Acts 17:3

opening St Luke (and he only in the N. T.) Luke 24:32 uses this verb of making plain what before was not understood. We may see from that passage what had been St Paul's work in Thessalonica, "He began at Moses and all the prophets and expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Christ."

and alleging The more modern use of allege,=to assert, has somewhat obscured the older English meaning, which was merely "to set forth." The Greek verb here translated by it signifies primarily "to set out food, &c. on a table," and then figuratively "to set out arguments," but without the idea of assertion. St Paul reasoned but only out of the Scriptures. For the English word, cf. Coverdale, Works(Parker Soc.), p. 14, "We will first declare our mind out of Scripture and allege(i.e. set before you) somewhat more for the better understanding of the matter."

that Christ must needs have suffered Better, "that it behoved the Christ to suffer," i.e. the Messiah, whom the Jews expected, but whom they looked for in New Testament days only as a mighty conqueror who should deliver them from their oppressors. Their wishes had been father to their thoughts, and they overlooked all that spake of the Messiah as the "Man of sorrows." This portion of the Scriptures it was which St Paul opened.

and risen again from the dead Better, "and to rise again from the dead." For they like the disciples themselves in earlier days (John 20:9) "understood not the scriptures (such as Psalms 16:10) that he must rise again from the dead."

and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ The force of the words will be improved if "said he" be inserted to introduce the direct address. Read (as R. V.) "this Jesus, whom(said he) I proclaim unto you is the Christ." For He has both suffered and risen again in accordance with the teaching of the Scriptures, and we are witnesses of His resurrection and ascension into heaven.