Passage

Acts 17.13-15

Book: Acts · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV

11. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. 12. Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.

13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes. 14. And then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still. 15. But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols. 17. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him. (Acts 17:11-17, ASV)

WEB

11. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12. Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.

13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes. 14. Then the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there. 15. But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. 17. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him. (Acts 17:11-17, WEB)

KJV

11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. 14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 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, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. ^{wholly: or, full of idols} 17. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. (Acts 17:11-17, KJV)

YLT

11. and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so; 12. many, indeed, therefore, of them did believe, and of the honourable Greek women and men not a few.

13. And when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that also in Berea was the word of God declared by Paul, they came thither also, agitating the multitudes; 14. and then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul, to go on as it were to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy were remaining there. 15. And those conducting Paul, brought him unto Athens, and having received a command unto Silas and Timotheus that with all speed they may come unto him, they departed;

and Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry, 17. therefore, indeed, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the worshipping persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met with him. (Acts 17:11-17, YLT)

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Setting

Speaker: the narrator of Acts, traditionally Luke
Audience: Theophilus (Acts 1:1) and the reader
Location: Berea in Macedonia, then the journey to Athens, in the Roman province of Achaia
Time period: c. AD 50, on Paul's second missionary journey, shortly before his eighteen months in Corinth (Acts 18:11)

Theological reading

The passage moves Paul from Berea to Athens. The opposition from Thessalonica follows him, the Berean believers send him away, and he arrives in Athens alone.

A campaign, not a local reaction. "When the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes" (17:13). The opposition at Berea was carried in from outside. Luke had said the Bereans received the word "with all readiness of the mind" (17:11); the trouble did not come from them.

Sent to the sea. "Then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still" (17:14). As at Thessalonica (17:10), the local believers act quickly to protect Paul. The KJV reads "as it were to the sea," following a different Greek reading; on either text Paul goes toward the coast and on to Athens.

Escorted to Athens. "They that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens" (17:15). The verb (Strong's G2525) means to escort someone and see him safely to his destination. The believers of a city Paul had known only a short time took him the whole way.

The message back. Paul sends a "commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed" (17:15). His letter adds that he chose "to be left behind at Athens alone" and sent Timothy back "to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith" (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2). Acts later reunites all three at Corinth, "when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia" (18:5). See Acts 17.15.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word.

G1097 - ginosko, ginosko, Strong's G1097
G3056 - logos, logos, Strong's G3056
G4314 - pros, pros, Strong's G4314
G2316 - theos, theos, Strong's G2316

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Notes

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Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.