Acts 17:1
in Acts 17When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
KJV
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
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This verse in Acts 17
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThey pass by the small cities "Amphipolis and Apollonia" and hurry to the large ones, since from the latter the word of God was to spread to the neighboring cities. "They came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue." Although Paul had said, "But …
This site's exposition
a synagogue of the Jews
on Acts 17:1-4
Paul reaches Thessalonica by way of Amphipolis and Apollonia and finds a synagogue of the Jews, and Luke notes as his manner was, the settled practice of a lifetime carried into a new city. Three sabbaths he reasons from the scriptures, opening and alleging that the Christ must suffer and rise, the same method he will use at Berea and Corinth. A great multitude of devout Greeks and not a few of the chief women believe alongside some of the Jews, the God-fearing Gentile hearers Luke elsewhere calls sebomenoi responding first. The bench reads the pattern as Paul's own, synagogue first, scripture argued, Gentile God-fearers gathered in alongside the remnant who believe.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Again they haste past the small cities, and press on to the greater ones, since from those the word was to flow as from a fountain into the neighboring cities. "And Paul, as his manner was, went into the synagogue of the Jews." Although he had said, "We turn to the Gentiles" (ch. xiii. 46), he did not leave these alone: such was the longing affection he had towards them. For hear him saying, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved" (Rom. x. 1): and, "I wished myself accursed from Christ for my brethren." (ib. ix. 3.) But he did this because of God's promise and the glory: and this, that it might not be a cause of offence to the Gentiles.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17.1 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
Again they pass through the small towns and hurry to the biggest, since the word was to flow to nearby cities as from a source.
The Reformation1 voice
And whereas being beaten at Philippos, [Philippi,] and scarce escaping out of great danger, he preached Christ at Thessalonica, it appeareth thereby how courageous he was to keep the course of his calling, and how bold he was ever now and then to enter into new dangers.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Now when they had passed through Amphipolls,....
Sabbaths and solemn assemblies are always very precious to those to whom Christ is precious, Ps. lxxxiv. It is good being in the house of the Lord on his day. This was Christ's manner, and Paul's manner, and has been the manner of all the saints, the good old way which they have walked in.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Amphipolis - This was the capital of the eastern province of Macedonia. It was originally a colony of the Athenians, but under the Romans it was made the capital of that part of Macedonia. It was near to Thrace, and was situated not far from the mouth of the river Strymon, which flowed around the city, and thus occasioned its name, around the city.
Passed through Amphipolis - This city was the metropolis of the first division of Macedonia, as made by Paulus Aemilius: see the note on Act 16:10. It was builded by Cimon, the Athenian general, who sent 10,000 Athenians thither as a colony. It stood in an island in the river Strymon, and had its name of Amphipolis because included between the two grand branches of that river where they empty themselves into the sea, the river being on both sides of the city. Apollonia - This was another city of Macedonia, between Amphipolis and Thessalonica. It does not appear that St. Paul stopped at any of these cities: and they are only mentioned by the historian as places through which the apostles passed on their way to Thessalonica. It is very likely that in these cities there were no Jews; and that might have been the reason why the apostles did not preach the Gospel there, for we find them almost constantly beginning with the Jews; and the Hellenist Jews, living among the Gentiles, became the medium through which the Gospel of Christ was conveyed to the heathen world. Thessalonica - This was a celebrated city of Macedonia, situated on what was called the Thermaic Gulf. According to Stephanus Byzantinus, it was embellished and enlarged by Philip, king of Macedon, who called it Thessalonica, the victory of Thessalia, on account of the victory he obtained there over the Thessalians; but, prior to this, it was called Thermae. But Strabo, Tzetzes, and Zonaras, say that it was called Thessalonica, from Thessalonica, wife of Cassander, and daughter of Philip. It is now in possession of the Turks, and is called Salonichi, which is a mere corruption of the original name. A synagogue of the Jews - Ἡ συναγωγη, The synagogue; for the article here must be considered as emphatic, there probably being no other synagogue in any other city in Macedonia. […]
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Διοδεύσαντες | diodeusantes | Having passed through | G1353 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀμφίπολιν | amphipolin | Amphipolis | G295 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀπολλωνίαν | apollonian | Apollonia | G624 → | |
| ἦλθον | elthon | they came | G2064 → | 628 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| Θεσσαλονίκην, | thessaloniken | Thessalonica, | G2332 → | 5 times |
| ὅπου | hopou | where | G3699 → | |
| ἦν | en | was | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| συναγωγὴ | sunagoge | a synagogue | G4864 → | 56 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰουδαίων. | ioudaion | Jews. | G2453 → | 192 times |
ΔιοδεύσαντεςHaving passed through
diodeusantesG1353 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἈμφίπολινAmphipolis
amphipolinG295 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἈπολλωνίανApollonia
apollonianG624 →
ἦλθονthey came
elthonG2064 →628 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
Θεσσαλονίκην,Thessalonica,
thessalonikenG2332 →5 times
ὅπουwhere
hopouG3699 →
ἦνwas
enG1510 →2333 times
συναγωγὴa synagogue
sunagogeG4864 →56 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
Ἰουδαίων.Jews.
ioudaionG2453 →192 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
it leads to
- 1 John 2:15–16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 2 Timothy 1:15
You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
- Colossians 4:14–15
Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas send you greetings.
- 1 John 2:15–16
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
it leads to
- Romans 1:7
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
- Romans 1:7
Through
Acts 20:4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
it leads to
- Acts 19:29
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
- Ephesians 6:21
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know about me and what I am doing.
- Acts 19:29
Through
Philippians 4:16For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Where this verse is studied
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About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 37; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17.1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.