Acts 17:4

“And some of them believed, etc.] That is, some of the Jews, power went along with the word, and faith came by it, and they believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah, and that what the apostle preached concerning him was the truth; and this they received in the love of it, and cordially embraced it, and made a profession of it: and consorted with Paul and Silas; associated with them, and privately conversed with them, as well as publicly attended their ministry; for when souls are converted, they love to be in company with believers, and especially with the ministers of the Gospel, to hear their discourses, and learn from them the doctrines of grace: and of the devout Greeks a…”

“consorted--cast in their lot. with Paul and Silas--Compare Co2 8:5. of the chief women--female proselytes of distinction. From the First Epistle to the Thessalonians it appears that the converts were nearly all Gentiles; not only such as had before been proselytes, who would be gained in the synagogue, but such as up to that time had been idolaters (Th1 1:9-10). During his stay, while Paul supported himself by his own labor (Th1 2:9; Th2 3:7-9), he received supplies once and again from the Philippians, of which he makes honorable acknowledgment (Phi 4:15-16).”

“And consorted - Literally, had their lot with Paul and Silas; that is, they united themselves to them, and became their disciples. The word is commonly applied to those who are partakers of an inheritance. And of the devout Greeks - Religious Greeks; or, of those who worshipped God. Those are denoted who had renounced the worship of idols, and who attended on the worship of the synagogue, but who were not fully admitted to the privileges of Jewish proselytes. They were called, by the Jews, proselytes of the gate. And of the chief women - See the notes on Acts 13:50. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Of the principal women, not a few - Our free thinkers pique themselves upon observing, that women are more religious than men; and this, in compliment both to religion and good manners, they impute to the weakness of their understandings. And indeed as far as nature can go, in imitating religion by performing the outward acts of it, this picture of religion may make a fairer show in women than in men, both by reason of their more tender passions, and their modesty, which will make those actions appear to more advantage. But in the case of true religion, which always implies taking up the cross, especially in time of persecution, women lie naturally under a great disadvantage, as having less…”

“17:4 God-fearing Greek men: See study note on 10:2. • Luke regularly draws attention to women who joined the Christian movement (17:4, 12, 34; see also 5:14; 8:12; 16:13-15, 31-34; 18:26; 21:9).”

“some: Act 17:34, Act 2:41, Act 2:42, Act 2:44, Act 4:23, Act 5:12-14, Act 14:1, Act 14:4, Act 28:24; Pro 9:6, Pro 13:20; Sol 1:7, Sol 1:8; Sol 6:1; Zac 2:11, Zac 8:20-23; Co2 6:17, Co2 6:18 consorted: Co2 8:5 Silas: Act 15:22, Act 15:27, Act 15:32, Act 15:40 the devout: Act 17:17, Act 13:43, Act 16:3, Act 18:4, Act 19:10, Act 21:28 and of the chief: Act 17:12, Act 13:50 Acts 17:5”