Acts 17:1

CHAPTER XVII.

Paul and his company, passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia,

come to Thessalonica, were they preach the Gospel to the Jews,

several of whom believe, 1-4.

Others raise a mob, and bring Jason, who had received the

apostles, before the magistrates, who, having taken bail of

him and his companions, dismiss them, 5-9.

Paul and Silas are sent away by night unto Berea, where they

preach to the Jews, who gladly receive the Gospel, 10-12.

Certain Jews from Thessalonica, hearing that the Bereans had

received the Gospel, come thither and raise up a persecution,

13.

Paul is sent away by the brethren to Athens, where he preaches

to the Jews, 14-17.

He is encountered by the Epicureans and Stoics, who bring him

to the Areopagus, and desire him to give a full explanation of

his doctrine, 18-20.

The character of the Athenians, 21.

Paul preaches to them, and gives a general view of the essential

principles of theology, 22-31.

Some mock, some hesitate, and some believe, and, among the

latter, Dionysias and Damaris, 32-34.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVII.

Verse Acts 17:1. Passed through Amphipolis] This city was the metropolis of the first division of Macedonia, as made by Paulus AEmilius: see the note on Acts 16:10. It was builded by Cimon, the Athenian general, who sent 10,000 Athenians thither as a colony. It stood in an island in the river Strymon, and had its name of Amphipolis because included between the two grand branches of that river where they empty themselves into the sea, the river being on both sides of the city.

Apollonia] This was another city of Macedonia, between Amphipolis and Thessalonica. It does not appear that St. Paul stopped at any of these cities: and they are only mentioned by the historian as places through which the apostles passed on their way to Thessalonica. It is very likely that in these cities there were no Jews; and that might have been the reason why the apostles did not preach the Gospel there, for we find them almost constantly beginning with the Jews; and the Hellenist Jews, living among the Gentiles, became the medium through which the Gospel of Christ was conveyed to the heathen world.

Thessalonica] This was a celebrated city of Macedonia, situated on what was called the Thermaic Gulf. According to Stephanus Byzantinus, it was embellished and enlarged by Philip, king of Macedon, who called it Thessalonica, the victory of Thessalia, on account of the victory he obtained there over the Thessalians; but, prior to this, it was called Thermae. But Strabo, Tzetzes, and Zonaras, say that it was called Thessalonica, from Thessalonica, wife of Cassander, and daughter of Philip. It is now in possession of the Turks, and is called Salonichi, which is a mere corruption of the original name.

A synagogue of the Jews.] Ἡ συναγωγη, THE synagogue; for the article here must be considered as emphatic, there probably being no other synagogue in any other city in Macedonia. The Jews in different parts had other places of worship called proseuchas. as we have seen, Acts 16:13. At Thessalonica alone they appear to have had a synagogue.