Discovery BoxActs 17:13-16 
Context17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica 1 heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God 2 in Berea, 3 they came there too, inciting 4 and disturbing 5 the crowds. 17:14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast 6 at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 7 17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, 8 and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. 9
17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, 10 his spirit was greatly upset 11 because he saw 12 the city was full of idols.
1 sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).
2 tn Grk “that the word of God had also been proclaimed by Paul.” This passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.
3 sn Berea (alternate spelling in NRSV Beroea; Greek Beroia) was a very old city in Macedonia on the river Astraeus about 45 mi (75 km) from Thessalonica.
4 tn BDAG 911 s.v. σαλεύω 2 has “incite” for σαλεύοντες (saleuonte") in Acts 17:13.
sn Inciting. Ironically, it was the Jews who were disturbing the peace, not the Christians.
5 tn Or “stirring up” (BDAG 990-91 s.v. ταράσσω 2). The point is the agitation of the crowds.
6 tn Grk “to the sea.” Here ἕως ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν ({ew" epi thn qalassan) must mean “to the edge of the sea,” that is, “to the coast.” Since there is no mention of Paul taking a ship to Athens, he presumably traveled overland. The journey would have been about 340 mi (550 km).
7 tn Grk “remained there”; the referent (Berea) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
8 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
9 sn They left. See 1 Thess 3:1-2, which shows they went from here to Thessalonica.
10 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
11 tn Grk “greatly upset within him,” but the words “within him” were not included in the translation because they are redundant in English. See L&N 88.189. The term could also be rendered “infuriated.”
sn His spirit was greatly upset. See Rom 1:18-32 for Paul’s feelings about idolatry. Yet he addressed both Jews and Gentiles with tact and reserve.
12 tn Or “when he saw.” The participle θεωροῦντος (qewrounto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle; it could also be translated as temporal.
