Acts 17:5

Which believed not. Textual evidence favors the omission of these words. Whether this clause is omitted is of little significance, for v. 4 states that some Jews believed, and it is obvious that those Jews who raised up a mob against Paul and Silas “believed not.” The preaching of the gospel in the synagogue almost always produced sharp division among those who heard it (see chs. 13:14, 43-45; 14:1, 2; 19:8, 9).

Moved with envy. Gr. zelod, “to be heated with envy,” that is, to be jealous (cf. on ch. 13:45).

Lewd fellows of the baser sort. The expression may be more exactly translated, “vile fellows of the rabble” (RV). The words apply to the men who, without any fixed calling, lounged about the market place, picking up an uncertain living, ready for anything bad or good that might arise. The jealous Jews were willing to employ such rascals, organize them as a mob, and use them to foment trouble against the missionaries and their converts.

Set all the city. The word for “all” does not appear in the Greek. Its omission does not weaken the force of the narrative.

On an uproar. Gr. thorubed, “to disturb,” “to throw into confusion.” The riot technique used by the Jews has been copied by the enemies of Christianity throughout succeeding centuries. Opponents of the church have raised trouble, and then often accused the Christians of causing the disturbance.

Assaulted. Gr. ephistemi, “to come upon [anyone, anything] suddenly” (cf. Luke 20:1; Acts 22:13; 23:27). This unprovoked attack was an act of public disorder that should have caused the authorities to discipline the Jews rather than to punish Jason or Paul.

Jason. A Greek name often adopted by Jews whose Hebrew name was Joshua (2 Maccabees 4:7; see Josephus Antiquities xii. 5. 1 [239]). The name is also found in a list of Paul’s “kinsmen” (Rom. 16:21), but there is no evidence to suggest that this refers to Paul’s Thessalonian friend. That Paul had taken up residence with him would indicate that he was a Jew. His hospitable act now brought upon him the fanatical wrath of his unbelieving fellow countrymen.

Them. Paul and Silas.

People. Gr. demos, possibly “popular assembly,” in contrast to laos, which usually represents people as a tribe, a nation. Since Thessalonica was a free Greek city, the Jews may have planned to bring the matter before the demos as the people’s court. Alternatively, they may have hoped that the excited mob would lynch the missionaries, without benefit of trial.