Teks -- Acts 17:15 (NET)

17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 17:15 - But they that conducted Paul

But they that conducted Paul ( hoi de kathistanontes ton Paulon ).

Articular present active participle of kathistanō (late form in A B of kathistēmi or kathistaō ), an old verb with varied uses to put down, to constitute, to conduct, etc. This use here is in the lxx (Joshua 6:23) and old Greek also.

Robertson: Act 17:15 - To Athens

To Athens ( heōs Athēnōn ).

To make sure of his safe arrival.

Robertson: Act 17:15 - That they should come to him with all speed

That they should come to him with all speed ( hina hōs tachista elthōsin pros auton ).

Note the neat Greek idiom hōs tachista as quickly as possible (good Attic idiom). The indirect command and purpose (hinȧelthōsin , second aorist active subjunctive) is also neat Greek (Robertson, Grammar , p. 1046).

Robertson: Act 17:15 - Departed

Departed ( exēiesan ).

Imperfect active of exeimi , old Greek word, but rare in N.T. All in Acts (Act 13:42; Act 17:15; Act 20:7; Act 27:43)

Vincent: Act 17:15 - They that conducted

They that conducted ( καθιστῶντες )

Lit., brought to the spot. Note the different word employed, Act 15:3 (see note there).

JFB: Act 17:15 - Silas and Timotheus to come to him with all speed

He probably wished their company and aid in addressing himself to so new and great a sphere as Athens. Accordingly it is added that he "waited for them" there, as if unwilling to do anything till they came. That they did come, there is no good reason to doubt (as some excellent critics do). For though Paul himself says to the Thessalonians that he "thought it good to be left at Athens alone" (1Th 3:1), he immediately adds that he "sent Timotheus to establish and comfort them" (Act 17:2); meaning, surely, that he despatched him from Athens back to Thessalonica. He had indeed sent for him to Athens; but, probably, when it appeared that little fruit was to be reaped there, while Thessalonica was in too interesting a state to be left uncherished, he seems to have thought it better to send him back again. (The other explanations which have been suggested seem less satisfactory). Timotheus rejoined the apostle at Corinth (Act 18:5).

Clarke: Act 17:15 - Brought him unto Athens

Brought him unto Athens - This was one of the most celebrated cities in the world, whether we consider its antiquity, its learning, its political consequence, or the valor of its inhabitants. This city, which was the capital of Attica, and the seat of the Grecian empire was founded by Cecrops, about a.m. 2447, before Christ 1557, and was called by him Cecropia. About thirteen or fourteen hundred years before Christ, in the reign either of Erechtheus, or Erichthonius, it was called Athens, from Αθηνη, a name of Minerva, to whom it was dedicated, and who was always considered the protectress of the city. The whole city at first was built upon a hill or rock, in the midst of a spacious plain; but, in process of time, the whole plain was covered with buildings which were called the lower city; while the ancient was called Acropolis, or the upper city. In its most flourishing state this city was not less than one hundred and seventy-eight stadia, or twenty-two Roman miles in circumference. The buildings of Athens were the most superb, and best executed, in the world; but every thing is now in a state of ruin. Mr. Stuart, in his three folio vols. of the Antiquities of Athens, has given correct representations of those that remain, with many geographical notices of much importance. The greatest men that ever lived, scholars, lawyers, statesmen, and warriors, were Athenians. Its institutions, laws, and literature, were its own unrivalled boast, and the envy of the world. The city still exists; the Acropolis in a state of comparative repair. It is now in the hands of the Greeks; but the Turks, who held it till lately, have turned the celebrated Parthenon, or temple of Minerva, into a mosque. The inhabitants are reckoned at about one thousand. Christianity, planted here by St. Paul, still subsists; and about two-thirds of the inhabitants of Athens are Christians, who have several churches or oratories here, and it is the residence of a Greek bishop, who is a metropolitan. He who considers the ancient glory of this city, whether in its heathen or Christian antiquity, cannot but sigh over its present state.

TSK: Act 17:15 - Athens // receiving

Athens : Act 18:1; 1Th 3:1

receiving : Act 18:5; 2Ti 4:10,2Ti 4:11, 2Ti 4:20,2Ti 4:21; Tit 3:12

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 17:15 - They that conducted Paul // Athens

They that conducted Paul who accompanied, and had undertaken to secure him.

Athens the Greece of Greece, or the eye of Greece; as Greece was accounted the eye of the world; and yet, with all its learning, did not attain to saving knowledge, until Paul came and preached it. Satan’ s malice still causes the gospel to spread.

Gill: Act 17:15 - And they that conducted Paul // brought him unto Athens // And receiving a commandment // unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed

And they that conducted Paul,.... From Berea to the sea side:

brought him unto Athens; a famous city in Attica, where both ^q Pliny and Ptolomy ^r place it, well known for the learning and wisdom of the ancient philosophers, who had their schools and universities in it; the former of these calls it a free city, and says, it needed no description nor commendation, its fame was so diffused everywhere. The account Jerom ^s gives of it is,

"Athens, a city in Achaia, dedicated to the studies of philosophy, which though but one, is always used to be called in the plural number; its haven, called the Piraeum, is described as fortified with seven walls.''

The city itself stood about two miles from the sea; it had its name either from the Greek word ηθονοη, which signifies the mind of God, as boasting of its divine knowledge; or rather from the word אתין, "Athen", which may be interpreted "strangers", it being originally inhabited by the Pelasgi, who were a set of people that moved from place to place ^t; or because of the great multitude of strangers which flocked from all parts hither for learning, of whom mention is made in Act 17:21. The inhabitants of it have been called by different names; when under the Pelasgi, as Herodotus ^u observes, they were called Cranai; when under King Cecrops, they went by the name of Cecropidae; when Erechtheus had the government, they changed their name into Athenians; from Ion, the son of Xythus, their general, they were called Ionians. This city has gone through different fates: it was burnt by Xerxes, about 480 years before Christ; some years after that it was taken by Lysander; and after that restored to its ancient liberty by Demetrius; after this the Romans were possessed of it; and now it is in the hands of the Turks, and goes by the name of Setines. In Beza's ancient copy it follows, "but he passed through Thessalia, for he was forbidden to preach the word to them"; for as he came from Berea to Athens, he must come through Thessalia; but he made no stay here, but passed through, being forbid to preach the Gospel here, as he had been before to preach it in Asia and Bithynia, Act 16:6 nor have we any account anywhere else of the Gospel being preached in Thessaly; and in the second century, we read of Heathenism prevailing there, and of many gross acts of idolatry, particularly at Pella in Thessaly, a man was sacrificed to the gods: though in the beginning of the fourth century there were bishops out of Thessalia at the synod of Nice; and so there were at the synod at Sardica, about the middle of the same century: in the sixth century, Dion, bishop of Thebes in Thessalia, was in the first synod at Ephesus; and Constantinus, bishop of Demetrias, and Vigilantius of Larissa, both cities in Thessalia, were in another at the same place ^w.

And receiving a commandment; or "a letter from him" as one copy and the Syriac version read; that is, the brethren from Paul:

unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed; to Athens, where he now was: they departed; from Paul at Athens, and came back to Berea.