Acts 17:5 kjv
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 17:5 nkjv
But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 17:5 niv
But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
Acts 17:5 esv
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
Acts 17:5 nlt
But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.
Acts 17 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 17:4 | "Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas..." | Direct lead-in |
| Acts 17:6 | "...they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials..." | Direct continuation |
| Romans 16:21 | "Timothy my fellow worker greets you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen." | Mentions Jason as a fellow worker |
| 1 Corinthians 1:1 | "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..." | Paul's apostolic authority |
| Philippians 1:7 | "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, because you have me in your hearts..." | Gentile inclusion |
| Ephesians 6:10 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." | Need for spiritual strength |
| 2 Timothy 3:12 | "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..." | Persecution as expected |
| John 15:18 | "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." | Christ's experience |
| Matthew 5:11 | "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." | Beatitude of persecution |
| Galatians 5:22 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness..." | Contrast with mob action |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:2 | "We had already suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel..." | Past persecution |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:7 | "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." | God's calling |
| Romans 13:1-7 | "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities..." | Relationship with authorities |
| 1 Peter 2:13 | "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority..." | Submission to authorities |
| Colossians 2:6 | "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him..." | Living in Christ |
| 1 Thessalonians 3:3 | "...so that no one should be moved by these troubles. You know very well that we are destined for them." | Perseverance in tribulation |
| John 18:36 | "Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews.'" | Nature of Christ's kingdom |
| Acts 16:20 | "...and said, 'These men are Jewish, and they are throwing our city into an uproar...'" | Echo of Philippi accusation |
| 1 Corinthians 4:12 | "...when reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure..." | Apostolic response to opposition |
| 1 Peter 3:15 | "...but even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed." | Suffering for righteousness |
| Romans 8:35 | "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" | Unwavering love of God |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:14 | "For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for even you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews," | Shared suffering |
Acts 17 verses
Acts 17 5 Meaning
The believers in Thessalonica, agitated by jealousy, formed a mob and attacked Jason's house. Their intention was to seize Paul and Silas and bring them before the assembled crowd, likely the city council or a similar authority, accusing them of acting against Caesar's decrees by proclaiming another king, Jesus.
Acts 17 5 Context
In Acts chapter 17, Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica, a prominent city in Macedonia. They preach in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, drawing both Jews and Gentiles to Christ. Some Jews, however, become jealous of their success and the following Paul and Silas gain. This opposition escalates into open hostility. The immediate context of verse 5 is the eruption of this hostility, fueled by envy and a misunderstanding of the Gospel. The broader context is Paul's missionary journey into the Greco-Roman world, encountering diverse cultural and religious environments, and the resistance he often faced from established Jewish communities.
Acts 17 5 Word Analysis
"But when" (δὲ ζηλώσαντες - de zelōsantes) - "But" (δὲ - de) indicates a strong contrast to the previous success and conversion. "Being zealous" or "envying" (ζηλώσαντες - zelōsantes) highlights the emotion driving the opposition. This zeal, in this case, is a negative, destructive envy rooted in their own perceived loss of influence and spiritual authority.
"the Jews" (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi Ioudaioi) - Refers specifically to the Jewish community in Thessalonica, particularly those who resisted Paul's message and likely felt threatened by the conversion of Gentiles.
"moved with jealousy" (ζηλώσαντες - zelōsantes) - Reaffirms the motivation behind their actions. This jealousy wasn't just a fleeting emotion but a deeply ingrained reaction to seeing their core beliefs challenged and their followers attracted to a new message. It's a hostile zeal.
"took along" (συνέλαβον - synelabOn) - "Seized" or "laid hold of." This implies a forceful and concerted action.
"certain wicked fellows" (τινας ἀργοὺς ἄνδρας - tinas argous andras) - "Idle" or "wicked men." The term ἀργούς (argous) can imply "idle" but in this context, given the violent action, it more strongly suggests "worthless," "ne'er-do-wells," or "scoundrels" – individuals easily instigated and prone to violence. They were likely ruffians or agitators.
"of the baser sort" (ἀγοραίους - agoraious) - Refers to men from the marketplace or public assembly, suggesting they were part of the common crowd, perhaps unemployed or of low social standing, making them susceptible to mob manipulation. It implies a social class of commoners or even vagrants.
"and gathering a crowd" (καὶ συνιστῶντες ὄχλον - kai synistōntes ochlon) - "Gathering" or "instigating" a crowd (ὄχλον - ochlon). This shows the deliberate act of forming a mob, aiming to create public disturbance and apply pressure through numbers and intimidation.
"raised a tumult" (ἐθορύβουν - ethoruboun) - "Caused a disturbance" or "uproar." This verb describes the chaos and commotion they initiated in the city.
"assaulted" (ἐπέθεντο - epehento) - A strong verb indicating an attack or violent action against a house.
"Jason's house" (τὴν Ἰάσονος οἰκίαν - tēn Iasonos oikian) - Jason is identified elsewhere (Romans 16:21) as a kinsman of Paul and a fellow worker. His house was a base for Paul and Silas, making it a target for the opposition.
"and sought to bring them out unto the people" (καὶ ἐζήτουν αὐτοὺς προαγαγεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον - kai ezētoun autous proagein eis ton dēmon) - They "sought" or "endeavored" to bring Paul and Silas out to the public assembly or forum. The term δῆμον (dēmon) refers to the populace or the public gathering, where they intended to present their charges. This demonstrates a desire for a public spectacle and judgment.
"to the lawless crowd" (εἰς τὸν δῆμον - eis ton dēmon) - Interpreted here in some contexts as "lawless" due to the nature of the mob's actions, which disregarded civil order. However, more strictly, it refers to the "assembly of the people."
Acts 17 5 Bonus Section
This verse reveals the intense animosity generated by the spread of the Gospel. The accusation that Paul and Silas were acting contrary to Caesar's decrees by proclaiming another king, Jesus, reveals a core political dimension to early Christian evangelism. For the Roman Empire, the idea of another king was inherently threatening to their authority. This event, leading to Jason's legal entanglement, likely explains why Paul and Silas were forced to leave Thessalonica that night (Acts 17:10), shifting their ministry to Berea. It also showcases the proactive, albeit malicious, use of public opinion and legalistic framing by opponents of the faith.
Acts 17 5 Commentary
The jealousy of the unrepentant Jews ignited a violent backlash, demonstrating the potent combination of religious opposition and social agitation. By targeting Jason's house and seeking a public confrontation, they aimed to silence the Gospel through intimidation and appeal to the Roman authorities, accusing Paul and Silas of sedition. This highlights the consistent pattern of persecution faced by early Christians, who were often branded as disturbers of the peace due to their allegiance to Christ as King. The believers' resilience, however, is implicitly shown in their enduring such hostility.