Teks -- Acts 17:5 (NET)

17:5 But the Jews became jealous, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason’s house, trying to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly.

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

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Moved with jealousy

Moved with jealousy ( zēlōsantes ).

Both our English words, zeal and jealousy , are from the Greek zēlos . In Act 13:45 the Jews (rabbis) "were filled with jealousy"(eplēsthēsan zēlou ). That is another way of saying the same thing as here. The success of Paul was entirely too great in both places to please the rabbis. So here is jealousy of Jewish preachers towards Christian preachers. It is always between men or women of the same profession or group. In 1Th 2:3-10 Paul hints at some of the slanders spread against him by these rabbis (deceivers, using words of flattery as men-pleasers, after vain-glory, greed of gain, etc.).

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Took unto them

Took unto them ( proslabomenoi ).

Second aorist middle (indirect, to themselves) participle of proslambanō , old and common verb.

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Certain vile fellows of the rabble

Certain vile fellows of the rabble ( tōn agoraiōn andras tinas ponērous ).

The agora or market-place was the natural resort for those with nothing to do (Mat 20:4) like the court-house square today or various parks in our cities where bench-warmers flock. Plato ( Protagoras 347 C) calls these agoraioi (common word, but in N.T. only here and Act 19:38) idlers or good-for-nothing fellows. They are in every city and such "bums"are ready for any job. The church in Thessalonica caught some of these peripatetic idlers (2Th 3:10.) "doing nothing but doing about."So the Jewish preachers gather to themselves a choice collection of these market-loungers or loafers or wharf-rats. The Romans called them subrostrani (hangers round the rostrum or subbasilicari ).

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Gathering a crowd

Gathering a crowd ( ochlopoiēsantes ).

Literally, making or getting (poieō ) a crowd (ochlos ), a word not found elsewhere. Probably right in the agora itself where the rabbis could tell men their duties and pay them in advance. Instance Hyde Park in London with all the curious gatherings every day, Sunday afternoons in particular.

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Set the city on an uproar

Set the city on an uproar ( ethoruboun ).

Imperfect active of thorubeō , from thorubos (tumult), old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Act 20:10; Mat 9:23; Mar 4:39. They kept up the din, this combination of rabbis and rabble.

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Assaulting the house of Jason

Assaulting the house of Jason ( epistantes tēi oikiāi Iasonos ).

Second aorist (ingressive) active of ephistēmi , taking a stand against, rushing at, because he was Paul’ s host. He may have been a Gentile (Jason the name of an ancient king of Thessaly), but the Jews often used it for Joshua or Jesus (II Macc. Jos 1:7).

Robertson: Act 17:5 - They sought

They sought ( ezētoun ).

Imperfect active. They burst into the house and searched up and down.

Robertson: Act 17:5 - Them

Them ( autous ).

Paul and Silas. They were getting ready to have a lynching party.

Vincent: Act 17:5 - Of the baser sort

Of the baser sort ( ἀγοραίων )

From ἀγορά , the market-place; hence loungers in the market-place; the rabble. Cicero calls them subrostrani, those who hung round the rostra, or platform for speakers in the forum; and Plautus, subbasilicani, the loungers round the court-house or exchange. The word occurs only here and Act 19:38, on which see note.

Vincent: Act 17:5 - Gathered a company

Gathered a company ( ὀχλοποιήσαντες )

Rev., better, a crowd. Only here in New Testament.

JFB: Act 17:5-9 - the Jews . . . moved with envy

Seeing their influence undermined by this stranger.

JFB: Act 17:5-9 - lewd fellows of the baser sort

Better, perhaps, "worthless market people," that is, idle loungers about the market-place, of indifferent character.

JFB: Act 17:5-9 - gathered a company

Rather, "having raised a mob."

JFB: Act 17:5-9 - assaulted the house of Jason

With whom Paul and Silas abode (Act 17:7), one of Paul's kinsmen, apparently (Rom 16:21), and from his name, which was sometimes used as a Greek form of the word Joshua [GROTIUS], probably a Hellenistic Jew.

JFB: Act 17:5-9 - sought to bring them

Jason's lodgers.

