Acts 17:1-4:
17:1But having traveled-through Amphipolis and Apollonia they went into Thessalonica where there was a synagogue of the Judeans; .2and according to the-thing having been accustomed2 with Paul he went-into (the synagogue) towards them, and on three sabbaths he throughly-spoke with them from the writings, .3throughly-opening and putting-beside that, "It was necessary (for) the Christ to suffer and to be resurrected out-from dead-people," and that, "This Jesus is the Christ whom I message to you." .4And some-people out-from them were persuaded and were thrown-in-the-lot with Paul and Silas, and a big multitude of the Greeks reverencing and not a little of the first women.
After Paul and Silas departed from Philippi, they traveled westward through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia and they went into Thessalonica, which was an important Macedonian city with a large harbor on the coast. In Thessalonica there was a Judean synagogue, and as Paul customarily did when entering cities (it was a habit of his; refer to Acts 13:5 and 14, 14:1, 18:4 and 19, 19:8), he went towards the Judeans in the synagogue for three sabbaths and he spoke back-and-forth with them from the writings.
Paul throughly spoke (conversed, discussed, had dialogue) with them taking the source of what he was saying from the scrolls (the scriptures which he had available to him to use) by completely or fully opening up the scriptures which had been closed to their mind's understanding before this. He placed what he was teaching beside them so that they could take it as a deposit in their-own keeping.
He was teaching them quoting passages from the scriptures that it was necessary (binding, needful, an obligation) for the Christ to suffer (for the Messiah, the Anointed-one to be affected by and experience many things, which included his crucifixion, death and burial) and it was necessary for the Christ to be resurrected (caused to stand-up by God) from among the rest of the people who are still dead! He also told them that the Jesus whom he is talking about is the Christ whom emphatically he was messaging to them.
Some of the Thessalonian people of the Judean background who were in the synagogue during these three sabbaths became persuaded (willingly convinced) regarding what Paul was teaching them directly from the scriptures. And they teamed-up with Paul and Silas becoming holy-people and inheritors also of all God has promised. Some of the new holy-people were from a big multitude of the Greeks (Hellenists) who were reverentially respectful towards God, plus a large number of the leading ladies (the prominent women) in Thessalonica, who had also attended the synagogue meetings to learn about the only true God.
[Reference: Genesis 3:15; Psalm 2:7, 110; Isaiah chapter 53; Luke 24:32 and 45; Acts 13:33, 15:40, 16:14, 18:28; Romans 15:4, 16:25 and 26; I Corinthians 15:3 and 4; Philippians 4:16; I Thessalonians chapters 1 and 2, and 4:13-17; II Thessalonians 3:7-10; II Timothy 3:16.]
Verses 5-9:
.5But the Judeans, having been jealous-against (Paul and those with him), and having taken-towards-themselves some evil adult-males of the marketplaces, and having made-a-crowd, caused-a-tumult-in the city, and having stood-on Jason's house they sought-after them to lead (them) forth into the people. .6But not having found them they hauled Jason and some brothers on the city-rulers crying-aloud that, "These-people, having unsettled the inhabited-area, are also present in-here, .7whom Jason accepted-underneath2 (his roof), and all these-people practice before the decrees of Caesar saying Jesus to be a different king." .8And they disturbed the crowd and the city-rulers hearing these-things; .9and having received the sufficient (money) from Jason and the remaining-people they loosened them.
But the people of the Judean background who refused to believe what God said, which Paul and those with him were teaching in the synagogue, were jealous against them. They were zealous (had a boiling or vehement passion) in the bad sense and therefore were very-much against them – even to the point of receiving into their-own company some men who actively practiced evil and who idly hung-around the marketplaces (public places in the city where people would convene for different reasons, such as trading, business, public speaking, etc, courts or forums were held there from time to time).
Then they raised a mob and uproar among the people in the city and they quickly approached and took their position standing in a hostile manner outside Jason's house (possibly the same Jason referenced in Romans 16:21). They looked for Paul and those with him to come out from where they were staying as guests, so that they could bring them in front of the people of Thessalonica.
However, when they could not find Paul and those with him, these Judeans forcefully dragged Jason and some of the brothers (the holy-people who were inside the house) down to the city-rulers (people who were in first-placed positions of authority in that city). They were yelling (bellowing) that –
And so, these Judeans disturbed the crowd of people and the city-rulers on hearing these accusations (they stirred them up, agitated them, just like a normally calm pool of water is agitated and moves when something else is thrown into it breaking through its surface and causing a rippling effect over the whole pool).
