Acts 17:1-9
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob… (v. 5) This sounds so much like the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem bringing a mob to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus! (BTW, both the NASB and NKJV translate “of the rabble” as “from the marketplace”.) Clearly the synagogue was split; the previous verse had said, And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. (v. 4) The “them” in “some of them” refers to Jews from the synagogue, since Greeks and leading women are also included in that verse of those who were persuaded. From his teaching/preaching, some Jews were persuaded, but not all. My sense is that it was the Jewish leaders who were not persuaded and who became jealous (v. 5) when the less-learned Jews were persuaded; the leaders probably feared that they would lose many from their congregation.
Paul explains three distinct items to those attending in the synagogue: (1) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) and (2) that as the Christ He had to suffer and (3) that as the Christ He had to rise from the dead. Verse 3 says that Paul not only explained these things, but that he also proved them. As a young rabbinical student Paul was well trained in the Old Testament and could cite “chapter and verse” from …Moses and all the prophets… (Luke 24:27), especially Messianic verses from Isaiah. So he was able to prove to some of the Jews that their long-awaited Messiah had come. That would have taken a major leap of faith for those Jews who joined Paul and Silas to leave behind their Jewish friends (and leaders). Paul must have been very convincing!
The Jewish leaders speaking: …they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. (v. 7) My Study Bible pointed out this Messianic preaching from Paul was blasphemy to the Jewish leaders, but also that the Thessalonians were under Roman rule and that this claim from the Jewish leaders was effectively a charge of treason against Paul and Silas. The very first verse in tomorrow’s reading says The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night… (v. 10), clearly to avoid having to face that charge before the Roman authorities.
Slava Bohu!