Bible chapter guide

Acts 17

In Thessalonica a riot drives Paul out; the Bereans search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so. In Athens Paul, distressed by its idols, speaks in the marketplace and before the Areopagus about the unknown god, and a few believe, among them Dionysius and Damaris.

Summary written for the Labs; read the chapter itself for the full text.

What happens in this chapter

Paul and Silas pass through Amphipolis and Apollonia on the Via Egnatia to Thessalonica, where Paul argues from the Scriptures in the synagogue on three Sabbaths. A crowd raised by his opponents cannot find him, so they drag his host Jason before the city's rulers. Sent off by night to Berea, Paul finds Jews who check the Scriptures every day, until agitators follow him there too and he is taken to the sea and on to Athens. Distressed by the idols, he talks in the synagogue and the marketplace, and is brought to the Areopagus, where he starts from an altar 'to the unknown god'; some laugh at the resurrection, but Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris and others believe.

What the lab shows, and where to look

On the second journey route in Paul's Roads, step west from Amphipolis and Apollonia, where the distances between towns come from the ancient itineraries of the Via Egnatia. On the Paul's Second Journey page, Thessalonica's card explains why Luke's title for its magistrates is accurate. Berea is off the main road. The leg from Berea to Athens is drawn by sea, as plausible, because Acts says only that Paul was sent to the sea. Open Athens on the same page for the Areopagus claim and the debate over where the council met.

Questions people ask

Where was the Areopagus and what was it?

The name means 'hill of Ares', a rocky outcrop just north-west of the Acropolis, and it was also the name of Athens' oldest council, which had met there. Acts uses the council's name, and Dionysius 'the Areopagite' (17:34) was one of its members. Whether in Paul's day the council met on the hill itself or in the Royal Stoa in the agora below is debated.

Strongly supported

Did Luke get the title of Thessalonica's officials right?

Yes. The Greek word behind 'the rulers of the city' (17:6) is politarchs, a title once thought to be Luke's own invention. Inscriptions from Thessalonica have since shown that the city's magistrates were called exactly that.

Strongly supported

How did Paul get from Berea to Athens?

Probably by ship. The believers sent him away 'to go as it were to the sea' (17:14) and those escorting him brought him to Athens, which suggests a boat from the coast near Pydna or Dion. Some read the trip to the sea as a feint and think he went overland; the text does not settle it.

Plausible

See it in the Labs

Follow Paul's missionary journeys on the map

People in this chapter

Jason Dionysius the Areopagite Damaris Timothy

Places

Amphipolis Apollonia Thessalonica Berea Athens

Also in this chapter

West along the Via Egnatia Three Sabbaths in the synagogue The riot at Jason's house The noble Bereans A city full of idols The speech on the Areopagus

How sure can we be?

Strongly supported
Luke's title 'rulers of the city' (politarchs) is accurate for Thessalonica.
Inscriptions from Thessalonica use the title politarch, once thought to be Luke's invention.
Strongly supported
Paul spoke before the council of the Areopagus.
Acts 17:19–22 uses the council's name; whether it met on the hill itself or in the Royal Stoa in the agora is debated.
Plausible
Paul was sent away 'to go as it were to the sea' and probably sailed from the coast near Pydna or Dion to Athens.
Acts 17:14–15 says he was sent to the sea and conducted to Athens. Some read 17:14 as a feint and think he went by land.

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King James Version (KJV) Chinese Union Version, 1919 (Wikisource)