Acts 17:3
in Acts 17explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
KJV
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
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This verse in Acts 17
Commentary
13 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
the Christ had to suffer and rise
The verb for explaining means to open, and Luke used it of the risen Jesus opening the Scriptures at Luke 24:32 and 24:45. Paul argues from the Scriptures the same necessity Jesus taught at Luke 24:26. Then he names Jesus as the Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"That the Christ," he says, "must needs have suffered." If there was a necessity for His suffering, there was assuredly a necessity for His rising again: for the former was far more wonderful than the latter. For if He gave Him up to death Who had done no wrong, much rather did He raise Him up again.
"Opening," it says, "from the Scriptures, he reasoned with them for three sabbaths, putting before them that the Christ must suffer." Do thou mark how before all other things he preaches the Passion: so little were they ashamed of it, knowing it to be the cause of salvation.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and that this Jesus is the Christ. Among the Scriptures, the Father indicated both that Christ must suffer and rise, and that this very suffering and resurrection pertains to no one other …
"Paul… spoke with them from the Scriptures, opening and demonstrating to them that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead." First of all he preaches about the suffering, since he recognized this as salvific.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The cross of Christ was to the Jews a stumbling-block, because it did by no means agree with the idea they had framed of the Messiah; but Paul here alleges and makes it out undeniably, not only that it was possible he might be the Messiah, though he suffered, but that, being the Messiah, it was necessary he should suffer.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Opening,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Opening - διανοίγων dianoigōn. See Luk 24:32. The word means to explain or to unfold. It is usually applied to what is shut, as the eye, etc. Then it means to explain what is concealed or obscure. It means here that he explained the Scriptures in their true sense. And alleging - παρατιθέμενος paratithemenos. Laying down the proposition; that is, maintaining that it must be so. That Christ must needs have suffered - That there was a fitness and necessity in his dying, as Jesus of Nazareth had done.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered, &c.--His preaching, it seems, was chiefly expository, and designed to establish from the Old Testament Scriptures (1) that the predicted Messiah was to be a suffering and dying, and therefore a rising, Messiah; (2) that this Messiah was none other than Jesus of Nazareth.
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).
Opening and alleging - Παρατιθεμνος, Proving by citations. His method seems to have been this: 1st. He collected the scriptures that spoke of the Messiah. 2d. He applied these to Jesus Christ, showing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled, and that he was the Savior of whom they were in expectation. He showed also that the Christ, or Messiah, must needs suffer - that this was predicted, and was an essential mark of the true Messiah. By proving this point, he corrected their false notion of a triumphant Messiah, and thus removed the scandal of the cross.
The words behind it
24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| διανοίγων | dianoigon | opening | G1272 → | 8 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρατιθέμενος | paratithemenos | setting forth | G3908 → | 19 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χριστὸν | christon | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ἔδει | edei | it was being necessary | G1163 → | 101 times |
| παθεῖν | pathein | to have suffered | G3958 → | 42 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀναστῆναι | anastenai | to have risen | G450 → | 107 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| νεκρῶν | nekron | [the] dead | G3498 → | 128 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| οὗτός | houtos | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χριστὸς | christos | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦς | iesous | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐγὼ | ego | I myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| καταγγέλλω | katangello | preach | G2605 → | 17 times |
| ὑμῖν. | humin | to you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
διανοίγωνopening
dianoigonG1272 →8 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρατιθέμενοςsetting forth
paratithemenosG3908 →19 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
χριστὸνChrist
christonG5547 →523 times
ἔδειit was being necessary
edeiG1163 →101 times
παθεῖνto have suffered
patheinG3958 →42 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀναστῆναιto have risen
anastenaiG450 →107 times
ἐκout from
ekG1537 →911 times
νεκρῶν[the] dead
nekronG3498 →128 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
οὗτόςthis
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
χριστὸςChrist
christosG5547 →523 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἸησοῦςJesus
iesousG2424 →908 times
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
ἐγὼI myself
egoG1473 →839 times
καταγγέλλωpreach
katangelloG2605 →17 times
ὑμῖν.to you.
huminG4771 →2973 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
Luke 24:46And He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
it leads to
- Isaiah 53:2–12
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.
- Luke 24:44
Jesus said to them, “These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
- Isaiah 53:2–12
Through
Acts 9:22But Saul was empowered all the more, and he confounded the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.
it leads to
- Acts 18:5
And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 18:5
Through
Luke 24:32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
it leads to
- Luke 24:45
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
- Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Psalms 39:3
My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
- Luke 24:45
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this verse
About Acts
This page draws on 12 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); Bede, Commentary on Acts; J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.