Acts 17:5

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 

Jud 9:4; Job 30:1-10; Ps 35:15; Ps 69:12; Pr 14:30; Isa 26:11; Mt 27:18; Ac 7:9; Ac 13:45; Ac 14:2,19; Ac 17:7; Ac 17:13; Ac 18:12; Ac 19:24-34,40; Ro 16:21; 1Co 3:3; Ga 5:21,26; Jas 4:5

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.”