Acts 17 3

Acts 17:3 kjv

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

Acts 17:3 nkjv

explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."

Acts 17:3 niv

explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah," he said.

Acts 17:3 esv

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."

Acts 17:3 nlt

He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah."

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 3 Meaning

The verse describes the Apostle Paul's method of evangelism in the synagogue. He engaged with Jews in their place of worship, presenting scriptural arguments to prove Jesus as the Christ. This highlights his reliance on the Old Testament scriptures to validate his message.

Acts 17 3 Context

This verse is situated within Paul's missionary journeys, specifically in Thessalonica, a significant city in Macedonia. Paul, following his custom (Acts 17:2), entered the local synagogue on the Sabbath. The primary audience in the synagogue would have been Jews, who possessed the Old Testament scriptures and were awaiting the Messiah. Paul's purpose was not to introduce a new religion but to demonstrate how Jesus fulfilled the long-expected messianic prophecies already present in their own scriptures. The backdrop includes the historical expectation of a Messiah among the Jewish people.

Acts 17 3 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): and (coordinating conjunction, connecting clauses)
• ὁ (ho): the (definite article)
• παρέθετο (paretheto): presented, explained, expounded (aorist middle indicative of παρατίθημι - paratithemí; signifies to set before, to place beside, hence to set forth for consideration)
• αὐτοῖς (autois): to them (dative plural pronoun, referring to the Jews in the synagogue)
• διε troisième (diermeneúōn): explaining, interpreting (present active participle of δια trzecy troisième - diermēneúō; indicates a process of clarification and interpretation, making something clear)
• δια troisième (epiphyskōn): demonstrating, proving, setting forth by reasoned argument (present active participle of ἐπι terzo troisième - epiphýskō; fromἐπί- epi 'upon' and terzo troisième - phýs ‘nature, innate capacity’ suggesting an explanation drawn from the very nature of things or from inherent principles, here applied to scripture)
• ὅτι (hoti): that (subordinating conjunction introducing a subordinate clause of content)
• ἔδει (edei): it was necessary, it behoved (imperfect indicative of dei – 'to be necessary'; signifies a divine necessity or obligation)
• τὸν (ton): the (definite article)
• Χριστὸν (Christon): Christ, the Messiah (accusative masculine singular of Χριστός - Christós; anointed one, Messiah)
• παθεῖν (pathein): to suffer (aorist active infinitive of πάσχω - páschō; indicates the suffering endured)
• καὶ (kai): and (conjunction)
• ἀναστῆναι (anastēnai): to rise again, to arise (aorist active infinitive of ἀνίστημι - anístēmi; signifies resurrection)
• ἐκ (ek): from, out of (preposition)
• νεκρῶν (nekrōn): the dead (genitive plural of νεκρός - nekrós)
• καὶ (kai): and (conjunction)
• λέγων (legōn): saying (present active participle of λέγω - légō; ongoing action of speaking)
• ὅτι (hoti): that (conjunction)
• οὗτός (houtos): this (demonstrative pronoun)
• ἐστιν (estin): is (third person singular present indicative of εἰμί - eimí; the verb 'to be')
• ὁ (ho): the (definite article)
• Χριστὸς (Christos): Christ, the Messiah (nominative masculine singular)
• οὗτός (houtos): this (demonstrative pronoun, reinforcing 'Jesus')
• Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous): Jesus (nominative masculine singular)
• ὂν (on): whom (accusative masculine singular relative pronoun, referring to Jesus)
• ἐγὼ (egō): I (nominative singular personal pronoun)
• κήρυσσω (kērussō): proclaim, preach (present active indicative of κηρύσσω - kērússō)
• ὑμῖν (hymin): to you (dative plural personal pronoun, object of proclaiming)

Group by words-group analysis:

• "παρέθετο αὐτοῖς διερμηνεύων καὶ ἐπιthird third-từns": This phrase encapsulates Paul's apologetic method. He didn't just state facts; he engaged in exposition ("explaining" - διερμηνεύων) and reasoned argumentation ("proving" - ἐπιthird third-từns), drawing upon their own scriptural heritage. This shows a deliberate and scholarly approach to evangelism.
• "ὅτι ἔδει τὸν Χριστὸν παθεῖν καὶ ἀναστῆναι ἐκ νεκρῶν": The core of Paul's message in this context is the theological necessity of Christ's suffering and resurrection. This directly addresses the stumbling block of a crucified Messiah for many Jews, presenting it as foreordained by God and central to the plan of salvation. It’s a theological necessity derived from God’s will as revealed in the scriptures.
• "οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς, οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς, ὃν ἐγὼ κηρύσσω ὑμῖν": This is a direct identification and proclamation. Paul emphatically links the scripturally foretold Christ with the historical Jesus, whom he is personally proclaiming. The repetition of "this" (οὗτός) adds emphasis and certainty to his declaration.

Acts 17 3 Bonus Section

The verb "epiphyskōn" (ἐπιthird third-từns) implies a kind of "innate reasoning" or demonstration derived from principles or nature. In this context, Paul uses the Scriptures themselves to demonstrate, to cause them to "understand by nature" or through reasoned unfolding, the truth about Christ. This was not a novel teaching but an unveiling of what was already written. The fact that Paul's custom was to reason from the Scriptures emphasizes the centrality of the Old Testament in early Christian apologetics. His argument was a theological exegesis, aimed at convincing the Jewish audience by demonstrating the coherence of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection with God's prior revelations. This method aimed to build faith from within the framework of their existing understanding and belief system.

Acts 17 3 Commentary

Paul's strategy in Thessalonica mirrors his broader approach: establish common ground in scripture, present Christ as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and emphasize His suffering and resurrection as necessary elements of God's plan. His methodical "explaining and proving" signifies that faith in Christ was not a blind leap but a reasoned conclusion based on divine revelation. This verse underscores that the Christian message is deeply rooted in Jewish history and scripture, presenting Jesus as the answer to Israel's deepest messianic hopes and the theological necessities of atonement and victory over death.