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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 17:14 - 17:14
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14. εὐθέως δέ, and immediately. As from Thessalonica, so from Berœa, the departure is made with all haste. The charge of conspiring against Cæsar, which was probably put forward everywhere, had a very dangerous effect on the popular mind.
πορεύεσθαι ἕως ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, to go as far as to the sea. This is to be preferred to the Text. recept. for several reasons. First it has stronger MS. support. And further it agrees better with the history. The A.V. ‘to go as it were to the sea’ represents the ὡς of Text. recept., and would imply that for a while the travellers made as though they were bound towards the sea, but then to baffle pursuit turned and took the land road to Athens. But it is difficult to understand that St Paul would have gone on through Thessaly and all the intervening districts which lie north of Attica, and never have sought an opportunity of preaching the word anywhere till Athens was reached. If however he were conveyed to the sea and took ship and was thus brought to Athens, it is easy to understand that the next place mentioned in the journey is Athens. It is clear too from the whole account of St Paul’s travels, that he was a person who by reason of his infirmities could not easily travel alone. That such a person should have been brought so long a distance by land, where the sea-voyage was so accessible and easy, is hardly to be imagined. It may well be that at the departure from Berœa the design was to wait at the coast till his proper companions could come to him, but that when the sea was reached there was found a speedy opportunity of sailing into Attica, which the Apostle embraced, as his conductors were willing to go all the way with him.
ὑπέμεινάν τε ὅ τε Σίλας καὶ ὁ Τιμόθεος ἐκεῖ, but Silas and Timothy abode there still. For they had played a less prominent part, and therefore were not in such peril as St Paul.