts 13:43 | And when the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. | Acts 13:50, Acts 14:2 |
| Acts 16:13 | And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed the men were gathered to pray. And we sat down and spoke to the people who had gathered. | Luke 4:16 |
| Matt 12:6 | claiming to you that I am the Son of God. If I accuse you, it is you who is the Christ! | Matt 28:18, John 5:21-23 |
| John 7:37-39 | On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive. For as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. | Is 58:11, Jer 2:13, John 1:16, John 4:14, John 7:37-39 |
| John 10:36 | if I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me | John 5:36, John 10:25 |
| Acts 26:22-23 | So, by God's help, I stand here today testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles. | Acts 26:6-7, Luke 24:44 |
| 1 Thess 2:16 | hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last. | Acts 13:45-46, Acts 18:6 |
Acts 17 verses
Acts 17 2 Meaning
This verse describes a common practice for Paul and Silas in their missionary journeys: going into the synagogue of the Jews on the Sabbath day. It highlights their respect for Jewish tradition and their deliberate approach to evangelism, first sharing the Gospel with their fellow Israelites, as was their custom and command.
Acts 17 2 Context
Chapter 17 of Acts continues the missionary journeys of Paul and Silas, following their ministry in Philippi. The narrative shifts to Thessalonica, a major Roman city in Macedonia. Paul and Silas first sought out the Jewish community, which was common practice in their evangelistic strategy. This approach stemmed from their understanding of their commission to reach the Jews first, as well as their belief that the Jewish Scriptures testified to Jesus as the Messiah. Their activity in Thessalonica, however, stirred up opposition from some Jews who were jealous of the growing number of converts, both Jews and Greeks. This eventually led to their expulsion from the city and their journey to Beroea.
Acts 17 2 Word Analysis
- Paul (Παῦλος - Paulos): The Apostle Paul, formerly Saul of Tarsus, the primary apostle to the Gentiles. His Jewish identity and heritage were foundational to his mission and his methods.
- as was his custom (ἔθος ἦν - ethos en): "Ethos" refers to custom, habit, or way of life. This phrase signifies that Paul’s entering the synagogue on the Sabbath was a regular and established practice, reflecting his devotion and missionary strategy.
- he went (εἰσήρχετο - eisercheto): Imperfect tense, indicating a continuous or repeated action in the past. He entered regularly.
- into the synagogue (εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν - eis tēn synagōgēn): The place of Jewish worship and community gathering, where Scriptures were read and expounded.
- and (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting the action of entering with the action of reasoning.
- on three Sabbath days (ἐπὶ σάββατα τρία - epi sabbata tria): "Sabbath" (σάββατον - sabbaton) refers to the Jewish day of rest and worship. "Three Sabbath days" indicates a sustained effort over three consecutive weeks.
- he reasoned (διελέγετο - dialegomēn): Imperfect tense again, indicating he engaged in discussion and argumentation. This implies a dialogical approach, not just a lecture.
- with them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Referring to the people in the synagogue, primarily Jews, but potentially also God-fearing Gentiles who attended.
- from the Scriptures (ἀπὸ τῶν γραφῶν - apo tōn graphōn): "Grophon" means writings. This points to the Old Testament, which Paul used as his primary evidence to demonstrate that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah.
- explaining (διανοίγων - dianoiōn): Present participle, showing the manner of his reasoning. He was opening up, clarifying, and making things understandable.
- and proving (επισημαινόμενος - episēmainomenos): Present participle. This Greek word means to mark, indicate, or signify. It suggests Paul was highlighting specific passages and making their prophetic significance clear, proving his point.
- that it was necessary (ὅτι ἔδει - hoti edei): "Edel" implies obligation or necessity, rooted in divine plan or prophetic declaration.
- for the Christ (τόν Χριστόν - ton Christon): "Christ" means Anointed One, referring to the Messiah.
- to suffer (παθεῖν - pathein): The infinitive verb meaning to suffer or undergo. This addresses a key objection for many Jews who expected a conquering, political Messiah.
- and to rise from the dead (καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν - kai anastēnai ek nekrōn): The infinitive verb "anastēnai" meaning to arise or stand up. This points to the resurrection, a crucial element of Christian apologetics and the foundation of the Gospel.
- and saying (λέγων - legōn): Present participle. He was verbally proclaiming.
- “This Jesus (Οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς - Houtos estin Iēsous): Identifying Jesus of Nazareth as the subject of his proclamation.
- whom I proclaim to you (Ὃν ἐγὼ καταγγέλλω ὑμῖν - Hon egō katangellō humin): "Katangellō" means to announce, declare, or proclaim. It’s a formal declaration.
- is the Christ (ὁ Χριστός - ho Christos): The definitive statement that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
Acts 17 2 Bonus Section
The term "reasoned" (διελέγετο) suggests an open dialogue and logical argument. Paul wasn't just preaching; he was engaging in thoughtful debate, using the common ground of Jewish scripture to build his case for Jesus. This method was strategic, as it appealed to those familiar with the Law and the Prophets, and it demonstrates Paul's intellectual engagement with his audience. The explicit mention of explaining the necessity of Christ’s suffering and resurrection directly tackles the preconceived notions many Jews held about a conquering Messiah. Paul’s declaration that "this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ" is the central, unmistakable thesis of his Sabbath preaching.
Acts 17 2 Commentary
Paul’s approach in Thessalonica followed his established pattern of seeking out Jewish communities first. His reasoned exposition of the Old Testament Scriptures aimed to demonstrate that the suffering and resurrection of Jesus were not deviations from prophecy but their fulfillment. This method emphasized the continuity between the Old Covenant and the New. His persistence for three Sabbaths suggests a dedicated effort to persuade, utilizing reasoned discourse and scriptural evidence. This practice reflects his understanding of God's salvific plan which begins with Israel (Rom 1:16) and his willingness to engage intellectually with those who knew the Scriptures.