Acts 17:1
What does Acts 17:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:1 means
Luke records a purposeful journey through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, a key Macedonian city that had a Jewish synagogue. This shows Paul’s strategy: he targets influential centers and begins where Scripture is already honored, among Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. The mention of a synagogue signals both opportunity and likely opposition. God opens doors by ordinary travel and known institutions. Paul does not force his way into random spaces; he starts with people who share the Scriptures and can weigh claims about the Christ. The stage is set for reasoned proclamation, mixed reception, and the spread of the gospel along major roads and through established communities.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Synagogue of the Jews:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And having passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And having journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews.
Context
Verse 1 begins a new phase of the second missionary journey. The team moves from smaller waypoints to Thessalonica, where a synagogue provides their initial platform. What follows (verses 2–4) is Paul’s customary ministry of reasoning from Scripture, leading to belief for some. That very success triggers jealousy and civic trouble (verses 5–9). This Thessalonian pattern—preach, persuade, face opposition—will echo in Berea (verses 10–14) and shape Paul’s later solo ministry in Athens (verses 15–34).
v.1This passage
v.2and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 16:13
And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;
- Acts 14:1
And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
- Acts 27:2
And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
- Acts 17:11
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
- Acts 17:13
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.
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