Acts 17:15

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. AND THEY THAT CONDUCTED PAUL BROUGHT HIM UNTO ATHENS: AND RECEIVING A COMMANDMENT UNTO SILAS AND TIMOTHEUS FOR TO COME TO HIM WITH ALL SPEED, THEY DEPARTED. The apostle probably wished their company and aid in addressing himself to so new and great a sphere as Athens. Accordingly it is added that he "waited for them" there, as if unwilling to do anything until they came. That they did come, there is no good reason to doubt (as some excellent critics do). For though Paul himself says to the Thessalonians that he "thought it good to be left at Athens alone" (), he immediately adds that he "sent Timotheus to establish and comfort them" ...

10-15 The Jews in Berea applied seriously to the study of the word preached unto them. They not only heard Paul preach on the sabbath, but daily searched the Scriptures, and compared what they read with the facts related to them. The doctrine of Christ does not fear inquiry; advocates for his cause desire no more than that people will fully and fairly examine whether things are so or not. Those are truly noble, and likely to be more and more so, who make the Scriptures their rule, and consult them accordingly. May all the hearers of the gospel become like those of Berea, receiving the word with readiness of mind, and searching the Scriptures daily, whether the things preached to them are so....

Verse Acts 17:15. _BROUGHT HIM UNTO ATHENS_] This was one of the most celebrated cities in the world, whether we consider its _antiquity_, its _learning_, its _political consequence_, or the _valour_ of its _inhabitants_. This city, which was the capital of Attica, and the seat of the Grecian empire was founded by _Cecrops_, about A.M. 2447, before Christ 1557, and was called by him _Cecropia_. About thirteen or fourteen hundred years before Christ, in the reign either of _Erechtheus_, or _Erichthonius_, it was called Athens, from αθηνη, a name of _Minerva_, to whom it was dedicated, and who was always considered the protectress of the city. The whole city at first was built upon a hill or rock, in the midst of a spacious plain; but, in process of time, the whole plain was covered with buildings which were called the lower city; while the a...

UNTO ATHENS - This was the first visit of Paul to this celebrated city; and perhaps the first visit of a Christian minister. His success in this city, for some cause, was not great, but his preaching was attended with the conversion of some individuals. See Acts 17:34. Athens was the most celebrated city of Greece, and was distinguished for the military talents, the learning, the eloquence, and the politeness of its inhabitants. It was founded by Cecrops and an Egyptian colony about 1556 years before the Christian era. It was called “Athens” in honor of Minerva, who was chiefly worshipped there, and to whom the city was dedicated. The city, at first, was built on a rock in the midst of a spacious plain; but in process of time the whole plain was covered with buildings, which were called the lower city. No city of Greece, or of the ancient world, was so much distingu

EXPOSITION ACTS 17:1 AMPHIPOLIS. This was the ancient capital of that division of Macedonia (Macedonia Prima); see Acts 16:12, note. It was situated on the Via Egnatia, thirty-four miles southwest from Philippi, and three miles from the AEgean Sea. It lay in a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the Strymon, whence its name, _Amphipolis; _its modern name is _Neokhoria, _now a village. Its original name was Ἐννέα ̔οδοί, The Nine Ways. Originally a Thracian city, it was conquered by the Athenians, then by the Lacedaemonians, then fell under the dominion of Philip of Macedon, and finally, with the rest of Macedonia, became part of the Roman empire. APOLLONIA; now probably _Polina, _thirty miles due west

AND THEY THAT CONDUCTED PAUL,.... From Berea to the sea side: BROUGHT HIM UNTO ATHENS; a famous city in Attica, where both q Pliny and Ptolomy r place it, well known for the learning and wisdom of the ancient philosophers, who had their schools and universities in it; the former of these calls it a free city, and says, it needed no description nor commendation, its fame was so diffused everywhere. The account Jerom s gives of it is, "Athens, a city in Achaia, dedicated to the studies of philosophy, which though but one, is always used to be called in the plural number; its haven, called the Piraeum, is described as fortified with seven walls.'' The city itself stood about two miles from the sea; it had its name either from the Greek word ηθονοη, which signifies the mind of God, as boasting of its divine knowledge; or rather from the word אתין, "Athen", which may be interpreted "strang...

ACTS 17:14-15 Codex Bezae, with occasional support from other Western witnesses, recasts these two verses as follows: to.n me.n ou=n Pau/lon oi` avdelfoi. evxape,steilan avpelqei/n evpi. th.n qa,lassan\ u`pe,meinen de. o` Sila/j kai. o` Timo,qeoj evkei/) oi` de. katasta,nontej to.n Pau/lon h;gagon e[wj VAqhnw/n( parh/lqen de. th.n Qessali,an( evkwlu,qh ga.r eivj auvtou.j khru,xai to.n lo,gon( labo,ntej de. evntolh.n para. Pau,lou pro.j to.n Sila/n kai. Timo,qeon o[pwj evn ta,cei e;lqwsin pro.j auvto.n evxh,|esan (“The brethren therefore sent Paul off to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. (15) And those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and he passed by Thessaly, for he was prevented from proclaiming the word to them; and having received a command from Paul for Silas and Timothy...

CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The Gospel in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1)._ 2. The Gospel in Beroea (Acts 17:10). 3. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:15). Three cities in which the Gospel is next preached are before us in this chapter. But there is a marked difference between these three places. In Thessalonica there was much hostility, the result of the success of the Gospel. In Beroea a more noble class of Jews were found. Their nobility consisted in submission to the Scriptures, the oracles of God, and in a ready mind. There was a still greater blessing among the Jews and the Gentiles. In Athens the Apostle Paul met idolatry, indifference and ridicule. An interesting fact is learned concerning the activity of the apostl

THROUGH BERŒ A TO ATHENS. Berœ a was a populous place but off the main route. Paul and Silas at once go to the synagogue; by this time we should think they could scarcely look to the synagogue with hopeful eyes. The Berœ an Jews, however, were more noble, _i.e._ better-behaved, than their brethren at Thessalonica; they did not close their minds to the message, but applied themselves with interest to testing it by Scripture. The new church at Berœ a is composed, like that at Thessalonica, of Jews, Greek ladies of position, and men, _i.e._ Greeks. We hear of Sopater of Berœ a in Acts 20:4. The Jews of Thessalonica follow Paul with their hostility and he has to leave Berœ a also. As to Silas and Timothy there is a little difficulty. In Acts 18:5 they do not join Paul at Athens as he expected, but at Corinth. But i

IN THESSALONICA (Acts 17:1-9)...