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Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
Acts 17:4 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
  • BSB Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
  • NKJV And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
  • NASB And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women.
  • NLT Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Some Jews, many God-fearing Greeks, and a number of leading women believed and joined Paul and Silas.

Overview

The gospel bore fruit across social lines, including prominent women in the city. The mixed makeup of converts reflects the church Paul later addresses in his Thessalonian letters. Their persuasion came through the reasoned exposition of Scripture, showing the word's power to gather a people to Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 29

  • Acts 17:12Many of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.
  • Acts 13:43Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
  • Acts 14:4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
  • Acts 28:24Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
  • Acts 15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
  • Acts 13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
  • 2 Cor 8:5This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
  • Song 6:1Where has your beloved gone, you fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?
  • Acts 5:12–14By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
  • Song 1:7–8Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you graze your flock, where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?
  • Prov 9:6Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.”
  • 2 Cor 6:17–18Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
  • Acts 19:10This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
  • Acts 15:32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.
  • Prov 13:20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
  • Acts 15:40but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
  • Acts 15:27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
  • Acts 17:34But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
  • Acts 18:4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
  • Acts 14:1In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
  • Acts 2:44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
  • Acts 21:28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!”
  • John 7:35The Jews therefore said among themselves, “Where will this man go that we won’t find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
  • Acts 16:3Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
  • Acts 4:23Being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
  • Acts 2:41–42Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
  • Zech 8:20–23Yahweh of Armies says: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;
  • Acts 17:17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
  • Zech 2:11Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 17:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 17:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.