When these Judeans received enough (a sufficient amount of) money as security or bail from Jason and the rest of the holy-people (Christians) and thus satisfying them, they unbound them and let them go away.
[Reference: Acts 8:3, 14:19; I Thessalonians 2:14-16.]
Verses 10-12:
.10But the brothers immediately by means of night sent-out both Paul and Silas into Berea, the-people-who having arrived went-away into the synagogue of the Judeans, .11and these-people were more-well-genus-than the (unbelieving Judeans) in Thessalonica (because they were) the-people-who accepted the word with all eagerness, daily judging-up the writings (to verify) if these-things may have thus; .12therefore indeed many-people out-from them believed, and of the Greek women, the decorous (women), and adult-males not a little.
Straightaway the brothers (brothers because of having the same holy spirit-life within them being children of the only true God) sent Paul and Silas out from the city of Thessalonica during the night-time darkness and into the city of Berea, which was about thirty miles to the west.
And what do you think Paul and Silas did when they arrived (came beside, became present) in Berea? Yes, they went into the Judean synagogue and taught them God's Word! They had not been deterred from their assignment (mission) even though some people in Thessalonica had treated them so badly.
These Berean people, who heard Paul and those with him teaching the good-message, were “more well genus” than the unbelieving people in Thessalonica. This is a figure of speech because these words are not to be taken literally, which would be: people having a comparatively more-good or better descent, race, lineage, as though God was referring to their being more well born, having a better genealogy, more noble descent. We know it is a figure of speech because God explains the figure to us: the people in Berea accepted (welcomed, subjectively took or received to themselves what was presented to them, which was) the Word of God in company and association with all eagerness (every readiness, willing enthusiasm, alacrity of a willing mind beforehand) throughout the day and from-day-to-day carefully examining (investigating) the writings, which were the scrolls on which the old covenant was written, checking out for themselves to see if what they were being taught by Paul and those with him could truly be in the manner that they said it was.
These Bereans were checking it out for themselves – they didn't just take somebody's word for it! They opened the writings and looked for the reference and found it and made sure that it was exactly the same as what Paul and those with him said that it was. Today, we too are to do this.
Therefore indeed, as a result of their detailed studies, many people from all who heard Paul and those with him teaching, believed God's Word. They had faith in it; they trusted it. They knew it was the truth because they had checked it out for themselves, and so they were not just taking Paul’s word for it – but they were believing God’s Word that Paul spoke to them!
And again, as well as those who believed of the Judean background, there were a lot of the Greek (Hellenistic) women who were goodly-elegant and of repute within that city, and a lot of men also who believed.
Verses 13-15:
.13But as the Judeans from Thessalonica knew that the word of God was messaged by Paul also in Berea they went also-there shaking the crowds. .14But immediately then the brothers apostled-out Paul to journey until on the sea, and both Silas and Timothy patiently-endured there. .15And the (brothers) constituting Paul (to journey) led (him by ship) until Athens, and, having received a commandment towards Silas and Timothy in order that they may come towards him as most-quickly, they exited.
As the Judeans who had previously caused a tumult in the city of Thessalonica personally knew that the message of the Word of God was being brought by Paul also to the people in Berea, they also came into Berea. And what did they do? They shook the crowds! They caused the throngs of people to be rocked in a waving motion. This is the same word used in Acts 16:26 regarding the earthquake causing the foundations of the prison to shake. What the earthquake did to the foundations – these Judeans did to the crowds in Berea. [As well as “shaking” the crowds, some Greek texts also include “and disturbing” as in verse 8 above.]
However, the brothers did not just lay back and say, "Oh well, it'll be ok, let's just let it pass" – no! Straightaway at that time the brothers in Berea sent Paul forth out of Berea to journey until he got to the sea. They promptly got him out of danger's way, and both Silas and Timothy patiently endured (held-out, bore-up relative to God and the things of God under what was going on remaining behind) in Berea waiting on word from Paul as to what they should do.
The holy-people who had constituted Paul (placed, stood, set him down) on his journey went with him on the ship until they got to Athens, which is in the far-south of Achaia (Greece). They were making sure that those Judeans did not catch up with Paul to be able to hurt or kill him! When they arrived they received a commandment from Paul for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible (with as much speed or swiftness as they could). Then those holy-people exited (went out from) Paul's company and headed back to the city of Berea with the commandment for Silas and Timothy.
