11 G1161 These G3778 were G2258 more noble G2104 than those in G1722 Thessalonica, G2332 in that they G3748 received G1209 the word G3056 with G3326 all G3956 readiness of mind, G4288 and searched G350 the scriptures G1124 daily, G2250 G2596 whether G1487 those things G5023 were G2192 so. G3779
Search G2045 the scriptures; G1124 for G3754 in G1722 them G846 ye G5210 think G1380 ye have G2192 eternal G166 life: G2222 and G2532 they G1565 are they G1526 which testify G3140 of G4012 me. G1700
For this G5124 cause G1223 also G2532 thank G2168 we G2249 God G2316 without ceasing, G89 because, G3754 when ye received G3880 the word G3056 of God G2316 which ye heard G189 of G3844 us, G2257 ye received G1209 it not G3756 as the word G3056 of men, G444 but G235 as G2531 it is G2076 in truth, G230 the word G3056 of God, G2316 which G3739 effectually worketh G1754 also G2532 in G1722 you G5213 that believe. G4100
We have G2192 also G2532 a more sure G949 word G3056 of prophecy; G4397 whereunto G3739 ye do G4160 well G2573 that ye take heed, G4337 as G5613 unto a light G3088 that shineth G5316 in G1722 a dark G850 place, G5117 until G2193 G3757 the day G2250 dawn, G1306 and G2532 the day star G5459 arise G393 in G1722 your G5216 hearts: G2588 Knowing G1097 this G5124 first, G4412 that G3754 no G3756 G3956 prophecy G4394 of the scripture G1124 is G1096 of any private G2398 interpretation. G1955 For G1063 the prophecy G4394 came G5342 not G3756 in old time G4218 by the will G2307 of man: G444 but G235 holy G40 men G444 of God G2316 spake G2980 as they were moved G5342 by G5259 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151
Mine eyes H5869 prevent H6923 the night watches, H821 that I might meditate H7878 in thy word. H565
Of G4012 which G3739 salvation G4991 the prophets G4396 have enquired G1567 and G2532 searched diligently, G1830 who G3588 prophesied G4395 of G4012 the grace G5485 that should come unto G1519 you: G5209 Searching G2045 what, G1519 G5101 or G2228 what manner G4169 of time G2540 the Spirit G4151 of Christ G5547 which G3588 was in G1722 them G846 did signify, G1213 when it testified beforehand G4303 the sufferings G3804 of G1519 Christ, G5547 and G2532 the glory G1391 that should follow. G3326 G5023 Unto whom G3739 it was revealed, G601 that G3754 not G3756 unto themselves, G1438 but G1161 unto us G2254 they did minister G1247 the things, G846 which G3739 are G312 now G3568 reported G312 unto you G5213 by G1223 them that have preached the gospel G2097 unto you G5209 with G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 sent down G649 from G575 heaven; G3772 which things G3739 the angels G32 desire G1937 to look G3879 into. G1519
And G2532 that G3754 from G575 a child G1025 thou hast known G1492 the holy G2413 scriptures, G1121 which G3588 are able G1410 to make G4679 thee G4571 wise G4679 unto G1519 salvation G4991 through G1223 faith G4102 which G3588 is in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus. G2424 All G3956 scripture G1124 is given by inspiration of God, G2315 and G2532 is profitable G5624 for G4314 doctrine, G1319 for G4314 reproof, G1650 for G4314 correction, G1882 for G4314 instruction G3809 in G1722 righteousness: G1343 That G2443 the man G444 of God G2316 may be G5600 perfect, G739 throughly furnished G1822 unto G4314 all G3956 good G18 works. G2041
And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 These G3778 are the words G3056 which G3739 I spake G2980 unto G4314 you, G5209 while G5607 I was yet G2089 with G4862 you, G5213 that G3754 all things G3956 must G1163 be fulfilled, G4137 which G3588 were written G1125 in G1722 the law G3551 of Moses, G3475 and G2532 in the prophets, G4396 and G2532 in the psalms, G5568 concerning G4012 me. G1700
Abraham G11 saith G3004 unto him, G846 They have G2192 Moses G3475 and G2532 the prophets; G4396 let them hear G191 them. G846
But G1161 he that received seed G4687 into G1909 the good G2570 ground G1093 is G2076 he G3778 that heareth G191 the word, G3056 and G2532 understandeth G4920 it; which G3739 also G1211 beareth fruit, G2592 and G2532 bringeth forth, G4160 some G3739 G3303 an hundredfold, G1540 G1161 some G3739 sixty, G1835 G1161 some G3739 thirty. G5144
Give H5414 instruction to a wise H2450 man, and he will be yet wiser: H2449 teach H3045 a just H6662 man, and he will increase H3254 in learning. H3948
Receive H3947 my instruction, H4148 and not silver; H3701 and knowledge H1847 rather than choice H977 gold. H2742
My son, H1121 if thou wilt receive H3947 my words, H561 and hide H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee; So that thou incline H7181 thine ear H241 unto wisdom, H2451 and apply H5186 thine heart H3820 to understanding; H8394 Yea, if thou criest H7121 after knowledge, H998 and liftest up H5414 thy voice H6963 for understanding; H8394 If thou seekest H1245 her as silver, H3701 and searchest H2664 for her as for hid treasures; H4301 Then shalt thou understand H995 the fear H3374 of the LORD, H3068 and find H4672 the knowledge H1847 of God. H430
A wise H2450 man will hear, H8085 and will increase H3254 learning; H3948 and a man of understanding H995 shall attain H7069 unto wise counsels: H8458
I understand H995 more than the ancients, H2205 because I keep H5341 thy precepts. H6490
But his delight H2656 is in the law H8451 of the LORD; H3068 and in his law H8451 doth he meditate H1897 day H3119 and night. H3915 And he shall be like a tree H6086 planted H8362 by the rivers H6388 of water, H4325 that bringeth forth H5414 his fruit H6529 in his season; H6256 his leaf H5929 also shall not wither; H5034 and whatsoever he doeth H6213 shall prosper. H6743
