Acts 17:2
in Acts 17As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,
KJV
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
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This verse in Acts 17
Commentary
9 notes on this verseSince these men opposed the miracles, alleging that Paul and Silas were like deceivers and tricksters, he here appeals to the Scriptures to persuade them that no such suspicion could be held. [CHRYSOSTOM]
This site's exposition
where there was a Jewish synagogue
on Acts 17:1-4
At Thessalonica Paul went into the synagogue, as was his custom, the method he will use again at Berea and Corinth. On three Sabbaths he reasoned from the Scriptures that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.
This site's exposition
on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them
Ramsay takes the three Sabbaths as the synagogue phase of a longer stay. Philippians 4:16 says the church at Philippi sent him aid in Thessalonica more than once. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 has him working night and day there.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Three sabbath-days," it says, being the time when they had leisure from work, "he reasoned with them, opening out of the Scriptures": for so used Christ also to do: as on many occasions we find Him reasoning from the Scriptures, and not on all occasions urging men by miracles. Because to the working of miracles indeed they stood in a posture of hostility, calling them deceivers and jugglers; but he that persuades men by reasons from the Scriptures, is not liable to this imputation. And on many occasions we find Paul to have convinced men simply by force of teaching: and in Antioch "the whole city was gathered together" (ch. xiii. 44): so great a thing is this also, for indeed this itself is no small miracle, nay, it is even a very great one.
The Reformation1 voice
Luke setteth down first what was the sum of the disputation; to wit, that Jesus, the son of Mary, is Christ, who was promised in times past in the law and the prophets, who, by the sacrifice of his death, did make satisfaction for the sins of the world, and brought righteousness and life by his resurrection; secondly, how he proved that which he taught.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
As his manner was - He constantly offered salvation first to the Jews; and for this purpose attended their Sabbath-days’ meetings at their synagogues.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Paul, as his manner was--always to begin with the Jews. went in unto them--In writing to the converts but a few months after this, he reminds them of the courage and superiority to indignity, for the Gospel's sake, which this required after the shameful treatment he had so lately experienced at Philippi (1Th 2:2).
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His manner was - His custom was to attend on the worship of the synagogue, and to preach the gospel to his countrymen first, Act 9:20; Act 13:5, Act 13:14. Reasoned with them - Discoursed to them, or attempted to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. The word used here (διελέγετο dielegeto) often means no more than “to make a public address or discourse.” See the notes on Act 24:25. Out of the scriptures - By many critics this is connected with the following verse, “Opening and alleging from the scriptures that Christ must needs have suffered, etc.” The sense is not varied materially by the change.
The words behind it
18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κατὰ | kata | According to | G2596 → | 468 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εἰωθὸς | eiothos | being customary | G1486 → | |
| τῷ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Παύλῳ | paulo | with Paul | G3972 → | 158 times |
| εἰσῆλθεν | eiselthen | he went in | G1525 → | 194 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτούς, | autous | them, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | for | G1909 → | 883 times |
| σάββατα | sabbata | Sabbaths | G4521 → | 68 times |
| τρία | tria | three | G5140 → | 69 times |
| διελέξατο | dielexato | he reasoned | G1256 → | 13 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | with them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γραφῶν, | graphon | Scriptures, | G1124 → | 49 times |
κατὰAccording to
kataG2596 →468 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εἰωθὸςbeing customary
eiothosG1486 →
τῷ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
Παύλῳwith Paul
pauloG3972 →158 times
εἰσῆλθενhe went in
eiselthenG1525 →194 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτούς,them,
autousG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπὶfor
epiG1909 →883 times
σάββαταSabbaths
sabbataG4521 →68 times
τρίαthree
triaG5140 →69 times
διελέξατοhe reasoned
dielexatoG1256 →13 times
αὐτοῖςwith them
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
γραφῶν,Scriptures,
graphonG1124 →49 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
Isaiah 1:18“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
it leads to
- Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
- Revelation 7:14
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the…
- Psalms 51:7
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
- Micah 7:18–19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Isaiah 43:24–26
You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
- Isaiah 44:22
Through
Acts 9:20Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
it leads to
- John 20:28
Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”
- John 20:28
Through
Acts 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.
it leads to
- Acts 18:4
Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
- Acts 13:51
So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.
- Acts 18:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 37; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.