Acts 17:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Following his settled custom, Paul goes to the synagogue and for three sabbaths reasons with the worshipers from the Scriptures.
What Does Acts 17:2 Mean?
In city after city Paul began at the synagogue -- "as his manner was" -- among people who already knew the Scriptures and watched for the Messiah. For three successive sabbaths in Thessalonica he reasoned with them out of those Scriptures, building a careful, sustained case rather than making a single dramatic appeal.
Notice the verb: Paul reasoned. Faith in Christ does not fear thinking; it invites it. The gospel can bear examination, question, and dialogue, because it rests on what God has said and done in history. Patient conversation over the word of God, week after week, remains one of the chief ways the Lord opens hearts, for he honors witness that engages the mind as well as the feelings.
Acts 17:2 in the Original Language
dialegomai (διαλέγομαι), 'reasoned' -- to converse and argue a case through dialogue.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 17:2
What does Acts 17:2 mean?
Following his settled custom, Paul goes to the synagogue and for three sabbaths reasons with the worshipers from the Scriptures.