[Reference: Acts 16:1-3; I Thessalonians 3:1,2 and 6.]
Verses 16-21:
.16But in Athens (during) Paul's waiting-for them his spirit in him was sharpened viewing-with-attention the city being idolatrous. .17Therefore indeed he throughly-spoke in the synagogue with the Judeans and with the (people) reverencing and in the marketplace according to every day towards the (people) attaining-presence. .18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers threw-together with him and some-people said, "What ever may this babbler intend to say?" And the (other people said), "He seems to be a messager of strange devils" – because he good-messaged Jesus and the resurrection. .19And having taken-hold-on him they led (him) on Mars' Hill saying, "Are we able to know what this new teaching (is), the (teaching) being uttered-forth by you?, .20for you carry some-things being strange into our hearings, therefore we deliberately-determine to know what these-things intend to be." .21But all Athenians and the residing strangers had-a-good-time into nothing different than to say something or to hear something newer.
While Paul was waiting for (as willingly reaching out from himself to receive or accept) Silas and Timothy to arrive in Athens from Berea, his holy spirit-life within him was sharpened (whet, as though something was rubbing on it, stimulating or irritating it) – why? – because Paul was contemplating in/with his mind that the city of Athens was actively idolatrous (full of idols, idolatry was prevalent there). Idolatry is practicing rites and rituals of worship and service to so-called 'gods,' instead of only worshipping and serving the one-and-only true God Who is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore indeed Paul throughly spoke (as verse 2 above) God's Word within the synagogue with the Judeans, and with the people being reverential (demonstrating their respect for God), and in the marketplace throughout the day and day-after-day towards the people who would show-up or happen to be there when he was there.
Also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers purposefully went there to meet and consult with him. The Epicureans were followers of Epicurus (about 342-279 BC) and they taught that ethics and pleasure of the mind was to be achieved during life. But the Stoics were disciples of Zeno (about 270 BC) and they taught that virtue and self-mastery was good and so mankind should not feel passion nor be motivated by joy or sorrow, pleasure or pain.
Some of them said (but not really looking for an answer): “What ever could this babbler will (want) to say?” The word “babbler” literally means 'seed word' or “seed collection” which was a derogatory term likening him to a little bird who constantly picks up seeds, an idle man constantly collecting the refuse or scraps of information from the marketplace being talkative and noisy passing on what he has picked-up from others, a chattering fellow.
Some others said that they considered that he was a "messager" (one who brings a message, a messenger) of or from foreign devils (devil-spirits, demons, known and treated as 'gods' or ‘deities’ to those people). The word translated "devils" is the Greek word daimonion, which was used in Greek mythology (falsehoods) to describe supernatural intermediary beings between false-gods and men. In reality, these are the lower-ranking evil spirits, like 'privates,' which take their direction from the higher-ranking evil spirits (daimon) in the devil's "army" which take their orders and direction from the chief or top-ranking devil-spirit himself who is the devil/satan.
Then God's Word tells us why they said such things about Paul: it was because he good-messaged (he gospelized, evangelized) to the people concerning Jesus and the resurrection out-from the dead-people. Paul spoke about Jesus and that God had raised him from the dead and so now he is alive in his resurrected body which is spiritual. [For more details regarding this, you may read chapter 15 of my study on I Corinthians.]
When these people took hold of Paul, they brought him to Mars' Hill (Martian Hill, Areopagus, the hill of Ares the Greek 'god' of war), here referring to the meeting of the highest court or council in Athens, usually held in the marketplace during Paul's time. They said to Paul: "Are we able (is it possible for us) to personally know what this newly-made teaching (authoritative instruction, doctrine, the contents of what is taught) which is different from what we have heard before and which is being spoken by you? – for you introduce some strange things that are not among what we have already heard, and therefore we purposefully-will to personally know what these things you talk about involve, what is the meaning of these-things?"
God's Word next explains to us why these Athenian people would ask such questions and want to know such things – all the native Athenians, plus the strangers (foreigners) who now reside there as free-citizens in that city, had a good-time enjoying the specific occasions and opportunities they got doing nothing else but to speak orations or statements regarding something, or to hear the words that someone speaks about something that is newer and different from what they had heard before! They wanted to hear "the latest"!
