Acts 17:7

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.

Whom {G3739} Jason {G2394} hath received {G5264}: and {G2532} these {G3778} all {G3956} do {G4238} contrary {G561} to the decrees {G1378} of Caesar {G2541}, saying {G3004} that there is {G1511} another {G2087} king {G935}, one Jesus {G2424}.

And Jason has let them stay in his home! All of them are defying the decrees of the Emperor; because they assert that there is another king, Yeshua!”

and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Commentary

Acts 17:7 captures a pivotal moment of conflict during Paul and Silas's missionary journey in Thessalonica, highlighting the early church's encounter with both Jewish opposition and Roman authority.

Context

Following a successful period of preaching the Gospel in Thessalonica, where many Jews and prominent Greeks believed (Acts 17:4), envious unbelieving Jews stirred up a mob. They attacked the house of Jason, who had hosted Paul and Silas, dragging him and other believers before the city authorities. The core of their accusation, as stated in this verse, was that Paul and Silas were acting "contrary to the decrees of Caesar," specifically by proclaiming "another king, one Jesus." This charge was a deliberate attempt to frame the Christian message as political sedition, a serious offense under Roman law, to ensure the authorities would act against them.

Key Themes

  • Misrepresentation of the Gospel: The accusers twisted the spiritual truth of Jesus's kingship into a political threat. The apostles preached Jesus as the Messiah, God's anointed King, whose kingdom is spiritual and heavenly, not earthly and rivalrous to Caesar. This distinction is crucial for understanding the nature of Christ's reign, as Jesus Himself stated, "My kingdom is not of this world."
  • Persecution and False Accusations: This verse exemplifies the common tactic of early Christian opponents: fabricating charges to incite Roman authorities. The believers faced false accusations and persecution for their faith, a pattern seen throughout the book of Acts.
  • Allegiance to Christ: The accusation implies a conflict of loyalties. For the Thessalonian believers, receiving "another king, Jesus" meant acknowledging His supreme authority, even if it brought them into conflict with earthly powers. This tension between allegiance to God and loyalty to earthly rulers is a recurring theme in Scripture.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "king" is basileus (βασιλεύς). While it certainly refers to a monarch, in the context of the Gospel, it speaks to Jesus's role as the divine Messiah, the promised King of Israel, whose reign is primarily spiritual and eternal, not a worldly political domain. The accusers deliberately exploited the political implications of the term to instigate trouble.

Practical Application

Acts 17:7 reminds believers that proclaiming Jesus as Lord can sometimes lead to misunderstanding or opposition from the world. Our allegiance to Christ should be unwavering, even when it is misinterpreted or used against us. It also highlights the importance of understanding the true nature of Christ's kingdom – a spiritual reign over hearts and lives, not a political power structure – so we can accurately represent the Gospel and avoid unnecessary conflict, while remaining firm in our faith.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 23:2 (6 votes)

    And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this [fellow] perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

  • Acts 16:21 (4 votes)

    And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

  • John 19:12 (4 votes)

    And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

  • Daniel 6:13 (1 votes)

    Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which [is] of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

  • 1 Peter 2:15 (1 votes)

    For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

  • Ezra 4:12 (1 votes)

    Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls [thereof], and joined the foundations.

  • Ezra 4:15 (1 votes)

    That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city [is] a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.