seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Acts 17:1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
Who is Jason? Well, the commentary says Jason's home was the center of the Christian Church in Thessalonica. And attacked the house of Jason: Jason was a Christian in Thessalonica whose house seems to have been a center for the church. When the evil men from the marketplace did not find Paul and Silas there, they attacked Jason himself, and some brethren who were with him.
Now check out verse 6. Can you imagine, a preacher whose sermons could "cause trouble all over the world"? Paul and Silas reasoned with the jealous Jews. Paul used the scriptures to explain. I wonder if Paul told them about Peter's vision of the sheet making anyone and everyone acceptable in the Kingdom of God. I bet not. I bet he just stuck to the writings of Moses and the Prophets. They could handle discussions about Moses. Now go back to verse 5 please. Some of the Jews were jealous. I know... We've grown accustomed to jealousy. We barely know what it means, anymore. These men wanted things to stay the same. If they couldn't have their sacrificial lambs, if they couldn't keep things exactly as Moses set it out, the world might come to an end. Look at Sodom.... they thought God would turn Thessalonica into another Sodom if they didn't stop this "Christian" foolishness.
Jealousy is defined as fiercely protective or vigilant of one's rights or possessions.
They even used Pilates ploy... they used the "He would be the 'king' of the Jews". Ceasar got jumpy when "new kings" popped up. Ceasar sent armed forces to towns with "new kings" popping up. The rich and powerful in the city didn't want Ceasar angry with them. They must have had contracts. So, they drug Jason and the crew in front of the local "uppity ups".
Jason had to pay a fine... a bond. Jason had to agree not to do it again. That's better than being beaten to death in the public square. That's better than being thrown off a cliff and then stoned. Paul took Timothy and Dr. Luke and left. Paul had firsthand knowledge of what could happen if they hung around too long. They had to shake the dust off their sandals before it cost Jason [or Paul] his life.
They met at Jason's house.
Jason was a Christian.
