Acts 13:44-46
44-48. the next sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God—the intervening days having been spent in further inquiry and instruction, and the excitement reaching the Gentiles, who now for the first time crowded, along with the usual worshippers, into the synagogue.
45. But when the Jews—those zealots of exclusive Judaism.
saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy—rather, "indignation," and broke out in their usual manner. contradicting and blaspheming—There is nothing more awful than Jewish fury and execration of the name of Jesus of Nazareth, when thoroughly roused.46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, &c.—This is in the highest style of a last and solemn protestation.
It was necessary that the word should first have been spoken to you—See the direction of Christ in Lu 24:47; also Ro 1:16. since ye judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life—pass sentence upon yourselves. Acts 17:5
5-9. the Jews . . . moved with envy—seeing their influence undermined by this stranger.
lewd fellows of the baser sort—better, perhaps, "worthless market people," that is, idle loungers about the market-place, of indifferent character. gathered a company—rather, "having raised a mob." assaulted the house of Jason—with whom Paul and Silas abode (Ac 17:7), one of Paul's kinsmen, apparently (Ro 16:21), and from his name, which was sometimes used as a Greek form of the word Joshua [GROTIUS], probably a Hellenistic Jew. sought to bring them—Jason's lodgers. Acts 17:13
13. the Jews of Thessalonica . . . came thither also—"like hunters upon their prey, as they had done before from Iconium to Lystra" [HOWSON].
Acts 18:6
6. Your blood be upon your own heads, &c.—See Eze 33:4, 9.
from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles—Compare Ac 13:46. Acts 18:12
12-17. when Gallio was the deputy—"the proconsul." See on Ac 13:7. He was brother to the celebrated philosopher SENECA, the tutor of Nero, who passed sentence of death on both.