They G846 are G1526 of G1537 the world: G2889 therefore G1223 G5124 speak they G2980 of G1537 the world, G2889 and G2532 the world G2889 heareth G191 them. G846 We G2249 are G2070 of G1537 God: G2316 he that knoweth G1097 God G2316 heareth G191 us; G2257 he that G3739 is G2076 not G3756 of G1537 God G2316 heareth G191 not G3756 us. G2257 Hereby G1537 G5127 know we G1097 the spirit G4151 of truth, G225 and G2532 the spirit G4151 of error. G4106
Now G1161 when they had passed through G1353 Amphipolis G295 and G2532 Apollonia, G624 they came G2064 to G1519 Thessalonica, G2332 where G3699 was G2258 a synagogue G4864 of the Jews: G2453
And G1161 the apostles G652 and G2532 brethren G80 that were G5607 in G2596 Judaea G2449 heard G191 that G3754 the Gentiles G1484 had G1209 also G2532 received G1209 the word G3056 of God. G2316
Immediately G1824 therefore G3767 I sent G3992 to G4314 thee; G4571 and G5037 thou G4771 hast well G2573 done G4160 that thou art come. G3854 Now G3568 therefore G3767 are G3918 we G2249 all G3956 here present G3918 before G1799 God, G2316 to hear G191 all things G3956 that are commanded G4367 thee G4671 of G5259 God. G2316
Then G3303 G3767 they that gladly G780 received G588 his G846 word G3056 were baptized: G907 and G2532 the same G1565 day G2250 there were added G4369 unto them about G5616 three thousand G5153 souls. G5590
But G1161 he that doeth G4160 truth G225 cometh G2064 to G4314 the light, G5457 that G2443 his G846 deeds G2041 may be made manifest, G5319 that G3754 they are G2076 wrought G2038 in G1722 God. G2316
Philip G5376 findeth G2147 Nathanael, G3482 and G2532 saith G3004 unto him, G846 We have found G2147 him, of whom G3739 Moses G3475 in G1722 the law, G3551 and G2532 the prophets, G4396 did write, G1125 Jesus G2424 of G575 Nazareth, G3478 the son G5207 of Joseph. G2501 And G2532 Nathanael G3482 said G2036 unto him, G846 Can G1410 there any G5100 good thing G18 come G1511 out of G1537 Nazareth? G3478 Philip G5376 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Come G2064 and G2532 see. G1492 Jesus G2424 saw G1492 Nathanael G3482 coming G2064 to G4314 him, G846 and G2532 saith G3004 of G4012 him, G846 Behold G2396 an Israelite G2475 indeed, G230 in G1722 whom G3739 is G2076 no G3756 guile! G1388 Nathanael G3482 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Whence G4159 knowest thou G1097 me? G3165 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G2532 said G2036 unto him, G846 Before G4253 that Philip G5376 called G5455 thee, G4571 when thou wast G5607 under G5259 the fig tree, G4808 I saw G1492 thee. G4571 Nathanael G3482 answered G611 and G2532 saith G3004 unto him, G846 Rabbi, G4461 thou G4771 art G1488 the Son G5207 of God; G2316 thou G4771 art G1488 the King G935 of Israel. G2474
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 17
Commentary on Acts 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
We have here a further account of the travels of Paul, and his services and sufferings for Christ. He was not like a candle upon a table, that gives light only to one room, but like the sun that goes its circuit to give light to many. He was called into Macedonia, a large kingdom, ch. 16:9. He began with Philippi, because it was the first city he came to; but he must not confine himself to this. We have him here,
Act 17:1-9
Paul's two epistles to the Thessalonians, the first two he wrote by inspiration, give such a shining character of that church, that we cannot but be glad here in the history to meet with an account of the first founding of the church there.
Act 17:10-15
In these verses we have,
Act 17:16-21
A scholar that has acquaintance, and is in love, with the learning of the ancients, would think he should be very happy if he were where Paul now was, at Athens, in the midst of the various sects of philosophers, and would have a great many curious questions to ask them, for the explication of the remains we have of the Athenian learning; but Paul, though bred a scholar, and an ingenious active man, does not make this any of his business at Athens. He has other work to mind: it is not the improving of himself in their philosophy that he aims at, he has learned to call it a vain thing, and is above it (Col. 2:8); his business is, in God's name, to correct their disorders in religion, and to turn them from the service of idols, and of Satan in them, to the service of the true and living God in Christ.
Act 17:22-31
We have here St. Paul's sermon at Athens. Divers sermons we have had, which the apostles preached to the Jews, or such Gentiles as had an acquaintance with and veneration for the Old Testament, and were worshippers of the true and living God; and all they had to do with them was to open and allege that Jesus is the Christ; but here we have a sermon to heathens, that worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world, and to them the scope of their discourse was quite different from what it was to the other. In the former case their business was to lead their hearers by prophecies and miracles to the knowledge of the Redeemer, and faith in him; in the latter it was to lead them by the common works of providence to the knowledge of the Creator, and the worship of him. One discourse of this kind we had before to the rude idolaters of Lystra that deified the apostles (ch. 14:15); this recorded here is to the more polite and refined idolaters at Athens, and an admirable discourse it is, and every way suited to his auditory and the design he had upon them.
Act 17:32-34
We have here a short account of the issue of Paul's preaching at Athens.