The Second Missionary Journey
Thessalonica
Acts 17:1-9 KJV 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the
Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three
sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 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. 4 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. 5 But the
Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd
fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on
an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them
out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and
certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned
the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath
received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that
there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the
rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had
taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
Introduction
Paul and some of his party had left Philippi after their persecution experience there and traveled to Thessalonica. They passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia without stopping probably because there were no synagogues in them.
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Amphipolis was located on the river Strymon, about thirty miles southwest of the city of Philippi. It would later become the capitol of the second of the four districts of Macedonia.1
Appolonia was a small city about thirty miles southwest from Amphipolis.2
This approximate distance from Philippi to Thessalonica was approximately sixty miles. Since the average distance that was traveled in one day’s time was around twenty miles, it would have taken Paul and Silas about three days to get to Thessalonica.
1 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on Acts 17:1
2 IBID
Thessalonica
Thessalonica was located at the intersection of two major Roman roads, one leading from Italy eastward (Ignatia Way) and the other from the Danube to the Aegean. Thessalonica’s location and use as a port made it a prominent city. In 168 BC it became the capital of the second district of Macedonia and later it was made the capital and major port of the whole Roman province of Macedonia (146 BC). In 42 BC, after the battle at Philippi, Thessalonica was made a free city. Today the modern city of Thessaloniki is the second most important city of Greece and home to a million inhabitants. https://www.bibleplaces.com/thessalonica/
Following the pattern that he usually followed, Paul went first to the synagogue. For approximately three weeks he reasoned with those present out of the Scriptures. His message was as usual, that Jesus Christ suffered the crucifixion, was buried, and then rose again.
According to Dr. Albert Garner, “Paul affirmed three premises: (1) That the true messiah must die and rise again. (2) That Jesus did die and rise again, according to the Scriptures. (3) That He is therefore the Messiah. This was exactly what Jesus claimed, and the Scriptures seem to evidence so truthfully, when interpreted in their contextual setting.”3
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3 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on Acts 17:3
Paul’s teachings in the synagogue for three weeks resulted in many of those so assembled to believe and accept Jesus as their Saviour. They joined fellowship with Paul and Silas in showing their affiliation with them. These were the Jews. Of the Gentile proselytes a great multitude, the Scripture states. We are not told just how much a “great multitude” is, but apparently the number is quite large. Another group mentioned is a great number of chief women, “not a few.”
Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto
them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and
set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought
to bring them out to the people.
Before we present any comments on this verse, let us consider the following quotation concerning Thessalonica.
It had been made by the Roman government a free city, that is, it had the right to self-government, the provincial governor did not interfere in its municipal affairs; the local magistrates, probably elected by the people, had the power of life and death; no Roman garrison was quartered within the city; a senate or an assembly, representing the people, made its regulations; in short, it had many of the privileges and all the insignia of a free community; its allegiance to the central government at Rome was assured, for the possession of its privileges was dependent upon its good behavior.
In such a city the charge of inciting treason (Ac 17:7) would be one peculiarly obnoxious, both to the magistrates and people.4
In contrast to the many that did believe, there were many of the Jews who did not believe and were no doubt jealous of Paul and Silas because of the loss of influence they, the Jews, had. Verse five relates to us that they took
unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company.
Dr. Albert Garner states that the Jews were “"Taking certain market-place men, wicked loungers and panderers," men of base moral and ethical character and reputation, a "mafia type of persons," ready for excitement 119
and willing to sellout their testimony for a "mess of pottage," for personal profit of personal public applause, traitors of truth and right. The term "baser sort" indicates "malicious wickedness, moral malignancies, or evil disposed."”5
After they had gathered a crowd of the roughs and rowdies of the city, certainly a motley crowd of thugs, they put the city in a state of confusion.6
The House of Jason
Romans 16:21 indicates that Jason was Paul’s kinsman. Romans 16:21 KJV
21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my
kinsmen, salute you. Most scholars believe that Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, indicated that Jason is probably a fellow Jew.
In Acts 17 his house in Thessalonica was used as a refuge by the apostles Paul, Silas, …. Some Thessalonian Jews were annoyed with Paul's remarks in the synagogue and not finding him and Silas, hauled Jason before the city authorities, where he was fined and released.
Paul referred to Jason, Lucius and Sosipater as his "countrymen" (Greek: οἱ
συγγενεῖς μου) in Romans 16:21, which has led some to call him "Jason of Tarsus" (since Paul was from Tarsus). However, most scholars understand Paul's use of "countryman" here and elsewhere to mean "fellow Jew".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_of_Thessalonica
After Paul spends some time in Thessalonica, including three Sabbaths teaching in the local synagogue, The Jews stir up trouble, form a mob and rush to Jason’s house in order to bring Paul and Silas before the city officials. When they do not find Paul and Silas they drag Jason before the officials and make their accusations against Paul, pointing out that “Jason welcomed them.” Jason posted bond and was released (Acts 17:5-8).
Jason suddenly appears in the story in Acts 17 as Paul’s host in Thessalonica. Jason is a common Greek name, and it is possible some Jews 120
used it as a rough equivalent to Joshua. One of the rival high priests prior to the Maccabean Revolt was named Jason. This is usually explained as an example of Hellenization, rather than using the Hebrew name Joshua, he uses a Greek equivalent, Jason. It is impossible to know if the Jason in Acts 17 is Greek or Jewish simply from his name.
Since he hosts Paul, Silas, and Timothy in his home, commentaries often assume he was prosperous. But this may not be the case. In Acts 18:3 Paul stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. As tent-makers they may have rented a workshop and lived in rooms attached to the workshop. Jason’s situation may have been better in Thessalonica; if he was a craftsman with several storerooms he could have hosted several people in his home.
On the other hand, Jason was able to post bond not only for himself but also for Paul and Silas (17:9). In the oft-quoted opinion of A. N. SherwinWhite,
“What is happening to Jason is clear enough: he is giving security for the good behaviour of his guests, and hence hastens to dispatch Paul and Silas out of the way to Beroea, where the jurisdiction of the magistrates of Thessalonica was not valid” ( Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament (Oxford, 1963], 63). Although we have no clue how much was required, that he could make any sort of payment is an indication he had some wealth. https://readingacts.com/2019/03/15/acts-17-who-was-jason/
The house of Jason was where Paul and his team were headquartered during their stay in Thessalonica. Otherwise, the unruly crowd would not have bothered trying to find them there. Verse six indicates that when the crowd could not find Paul at the house of Jason, they took Jason and other brethren to the rulers of the city. The accusation against Paul and his company was,
These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also….
This accusation is a wonderful testimony of the success of the efforts of the missionary team.
The Accusations
Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the
decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
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There were several accusations against Jason, Paul and Silas, and some of the brethren of the church.
1. Jason had received the missionaries of his own will to lodge them in his residence.
2. Paul and his company were accused of turning the world upside down with their preaching and teaching.
3. They were all accused of doing contrary acts to the decrees of Caesar.
4. They were accused of stating that there was another king besides Caesar, and that King was Jesus.
Of course, this greatly upset the people and the rulers of the city, according to verse eight. The rulers were very troubled in that if the charges were true, they would be exposed to the anger of Rome and her emperor.
Jason had to post a bond, or security, before he and the church brethren could be released. It is believed that the church of the Thessalonians continued to be housed in the house of Jason.
Conclusion
The next stop for the missionaries would be Berea. Paul and Silas had remained in Thessalonica long enough to establish and stabilize the church.
It would continue to be a sound church for a long time to come.
4 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, quoting another source
5 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on Acts 17:5
6 IBID
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