TRV
John Chrysostom
Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 7,356 passages across 56 books
Commentary
Acts 16:37
· 2 passages
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
But Paul said unto them, they have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Even upon the declaration of the magistrates Paul does not go out, but for the sake both of Lydia and the rest he puts them in fear: that they may not be supposed to have come out upon their own request, that they may set the rest in a posture of boldness. The impeachment was twofold: that being Romans, and uncondemned, they had openly cast them into prison. You see that in many things they took their measures as men.
But Paul said unto them: that he may not seem to be receiving his liberty as one condemned, and as one that has done wrong: therefore it is that he says, Having openly beaten us uncondemned - that it may not be matter of grace on their part. And besides, they wish the jailer himself to be out of danger, that he may not be called to account for this afterwards. And they do not say, Having beaten us, who have wrought miracles: for they the magistrates did not even heed these: but, that which was most effectual to shake their minds, uncondemned, and being Romans.
Acts 16:38-39
And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
And the sergeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. They feared, it says: because the men were Romans, not because they had unjustly cast them into prison. And besought them to depart out of the city: begged them as a favor. Observe how diversely grace manages things: how Peter went out, how Paul, though both were Apostles.
Acts 16:40
And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. And they went to the house of Lydia, and having confirmed her, so departed. For it was not right to leave their hostess in distress and anxiety. But they went out, not in compliance with the request of those rulers, but hasting to the preaching: the city having been sufficiently benefited by the miracle: for it was fit they should not be there any longer. For in the absence of them that wrought it, the miracle appeared greater, itself crying out more loudly: the faith of the jailer was a voice in itself.
Acts 17:1
· 2 passages
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Again they haste past the small cities, and press on to the greater ones, since from those the word was to flow as from a fountain into the neighboring cities. "And Paul, as his manner was, went into the synagogue of the Jews." Although he had said, "We turn to the Gentiles" (ch. xiii. 46), he did not leave these alone: such was the longing affection he had towards them. For hear him saying, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved" (Rom. x. 1): and, "I wished myself accursed from Christ for my brethren." (ib. ix. 3.) But he did this because of God's promise and the glory: and this, that it might not be a cause of offence to the Gentiles.
Again they pass through the small towns and hurry to the biggest, since the word was to flow to nearby cities as from a source.
Acts 17:2
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
"Three sabbath-days," it says, being the time when they had leisure from work, "he reasoned with them, opening out of the Scriptures": for so used Christ also to do: as on many occasions we find Him reasoning from the Scriptures, and not on all occasions urging men by miracles. Because to the working of miracles indeed they stood in a posture of hostility, calling them deceivers and jugglers; but he that persuades men by reasons from the Scriptures, is not liable to this imputation. And on many occasions we find Paul to have convinced men simply by force of teaching: and in Antioch "the whole city was gathered together" (ch. xiii. 44): so great a thing is this also, for indeed this itself is no small miracle, nay, it is even a very great one.
Acts 17:3
· 2 passages
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
"That the Christ," he says, "must needs have suffered." If there was a necessity for His suffering, there was assuredly a necessity for His rising again: for the former was far more wonderful than the latter. For if He gave Him up to death Who had done no wrong, much rather did He raise Him up again.
"Opening," it says, "from the Scriptures, he reasoned with them for three sabbaths, putting before them that the Christ must suffer." Do thou mark how before all other things he preaches the Passion: so little were they ashamed of it, knowing it to be the cause of salvation.
Acts 17:4
· 3 passages
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
And that they might not think that they did it all by their own strength, but rather that God permitted it, two things resulted, namely, "Some of them were persuaded," and others did the contrary: the Jews moved with envy. And from the fact that the being called was itself a matter of God's fore-ordering, they neither thought great things of themselves as if the triumph were their own, nor were terrified as being responsible for all.
The "devout Greeks" would include such as were Jewish proselytes and such as were worshippers of the true God and attended the synagogue services, without being connected with Judaism. The "first women" were probably female proselytes to Judaism. These heard the Apostle with interest, but the more ardent and fanatical Jews, reinforced by the baser element - the loungers from the market place, made a tumult of opposition.
"And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few." The writer mentions only the sum and substance of the discoursing: he is not given to redundancy, and does not on every occasion report the sermons.
Acts 17:5
· 2 passages
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 on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
"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 on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people." So that the Gentiles were more in number. The Jews thought not themselves enough to raise the disturbance: for because they had no reasonable pretext, they ever effect such purposes by means of uproar, and by taking to themselves base men.
"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 on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus." Oh! what an accusation! again they get up a charge of treason against them, "saying, there is another king one Jesus."
Acts 17:6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
"And when they found them not," it says, "they haled Jason and certain brethren." O the tyranny! dragged them without any cause out of their houses.
Acts 17:7
· 2 passages
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
"These all," say they, "do contrary to the decrees of Caesar": for since they spoke nothing contrary to what had been decreed, nor made any commotion in the city, they bring them under a different charge: "saying that there is another king, one Jesus." And what are ye afraid of, seeing He is dead?
The accusation is artfully made. They are accused of the crimen majestatis - treason against Caesar. The Jews knew well that to accuse them of disturbing their worship or opposing their opinions would produce no effect. To arouse the Roman feeling against them it was necessary to present their teaching concerning the Kingship of Jesus so as to make it seem to the rulers of this free city as a treasonable doctrine against the Roman state.
Acts 17:8
And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
"And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things."
Acts 17:9
· 2 passages
And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
"When they had taken security" - a legal term - satisfactionem accipere, it is doubtful if, as Chrysostom supposes, Jason became surety in person. The surety was more probably a deposit of money and had for its object the guaranty that the peace should be kept, and nothing done contrary the Emperor and the state.
"And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go." A man worthy to be admired, that he put himself into danger, and sent them away from it. See how by giving security Jason sent Paul away: so that he gave his life to the hazard for him.