Clarke: Act 17:5 - The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them

The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them - Instead of this sentence, the most correct MSS. and versions read simply, προσλαβομενοι δε οἱ Ιουδαιοι . But the Jews taking, etc., leaving out the words, ζηλωσαντες, απειθουντες, which believed not, moved with envy: these words do not appear to be genuine; there is the strongest evidence against them, and they should be omitted

Clarke: Act 17:5 - Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort

Certain lewd fellows of the baser sort - This is not a very intelligible translation. The original is, των αγοραιων τινας ανδοας πονηρους . The word αγοραιοι, which we translate the baser sort, is by Hesychius explained, οἱ εν αγορᾳ αναϚρεφομενοι, those who transact business in courts of justice. The same word is used by the Jews in Hebrew letters to signify judges; and אגוריאות של גוים agorioth shel goyim , signifies judges of the Gentiles. These were probably a low kind of lawyers, what we would call pettifoggers, or attorneys without principle, who gave advice for a trifle, and fomented disputes and litigations among the people. The Itala version of the Codex Bezae calls them quosdam forenses , certain lawyers. As the Jews, from their small number, could not easily raise up a mob, they cunningly employed those unprincipled men, who probably had a certain degree of juridical credit and authority, to denounce the apostles as seditious men; and this was, very likely, the reason why they employed those in preference to any others. They were such as always attended forensic litigations, waiting for a job, and willing to defend any side of a question for money. They were wicked men of the forensic tribe

Clarke: Act 17:5 - Gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar

Gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar - And, after having made this sedition and disturbance, charged the whole on the peaceable and innocent apostles! This is precisely the same way that persecution against the truth and followers of Christ is still carried on. Some wicked man in the parish gets a wicked attorney and a constable to head a mob, which they themselves have raised; and, having committed a number of outrages, abusing men and women, haul the minister of Christ to some magistrate who knows as little of his office as he cares for the Gospel; they there charge the outrages which themselves have committed on the preacher and his peaceable hearers; and the peacemaker, appointed by a good king, according to the wise and excellent regulations of a sound constitution, forgetting whose minister he is, neither administers justice nor maintains truth; but, espousing the part of the mob, assumes, ex officio, the character of a persecutor. The preacher is imprisoned, his hearers fined for listening to that Gospel which has not only made them wise unto salvation, but also peaceable and orderly citizens, and which would have had the same effect on the unprincipled magistrate, the parish squire, and the mob, had they heard it with the same reverence and respect. Had I not witnessed such scenes, and such prostitution of justice, I could not have described them

Clarke: Act 17:5 - Assaulted the house of Jason

Assaulted the house of Jason - This was the place where the apostles lodged; and therefore his goods were clear spoil, and his person fair game. This is a case which frequently occurs where the Gospel is preached in its spirit and power. And, even in this moat favored kingdom, the most scandalous excesses of this kind have been committed, and a justice of the peace has been found to sanction the proceedings; and, when an appeal has been made to the laws, a grand jury has been found capable of throwing out the true bill!

Calvin: Act 17:5 - And being moved with envy // Taking to them certain vagabonds

5.And being moved with envy We see how Paul could nowhere erect the kingdom of Christ without some conflict, for so soon as any fruit of doctrine appeared, there arose persecution therewithal; but because he knew that he was to war against Satan and the wickedness of the world, he was not only hardened against all assaults, but he was more encouraged more courageously to proceed. Therefore, all the servants of Christ must be content with this one example of him, if they see that their labor doth yield some fruit, they must recompense all manner of persecutions with this reward. And this place teacheth that the zeal wherewith the unbelievers are carried headlong, and set on fire, is nothing else but furious force, − ²⁵⁰ because it is not governed by the prudence of the Spirit, neither yet with righteousness or equity. And though they do always pretend the name of God for an excuse of their disordered zeal, yet this history doth plainly declare, that mere hypocrisy doth reign inwardly, and that all corners of their hearts are stuffed with poisoned malice. These enemies of Paul did boast that they were defenders of the law of God; and that they did hate Paul, and contend with him only in defense thereof. −

Why do they then arm the wicked, and conspire together with them to raise tumult? Why then do they also before a profane magistrate bring the gospel in that contempt which might have redounded to the contempt of the law? Such sedition doth plainly declare, that they were moved with nothing less than desire to please God, to be thus hot against Paul, for to what end do they beset Jason’s house, and strive disorderly − ²⁵¹ to pluck out Paul thence, save only that they may set him before the people to be stoned? Therefore, let us know that wicked zeal, which is hot [boils] in superstitious men, is always infected with hypocrisy and malice; and this is the cause that it breaketh out into cruelty without keeping any measure. −