Verses 22 and 23:
.22But Paul, having been caused-to-stand in (the) midst of Mars' Hill, said, "Adult-males, Athenians, I view you with-attention as (being) more-afraid-of-devils according to all-things, .23for going-through and viewing-up your objects-of-reverence with-attention I found also an altar in which had been written, '(To the) Unknown God' – therefore that-which unknowing you reverence – this (object of reverence) I message to you:
Standing in the middle of those present, Paul brought to light saying: "Adult-males (grown men), people of Athens, I view you with attention (contemplate in/with my mind) that you are more afraid of devils (comparatively more fearful, in-awe-of daimon) in everything that you say and do....” The verb he uses has its root in “fear/awe” and “daimon” as previously described above. These Athenians would have taken this statement as a compliment as being more religious about their ‘gods’ than other people.
Paul continues: “In fact while I was passing-through and eagerly-viewing and contemplating in my mind about your objects of reverence (the things you worship), I also found an altar (an elevated place) within which had been written (inscribed on it) that it was to the 'Unknown God' – (a God that you do not know about)! Therefore the object of reverence that you are unknowing of (you are ignorant of, unaware of) even though you reverence (you demonstrate reverential respect), this is what emphatically I message to you (I bring the message pertaining to this One to you)…."
We ought to note how Paul had noticed his surroundings and how he remembered what was engraved on this altar and was able to use it to help these people hear about the only true God.
[Reference: Acts 25:19; II Thessalonians 2:4.]
Verses 24-27:
.24the God, the (God) having made the world and all the-things in it, this-(God) being-from-the-beginning Lord of heaven and of earth does not dwell-down in handmade interior-temples, .25nor is He attended-to by menly hands (as though He is) supplicating-for something. He (is the God) giving life and blowing and all-things to all-people, .26and He made out-from one-(man) every nation of men to dwell-down on all (the) face of the earth – having marked-out-definitely (the) times having been arranged-towards2 (them) and the marked-boundaries of their dwelling-down-place – .27to seek-after God if consequently indeed they may touch-after Him and they may find (Him), and indeed being-from-the-beginning not distant from each one of us;
"The God, emphatically and specifically the God Who has made the world (the ordered-arrangement of the whole universe) and all the-things within it (not only a certain portion of it like the gods you have who only represent some phase of human life or nature or something else)…
God has given mankind freedom of will – it is up to each individual to seek-after God.
[Reference: Genesis chapters 1-4, 11:8, etc; Exodus 20:11; Deuteronomy 4:29, 32:8; Psalm 74:16 and 17, 145:17-20; Isaiah 42:5, 55:6; Matthew 11:25; Acts 1:7, 7:48, 14:17, 19:24; Romans 1:19 and 20, 5:6, 10:18; I Corinthians 3:16 and 17, 4:5; II Corinthians 6:2 and 16; Ephesians 1:10, 2:19-22; I Thessalonians 5:1; I Timothy 2:5 and 6; Titus 1:3; Hebrews 9:9 and 10; I Peter 1:5 and 10-12.]
Verse 28:
.28for in Him we live and we move-ourselves and we are – as also some of the doers according to you said2, 'For we are also (the) genus of (Him)'.
"In truth, it is within the sphere of action of God that…
The only reason that any person can live and move and be in the physical category – is because of what God has given to mankind.
“This is just as also some of your own doers (people who do or make things, such as your poets) told you and it is still spoken today, ‘For we (all of mankind) are also the genus of Him (we are the kind, race, class, sort of beings that God made us; God made the first man and we are the same genus)’.”
Paul’s audience would have recognized this statement because it had been spoken by the poets in reference to Zeus (Jupiter), a false god or idol! There were many poets, inventors and authors up to that time, and here we see that Paul is knowledgeable of at least some of them - he must have read up on these things! Paul uses his knowledge of the writings of a poet named Aratus who was a native Tarsus of Cilicia (where Paul was born) about 270 BC who wrote the same words - but Aratus was writing about the so-called god Zeus (Jupiter). Also, there was a poet named Cleanthes (Kleanthes) who lived about 300 BC who wrote almost the same words, and it was still being quoted and repeated by poets of their time in Athens.
Paul of course made it perfectly clear that the God he is speaking about is the God Who made the world and all the-things in it, and Who is Lord of heaven and of earth.
[Reference: Genesis 2:7.]
