Acts 17:4 kjv
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Acts 17:4 nkjv
And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
Acts 17:4 niv
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
Acts 17:4 esv
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
Acts 17:4 nlt
Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
Acts 17 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 17:4 | And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. | Paul's converts and association |
| Acts 17:12 | Therefore many of them believed; also of the honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. | Similar reception in Beroea |
| Romans 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's power for Gentiles |
| 1 Corinthians 1:24 | But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. | Christ is power/wisdom for all |
| Galatians 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 |
| Colossians 3:11 | Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. | Christ transcends divisions |
| John 1:12 | But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: | Receiving Christ |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. | Salvation through belief |
| Acts 16:14 | And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she should attend unto the things which were spoken of Paul. | Lydia's conversion |
| Acts 16:33 | And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. | Ethiopian eunuch's baptism |
| Acts 18:8 | And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed, and were baptized. | Crispus and Corinthians believe |
| 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 | But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. | Spiritual blindness |
| Ephesians 2:1-3 | And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. | Past state of Gentiles |
| Titus 2:11 | For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, | Grace for all men |
| 1 Timothy 2:4 | Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. | God's desire for salvation |
| Acts 13:43 | Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. | Early gentile converts |
| 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. | Similar event in Iconium |
| 1 Peter 4:3 | For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: | Former Gentile lifestyle |
| Revelation 22:17 | And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. | Invitation to all |
| Acts 17:18 | Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He is a reporter of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. | Athenian philosophical encounters |
| Acts 17:34 | Howbeit certain men which cleaved unto him and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. | Specific Athenian converts |
Acts 17 verses
Acts 17 4 Meaning
The verse describes a group of devout Greeks and prominent women who, upon hearing Paul's preaching, joined with him and Silas, believing the message. This signifies the receptiveness of some Gentiles to the Gospel and the beginning of the church's expansion beyond Judaism.
Acts 17 4 Context
This verse is found in the Apostle Paul's missionary journey as described in the book of Acts. Paul and Silas had arrived in Thessalonica, a major port city and the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. Paul, as was his custom, went to the synagogue. For three Sabbath days, he reasoned with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, explaining and demonstrating from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. His preaching was effective, leading some of the Jewish believers and a large number of devout Greeks, along with prominent women, to believe in Jesus and join Paul and Silas.
Acts 17 4 Word Analysis
καί (kai): "and" - a conjunctive particle connecting elements, showing progression or addition.
τινες (tines): "some" - indefinite pronoun, referring to an unspecified number of individuals.
ἐξ αὐτῶν (ex autōn): "from among them" - pronoun and preposition indicating origin or belonging to the group previously mentioned (likely the synagogue attendees, both Jewish and Gentile).
ἐπίστευσαν (episteusan): "believed" - aorist indicative active verb from πιστεύω (pisteuō), meaning to have faith in, trust, rely on. This signifies a decisive act of acceptance and commitment.
καὶ (kai): "and" - continuing the enumeration of results.
προσεκλίθησαν (proseklithēsan): "clung to" or "joined themselves to" - aorist indicative passive verb from προσκλίνω (prosklínō). The passive voice here indicates they were influenced or drew themselves to, suggesting a deliberate adherence and close fellowship.
τῷ τε Παύλῳ (tō te Paulō): "both to Paul" - dative case, indicating the object of their adherence. "Te" is a particle often used with the first of a pair, meaning "both".
καὶ Σίλᾳ (kai Sila): "and Silas" - dative case, also an object of their adherence.
ἀπό τε τῶν θεοσεβῶν Ἑλλήνων (apos te tōn theosebōn Hellēnōn): "and from the devout Greeks" - prepositional phrase and genitive noun phrases.
- ἀπό (apo): "from" - preposition.
- θεοσεβῶν (theosebōn): "God-fearing" - genitive plural adjective from θεόσεβος (theosebēs), describing Gentiles who worshipped the God of Israel but had not formally converted to Judaism (i.e., were not proselytes). They were already influenced by Jewish monotheism and scriptures.
- Ἑλλήνων (Hellēnōn): "Greeks" - genitive plural noun, referring to Gentiles, not necessarily by ethnicity but by cultural affiliation or as a general term for non-Jews.
πλεῖστον (pleiston): "a great multitude" or "most" - accusative neuter singular adjective from πολύς (polys), modifying the implied noun "multitude." It emphasizes the large number of Greek converts.
καὶ (kai): "and" - introducing another category of believers.
γυναικῶν τῶν ἐνδόξων (gunaikōn tōn endoxōn): "of the notable women" or "of the chief women" - genitive plural noun and adjective.
- γυναικῶν (gunaikōn): "women" - genitive plural noun from γυνή (gynē).
- τῶν ἐνδόξων (tōn endoxōn): "the notable" or "distinguished" - genitive plural definite article and adjective from ἔνδοξος (endoxos), signifying women of high social standing or reputation.
οὐκ ὀλίγαι (ouk oligai): "not a few" or "many" - a litotes (understatement for emphasis), indicating a significant number.
Group Analysis (Devout Greeks and Notable Women): The specific mention of "devout Greeks" highlights a significant group who were already on the periphery of Judaism, showing a prepared spiritual receptiveness. The inclusion of "notable women" indicates the societal reach of the Gospel, impacting influential members of the community. This reflects a pattern in early Christianity where women often played significant roles in the formation of churches.
Acts 17 4 Bonus Section
The term "devout Greeks" (θεοσεβῶν Ἑλλήνων - theosebōn Hellēnōn) is significant. These were Gentile sympathizers of Judaism who regularly attended synagogue services, honored the God of Israel, and observed certain Jewish customs but had not undergone full conversion, which would include circumcision for men and ritual immersion for both. They represented a receptive audience for the Gospel as they already understood the foundational principles of monotheism and were familiar with Hebrew scripture. The Apostle Paul frequently targeted this group in his evangelism, recognizing their spiritual openness. This contrasts with the reaction of the Jews in the synagogue, many of whom rejected the Gospel, leading to persecution. The detailed recording of their belief emphasizes God's power to draw people from various backgrounds to Christ. The prominent women becoming believers further shows the gospel's disruptive and inclusive nature in the ancient world, where women often had a more constrained public role. Their prominence meant their conversion could have a significant ripple effect within the community.
Acts 17 4 Commentary
This verse marks a critical moment in Paul's ministry in Thessalonica. The initial outreach in the synagogue yielded fruit, not only from the expected Jewish audience but also from the Gentile God-fearers and influential women. This validates the universal scope of the Gospel message, which Paul proclaimed was for "the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16). The phrase "clung to Paul and Silas" suggests not just intellectual assent but a deep commitment and desire for fellowship and further instruction. The inclusion of prominent women underscores that faith transcended social strata. Their conversion, along with many devout Greeks, became a catalyst for the Jewish leaders' envy and the subsequent persecution Paul and Silas faced, as noted in the following verses. This incident illustrates God working through Paul to establish a church in a new gentile city, fulfilling the Great Commission.