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Acts 17:12

in Acts 17

As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.

KJV

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

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This verse in Acts 17

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Ammonius of Alexandria

CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17.12-13 · Written before 300.

They did not investigate like skeptical people, because they had already believed, but like people who were unaware of the prophets' ancient doctrine. Or rather, they believed more because, after examining the Scriptures, they saw that the circumstances of the incarnation of the Lord agreed …

This site's exposition

sent away Paul and Silas by night

on Acts 17:10-12

The brethren send Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and the Bereans searched the scriptures daily to test what they heard, more noble than those in Thessalonica in Luke's own verdict on their manner of receiving the word. Their nobility is not credulity but its opposite, readiness of mind joined to the discipline of checking the preacher against the text itself. Many of them believe, honourable Greek women and men not a few, the same mixed harvest of Jew and God-fearing Gentile the mission has gathered everywhere. The bench across the centuries commends Berea as the model hearer, testing every sermon, including its own, against scripture.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 37 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." And here again are Greeks.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Retractions on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

Many indeed believed from among them and from the honorable Greek women, and not a few men. Some manuscripts have better and more consistently according to the Greek example: And not a few men.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Therefore many of them believed,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Therefore many of them believed - From the manner in which they heard, received, and examined the word preached to them, it was not likely they could be deceived. And, as it was the truth that was proclaimed to them, it is no wonder that they apprehended, believed, and embraced it. Of honorable women which were Greeks - Probably mere heathens are meant; and these were some of the chief families in the place. Thus we find that the preaching of Paul at Berea was made the instrument of converting both Jews and Gentiles.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

(3) that no faith but such as results from personal conviction ought to be demanded, or is of any avail. of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men--which were Greeks. not a few--"The upper classes in these European-Greek and Romanized towns were probably better educated than those of Asia Minor" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Therefore many of them believed - As the result of their examination. This result will commonly follow when people search the Scriptures. Much is gained when people can be induced to examine the Bible. We may commonly take it for granted that such an examination will result in their conviction of the truth. The most prominent and usual cause of infidelity is found in the fact that people will not investigate the Scriptures. Many infidels have confessed that they had never carefully read the New Testament. Thomas Paine confessed that he wrote the first part of the Age of Reason without having a Bible at hand, and without its being possible to procure one where he then was (in Paris). “I had,” says he, “neither Bible nor Testament to refer to, though I was writing against both; nor could I procure an” (Age of Reason, p. 65, ed. 1831; also p. 33). None, it may safely be affirmed, have ever read the Scriptures with candor, and with the true spirit of prayer, who have not been convinced of the truth of Christianity, and been brought to submit their souls to its influence and its consolations. The great thing which Christians desire their fellow-men to do is candidly to search the Bible, and when this is done they confidently expect that they will be truly converted to God. Of honourable women - See the notes on Act 13:50.

The words behind it

16 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

14 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ephesians 5:14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”5 worksActs 17:4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.5 worksActs 14:1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.4 worksActs 13:50The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.4 worksActs 17:2–4As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,3 works1 Corinthians 1:26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.3 works
The other 8 cross-references, with their words ▾
Mark 15:43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.3 worksJames 1:21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.2 worksJohn 1:45–49Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”2 worksJames 1:10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.2 worksJohn 7:17If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.2 worksActs 13:46Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.2 worksPsalms 25:8–9Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.2 worksGenesis 34:19The young man, who was the most respected of all his father’s household, did not hesitate to fulfill this request, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Ephesians 5:14

    So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 60:1

      Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

    • Romans 13:11–12

      And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

    • Isaiah 26:19

      Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her…

    • 1 Thessalonians 5:6

      So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.

    • Isaiah 52:1

      Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 1:26

    Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

    it leads to

    • James 2:5

      Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

    • 1 Corinthians 3:18–20

      Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.

    • James 1:9–11

      The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Ascension, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 17 →
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); Ammonius of Alexandria, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 17.12-13; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 37; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 17 →