Acts 17:13

Jews of Thessalonica. These were not content with driving the missionaries out of their own town; their hatred pursued the Christians to Beroea (cf. on ch. 14:19).

Word of God. This is Luke’s term. The Thessalonian Jews who did not accept Paul’s message would not have described it as “the word of God.” Prejudice and long training in Jewish teaching blinded their eyes (cf. on 2 Cor. 3:14, 15).

Stirred up. Gr. saleud, “to agitate,” “to shake thoroughly.” The figure suggests a storm at sea where all are troubled, an apt enough description for the confusion that the Jews of Thessalonica sought to create. Important textual evidence may be cited for the reading, “they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the people” (see below under “the people”). The Jews probably made charges similar to those they had brought against the Christians in Thessalonica, accusing the believers of fomenting political disturbances.

The people. Gr. hoi ochloi, “the crowds.” Apparently the Thessalonian Jews attempted the same mob action against the apostles at Beroea as had been successful in their own city (vs. 5-10).