Acts 17:4
What does Acts 17:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:4 means
Paul’s message bears fruit. Some Jews are persuaded and join Paul and Silas, and a large number of devout Greeks, along with many leading women, also believe. The gospel crosses typical boundaries—religious, ethnic, and social. The mention of “chief women” highlights that the message reached persons of influence as well as ordinary hearers. True persuasion leads to fellowship; they “consorted with” the missionaries, aligning themselves with the new community. This mixture of belief shows the word’s power and fairness: it calls all, and many respond. Yet such visible success in a prominent city also ensures scrutiny and, from some, resentment that surfaces swiftly in the narrative.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And some of them had faith, and were joined to Paul and Silas; and a number of the God-fearing Greeks, and some of the chief women.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And certain of them did believe, and attached themselves to Paul and to Silas, also of the worshipping Greeks a great multitude, of the principal women also not a few.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And some of them believed and were associated to Paul and Silas: and of those that served God and of the Gentiles a great multitude: and of noble women not a few.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And some of them believed, and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and of the Greeks who worshipped, a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Context
This verse reports the positive outcome of the three weeks of synagogue reasoning (verses 2–3). It balances the coming scene of turmoil (verses 5–9) by showing that the gospel genuinely convinces diverse people. That diversity—Jews, Greeks, and notable women—mirrors earlier patterns in Acts and increases social impact, which partly explains the intense backlash. The next verses show jealous opponents recruiting troublemakers, igniting a citywide disturbance that forces Paul and Silas to move on. The storyline then shifts to Berea (verses 10–12), where listeners respond more nobly to Scripture examination.
v.3opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
v.4This passage
v.5But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 15:32
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
- Song of Solomon 6:1
Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?
- Acts 15:22
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
- Song of Solomon 1:7
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest thy flock, Where thou makest it to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?
- Acts 28:24
And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
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