Verses 29-31:
.29Therefore being-from-the-beginning a genus of God we do not owe-it to regard-as-customary (for) the essence-of-God to be like gold or silver or stone, a character-mark of (the) craft and thinking-within of man. .30Therefore indeed, having looked-over the times of the lack-of-knowledge, God now charges the-things to men: all-people everywhere to repent – .31as-because He caused a day to-stand in which He is about to judge the inhabited-area in righteousness in an adult-male whom He marked-out-definitely, having presented belief to all-people, having resurrected him out-from dead-people."
“Following-on logically, since all of us started (originated) being a genus of God (we came into existence from God), we are not indebted (we are not obligated, not obliged) to think that it is legally, lawfully and customarily okay that the essence of God (everything that He is) is like (similar to) gold or silver or stone, which are a character-mark (something that has been marked, impressed, the resulting mark made by the marker, the product of an act) of the craft (skill, trade, art, occupation) and the thinking-within (the revolving or fermenting of thoughts, the intensely passionate consideration) of mankind."
It is interesting to note here that the word translated as "character-mark" above as used in the papyri was always used of a mark connected with the emperor, and it always contained his name or effigy, and the year of his reign, and it was necessary for buying and selling, and it was technically known as charagma. It is found on all sorts of documents, even on "a bill of sale." As well as here in Acts 17:29, it is used only of the "mark" of the beast in the Book of Revelation 13:16 and 17, 14:9 and 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, and 20:4 - he will be the overlord during that limited period of time and some people will passively receive his character-mark!
Paul is making quite clear that he most definitely is NOT suggesting that there is a "piece of God" of a "piece of the spirit of God" in everyone! On the contrary – because we are the way God made us to be, isn't it logical that we do NOT owe it to God to make things which emanate from mankind's thinking as though that were God, even our deepest, most thought-through plans or the most intricate artwork no matter if it is done with gold or silver or stone! Whatever comes out of physical, natural, fleshly mankind bears no likeness to the only true God – it is only like mankind!
Paul continues: "Therefore indeed, having looked-over (seen from above, looked down on) the chronological times of mankind's lack of personal knowledge (being unknowing, their ignorance, unawareness of God, see verse 23 above), God now charges the things to men (at the present time in which I am speaking to you, God passes His message of things on to mankind):
…as for the fact that God has caused a day to stand (we are living during this day, the period of time) during which He is on the point of judging the inhabited-area (He is on the verge of making His decision, He is about to pronounce His sentence on the inhabitants in the dwelled-in parts of the world; refer to verse 26 above)…
[Reference:: Isaiah 40:18-31, 44:9-20; John 5:22; Acts 2:14-40, 3:12-26, 10:34-43, 14:16; Romans 1:4 and 18-23, 2:16, 3:25 and 26, 10:8-17; I Corinthians chapter 15; II Corinthians 5:10-21; Ephesians 4:18; I Thessalonians 1:10; II Timothy 4:1; I Peter 4:5, II Peter 3:7; the Book of Revelation.]
Let us continue and see what the Epicureans and the Stoics, plus the other people, thought of what Paul was saying:
Verses 32-34:
.32But having heard 'resurrection’ of dead-people the (people) indeed jeered, and the (people) said, "We will cause-ourselves-to-hear you concerning this-thing also again." .33Thus Paul went-out from their midst; .34but some adult-males having been glued-together to him believed, among whom (was) also Dionysius the Mars' Hill (person), and a woman Damaris by-name, and different-people together with them.
When those listening to the words that Paul was speaking heard reference to a resurrection of dead-people they jeered indeed (they scoffed and made a joke of it; refer to also Acts 2:13). Some of them stopped Paul from continuing by telling him that they will cause themselves to hear him again about this topic some other time, but not now! They must have thought that they could better spend their time listening to some other words instead of listening to God's words which Paul was speaking to them!
It was in this manner that Paul went out from being in the middle of them. However, there were some men who had been glued-together to/with him (they stuck, cleaved, adhered themselves to him) and they believed the Word of God that he taught. Among these people also was a man named Dionysius who was a member (one of the judges) of the court or council of Mars' Hill (Areopagus), and there was a woman named Damaris, and there were other different people together with them too.
Isn't it interesting that God's Word names two of those who believed! All those who believed what God said as told to them by Paul became children of God; they received God's gift of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ. They became holy-people (Christians).
[Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]