Acts 17:14

"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."

Key Reflection

In Acts 17:14, when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul had preached the word of God in nearby Beroea, they traveled there to confront and disrupt the gathering. This action highlights the opposition faced by early Christian missionaries as they spread their message. The cultural context of first-century Greece emphasizes the importance of maintaining local religious and social traditions; thus, outsiders like Paul often encountered resistance when challenging established beliefs or practices.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 14. The brethren. Those who were Christians. Sent away Paul. In order to secure his safety. A similar thing had been done in Thessalonica, Ac 17:10. The tumult was great; and there was no doubt, such was the hostility of the Jews, that the life of Paul would be endangered, and they therefore resolved to secure his safety. As it were. Rather, "even to the sea," for that is its signification. It does not imply that there was any feint or sleight in the case, as if they intended to deceive their pursuers. They took him to the sea coast, not far from Berea, and from that place he probably went by sea to Athens.

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