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Acts 17:4

in Acts 17

Some 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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

KJV

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

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This verse in Acts 17

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Acts · Written before 1107.

"Of the Greeks that worshipped God a great multitude." By Greeks he means Jews who spoke Greek, or else he means proselytes numbered among the Jews, from among the Greeks. He calls them worshippers of God because they observed the Law.

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

quite a few leading women

Women of rank held an unusual public standing in Macedonia, and inscriptions there honour them by name, as J. B. Lightfoot and Ramsay both noted. First Thessalonians 1:9 adds that many converts turned to God from idols. The church was largely Greek.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers4 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 37 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few." The writer mentions only the sum and substance of the discoursing: he is not given to redundancy, and does not on every occasion report the sermons.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 37 · Written before 407.

proposed

And that they might not think that they did it all by their own strength, but rather that God permitted it, two things resulted, namely, "Some of them were persuaded," and others did the contrary: the Jews moved with envy. And from the fact that the being called was itself a matter of God's fore-ordering, they neither thought great things of themselves as if the triumph were their own, nor were terrified as being responsible for all.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 37 · Written before 407.

proposed

The "devout Greeks" would include such as were Jewish proselytes and such as were worshippers of the true God and attended the synagogue services, without being connected with Judaism. The "first women" were probably female proselytes to Judaism. These heard the Apostle with interest, but the more ardent and fanatical Jews, reinforced by the baser element - the loungers from the market place, made a tumult of opposition.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on Acts · Written before 550.

proposed

He calls them devout [Σεβομένους] Greeks, who, although they were from the Jews, nevertheless spoke Greek: devout because they observed the law; or proselytes of the Jews who were from the Greeks.

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Acts · Written before 735.

proposed

And a great multitude of worshipers and Gentiles; that is, both those who had exchanged their gentile rites for Judaism and those who had remained entirely Gentiles, many joined to Christ.
6 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

These were hoi sebomenoi Hellenes -- the worshipping Gentiles; as in America they call those of the natives that are converted to the faith of Christ the praying Indians. These were admitted to join with the Jews in their synagogue-worship.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

So that their embracing the Gospel was a stronger evidence of the power of him whose strength is perfected in weakness, as a stronger assistance of the Holy Spirit was needful for them to overcome their natural fearfulness.
And some of them believed,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

The devout Greeks - That is, Gentiles who were proselytes to the Jewish religion, so far as to renounce idolatry, and live a moral life, but probably had not received circumcision.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

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).
And consorted - Literally, had their lot with Paul and Silas; that is, they united themselves to them, and became their disciples. The word is commonly applied to those who are partakers of an inheritance. And of the devout Greeks - Religious Greeks; or, of those who worshipped God. Those are denoted who had renounced the worship of idols, and who attended on the worship of the synagogue, but who were not fully admitted to the privileges of Jewish proselytes. They were called, by the Jews, proselytes of the gate. And of the chief women - See the notes on Act 13:50.

The words behind it

24 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

18 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.

Acts 17:12As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.5 worksActs 13:43After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.4 worksActs 14:4The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.4 worksIsaiah 56:3Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”4 worksJohn 12:20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the feast.4 works2 Corinthians 8:5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,3 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.3 worksActs 28:24Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.3 worksActs 17:34But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.3 worksActs 18:7So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.3 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.3 worksActs 2:44All the believers were together and had everything in common.2 worksActs 15:40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.2 worksProverbs 9:6Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”2 worksActs 5:12–14The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade.2 worksZechariah 8:20–23This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come—the residents of many cities—2 worksActs 2:41–42Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.2 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

    Acts 13:43

    After the synagogue was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.

    it leads to

    • Acts 11:23

      When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

    • Acts 14:22

      strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

    • Hebrews 13:9

      Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to…

  • Through

    Acts 15:22

    Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among…

    it leads to

    • Acts 15:27

      Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 8:5

    And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

    it leads to

    • Romans 12:1

      Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

    • Romans 6:13

      Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of…

  • Through

    Acts 17:12

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

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 5:14

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

  • Through

    Acts 14:4

    The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.

    it leads to

    • Acts 28:24

      Some of them were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 17 →
This page draws on 13 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. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Philippians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 37; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Theophylact of Ohrid, 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.

Read on in Acts 17 →