Acts
Chapter 17: 1-15
In Thessalonica
1When they
had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a
Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the
synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise
from the dead. This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did
a large number of Godfearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5But the
Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a
mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and
Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6But when they
did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials,
shouting: These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying
Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus. 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were
thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others
post bond and let them go.
In Berea
10As soon
as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they
went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more
noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent
Greek women and many Greek men.
13When the
Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went
there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The
brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left
with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.