Acts 17:13-14

17:13 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 

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.