Discovery BoxActs 17:5 
Context17:5 But the Jews became jealous, 1 and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, 2 they formed a mob 3 and set the city in an uproar. 4 They attacked Jason’s house, 5 trying to find Paul and Silas 6 to bring them out to the assembly. 7
Acts 17:13
Context17:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica 8 heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God 9 in Berea, 10 they came there too, inciting 11 and disturbing 12 the crowds.
1 tn Grk “becoming jealous.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. So elsewhere in Acts (5:17; 7:9; 13:45).
2 tn Literally ἀγοραῖος (agoraio") refers to the crowd in the marketplace, although BDAG 14-15 s.v. ἀγοραῖος 1 gives the meaning, by extension, as “rabble.” Such a description is certainly appropriate in this context. L&N 15.127 translates the phrase “worthless men from the streets.”
3 tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.
4 tn BDAG 458 s.v. θορυβέω 1 has “set the city in an uproar, start a riot in the city” for the meaning of ἐθορύβουν (eqoruboun) in this verse.
5 sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.
6 tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2 has “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly προάγειν εἰς τὸν δ. Ac 17:5.”
8 sn Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia (modern Salonica).
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
12 tn Or “stirring up” (BDAG 990-91 s.v. ταράσσω 2). The point is the agitation of the crowds.
