Acts 17 7

Acts 17:7 kjv

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Acts 17:7 nkjv

Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king?Jesus."

Acts 17:7 niv

and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus."

Acts 17:7 esv

and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

Acts 17:7 nlt

And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus."

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 7 Meaning

The verse describes a group of Jews in Thessalonica who, following the customs of their worship, were angered by Paul and Silas. They perceived their preaching of Jesus as a defiance of Caesar and an allegiance to another king, Jesus.

Acts 17 7 Context

In Acts chapter 17, Paul and Silas travel to Thessalonica, a prominent city in Macedonia. They enter the synagogue, a Jewish place of worship, and for three Sabbaths, they reasoned with the Jews, explaining and showing from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom Paul proclaimed, was the Christ. While some Jews and a large number of devout Greeks, along with several prominent women, believed and joined Paul and Silas, a faction of unbelieving Jews became jealous. This jealousy incited them to gather a mob from the marketplace, stirring up a riot. They attacked the house of Jason, where Paul and Silas were staying, intending to bring them out to the crowd. When they couldn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting their accusations. This verse records the specific charges they leveled against Paul and Silas to provoke the authorities.

Acts 17 7 Word Analysis

• οὗτοί (houtoi) - These. A demonstrative pronoun, referring specifically to Paul and Silas.
• ἀνθρώπους (anthrōpous) - Men. Refers to persons, human beings.
• πάντας (pantas) - All. Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their actions.
• κατὰ (kata) - Against, contrary to, according to. Here it signifies opposition or violation of.
• τῶν (tōn) - The. Definite article.
• δεδογμάτων (dedogmatōn) - Decrees, edicts, pronouncements. Refers to the official laws or ordinances issued by Roman authorities, in this case, Caesar.
• Καίσαρος (Kaisaros) - Caesar's. Possessive case of Caesar, referring to the reigning Roman Emperor and his legal authority.
• ἀντιλέγοντες (antilegontes) - Saying the contrary, opposing, contradicting. The present participle of antilegō, indicating ongoing opposition or defiance.
• καὶ (kai) - And. Conjunction.
• ἄλλον (allon) - Another.
• βασιλέα (basilea) - King. Referring to a sovereign ruler.
• εἶναι (einai) - To be. Infinitive.
• λέγουσιν (legousin) - They say. Present indicative of legō, indicating their current proclamation.
• Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun) - Jesus. The name of the Messiah.

Words Group Analysis:

• "πάντας ... κατὰ τῶν δεδογμάτων Καίσαρος": This phrase highlights the accusation that Paul and Silas were acting in direct violation of Caesar's established laws and decrees. This was a serious charge in the Roman Empire, as loyalty to Caesar was paramount.
• "ἀντιλέγοντες καὶ ἄλλον βασιλέα εἶναι, Ἰησοῦν": This is the core of their accusation. They are charging Paul and Silas with claiming the existence of another king, Jesus, who supersedes Caesar. This presented Jesus as a political rival to Roman authority, which was a dangerous claim.

Acts 17 7 Bonus Section

The accusation "saying that there is another king, one Jesus" is a shrewd distortion. While Paul and Silas certainly proclaimed Jesus as King, they were proclaiming a spiritual and heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one that sought to overthrow Rome. Jesus himself stated, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). The early Christians' allegiance to Christ as King was a matter of eternal Lordship, not immediate temporal political power. The Jews, however, understood "king" in a purely political, temporal sense and twisted this truth to their advantage, playing on the Roman authorities' fear of rebellion. This verse demonstrates the volatile mix of religious zeal, envy, and political pragmatism that often characterized early encounters between the Gospel and existing power structures. The pursuit of "a quiet and peaceable life" (1 Tim 2:2), which Christians should exemplify, is endangered when opponents falsely paint them as threats to the state.

Acts 17 7 Commentary

The Thessalonian Jews, motivated by envy and misunderstanding, distorted Paul and Silas's message to make it appear treasonous. By declaring Jesus as "another king," they exploited the Roman sensitivity to any challenge to Caesar's supreme authority. Their aim was to leverage the Roman legal system against the apostles, transforming a theological dispute into a charge of sedition. This strategy reflects a common tactic used by opponents of Christianity: to misrepresent the gospel as a threat to civil order, thereby eliciting persecution from governing authorities. The Christians' primary allegiance is to Christ, their King, but this is not a political dominion that conflicts with earthly authorities. The apostles consistently taught obedience to rulers, but never at the expense of obedience to God.