Acts 17:6
What does Acts 17:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:6 means
With Paul and Silas not found at Jason’s house, the agitators drag Jason and other believers before the city rulers. Their charge is striking: these men have “turned the world upside down.” Even opponents acknowledge the gospel’s transformative impact, though they cast it as dangerous upheaval. The language is designed to alarm authorities, implying that these Christians threaten social order. Yet what truly overturns the world is the lordship of Jesus that liberates from sin and idolatry. The accusers use exaggerated rhetoric to secure official intervention, aiming to discredit the movement by portraying it as a seditious, destabilizing force.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when they were not able to get them, they took Jason and some of the brothers by force before the rulers of the town, crying, These men, who have made trouble all over the world have now come here;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and not having found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the city rulers, calling aloud--`These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar are come hither also:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and not having found them, dragged Jason and certain brethren before the politarchs, crying out, These [men] that have set the world in tumult, are come here also,
Context
This verse continues the mob action begun in verse 5. Failing to seize Paul and Silas, the crowd hauls Jason and other believers before city officials, leveling sweeping accusations. The dramatic claim about turning the world upside down prepares for the next, more specific allegation (verse 7)—that Christians proclaim another king. That political charge heightens the stakes, leading to official concern (verse 8) and legal measures (verse 9). The scene propels the mission team to relocate to Beroea (verses 10–12), where the reception will starkly contrast Thessalonica’s turmoil.
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.
v.6This passage
v.7whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 38:2
Thus saith Jehovah, He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.
- Acts 16:19
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
- Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
- 1 Kings 18:17
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?
- Acts 28:22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.
- Acts 6:12
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,
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