Taking to them certain vagabonds The Greek word which Luke useth doth signify sluggards, and men whereof there ought no account to be made, who, having nothing wherewith they could keep themselves occupied at home, did run up and down idle; − ²⁵² or bold [audacious] fellows and hungry, who are ready to forswear themselves to raise tumults, and to be at one end of − ²⁵³ every wicked fact. Whereby it doth likewise appear that their own conscience told them that they did amiss, seeing they got wicked men to take their part, and to give them their consent. For seeing the magistrate did favor them, what did move them to raise that tempest, save only because they had no hope to have any success, unless (matters should be out of order and) all should be in an uproar? And Luke describeth how such fans did raise sedition; to wit, they gathered the people together in troops, and spread abroad their poison here and there, until they were strong enough to make an assault; − ²⁵⁴ which policy [artifice] is too common among seditions fellows, as those cities which are subject to this mischief do full well know. −

TSK: Act 17:5 - moved // took // and set // Jason

moved : Act 17:13, Act 7:9, Act 13:45, Act 14:2, Act 14:19, Act 18:12; Pro 14:30; Isa 26:11; Mat 27:18; 1Co 3:3; Gal 5:21, Gal 5:26; Jam 4:5

took : Jdg 9:4; Job 30:1-10; Psa 35:15, Psa 69:12

and set : Act 19:24-34, Act 19:40

Jason : Act 17:7; Rom 16:21

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

Poole: Act 17:5 - Believed not // Moved with envy // Lewd fellows // Of the baser sort // Jason // To bring them out to the people

Believed not or were not convinced, or persuaded by St. Paul’ s sermons and arguments.

Moved with envy or zeal; which, as fire in the chimney, its due place, is useful and necessary; but when scattered abroad, and out of its place, is most dangerous and destructive.

Lewd fellows such as stand in markets and public places, gazing, and having nothing to do.

Of the baser sort: to what meat and base acts do not blind zeal and the rage of persecutors descend!

Jason some think this to be the Greek name which the Hellenists did use for Joshua, or Jesus. This man was one of the dispersion, who came from Judea into Syria, and from thence into Macedonia; and is famous, so far as the word of God is preached, for being the host to Paul and Silas; and is mentioned, Rom 16:21 .

To bring them out to the people for to slay them. Nothing but their blood could quench the thirst of their persecutors; but having no just cause for the spilling of it, they are willing to have others to bear the odium of it.

Gill: Act 17:5 - But the Jews which believed not // moved with envy // took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort // and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar // and assaulted the house of Jason // and sought to bring them out to the people

But the Jews which believed not,.... The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions leave out the words, "which believed not"; but whether this character is expressed or not, it is certain that the unbelieving Jews are here intended:

moved with envy; at the success of the apostles, many of their own people and of their proselytes, and some of the better sort being converted by them: or "with zeal"; for what they called the glory of God, but it was not according to knowledge; it was a blind and ignorant zeal, a zeal for the rites and ceremonies of the law of Moses, and for the traditions of the elders:

took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort; or of the market folks, who sat and sold things in the market, and were generally of the meaner and vulgar sort, as the word may signify; or who stood idle in the market place, squandering away their time in an idle manner, not caring to work, and so were fit persons, and who could easily be gathered together, for such service as the unbelieving Jews employed them in; or they were a sort of officers and servants, that attended courts of judicature, and cited persons thither, and assisted in the business done there, and who were commonly men of profligate and abandoned lives:

and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar; they raised a mob, and made a clamour, which brought people out of their houses to inquire what was the matter, and so gave great disturbance and uneasiness to the inhabitants:

and assaulted the house of Jason: who by what follows appears to have been a disciple of Christ, a believer in him, and the host of the apostle and his companions, who being an inhabitant of Thessalonica, at least having a dwelling house there, received them into it. This Jason is said to be one of the seventy disciples, and afterwards bishop of Tarsus, but this is not certain; nor whether he was a Jew or a Greek, very probably the former: we read of Jason the brother of Onias the high priest, a Jew,

"But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest,'' (2 Maccabees 4:7)

whose name was Jesus, the same with Joshua, but as Josephus ⁱ says, he called himself Jason; and so this man's Hebrew name might be Jesus or Joshua, and his Greek name Jason; and very likely he was a believer in Christ before the apostle came to Thessalonica, and it may be is the same who is spoken of in Rom 16:21. See Gill on Rom 16:21. Some of the ancients ^k make mention of a disputation between Jason, a Christian Hebrew, and Papiscus, an Alexandrian Jew, but there is no reason to believe that he is the Jason here spoken of:

and sought to bring them out to the people; they expected to have found Paul and Silas in Jason's house, where they lodged, and their intention was to have dragged them out and exposed them to popular fury, to be beaten or stoned by the people; and so the Arabic version reads, "requiring those two apostles, that they might set them before the people"; or put them into the hands of the mob, which they had gathered, to do as they would with them.