Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 17:3

"opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, [said he,] I proclaim unto you, is the Christ." — Acts 17:3 (ASV)

In portraying the extension of the Gospel to the main cities bordering the Aegean Sea, Luke lays special emphasis on the fact that Paul’s preaching consisted of both proclamation and persuasion—interlocking elements of the one act of preaching. He had struck such a note earlier (cf. 13:43), and it will continue to be heard in 17:17; 18:4, 19; 19:8–10; 20:9; 24:25; 26:28; 28:23. At Thessalonica the missionaries, true to their policy of “to the Jews first, but also to the Gentiles” (cf. comments on 13:46–52), sought out the local synagogue, sure of finding there a prepared audience of both Jews and “Godfearing” Gentiles. During the span of three Sabbath days Paul carefully reasoned from Scripture, attempting to prove that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Then he went on to declare: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” In other words, the preaching of Paul at Thessalonica was a “proclaimed witness”—i.e., a witness to the facts that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, that his suffering and resurrection were in accord with the Scriptures, and that through his earthly ministry and living presence men and women can experience the reign of God in their lives. At times miracles accompanied the proclamation.