Acts 17:9

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) And when they had taken security of Jason.—The Greek noun, probably used as an equivalent for the Latin satis accipere, in common use in legal language, is a technical one (literally, the sufficient sum) for the bail which Jason was required to give for the good conduct of his guests, and for their readiness to meet any charge that might be brought against them. It is clear from 1Thessalonians 1:6; 1Thessalonians 2:14, that St. Paul and Silas were not the only sufferers. The Gentile converts were exposed alike to the violence of their own countrymen and to the malice of the Jews. How anxious he was to visit and comfort them is seen from the fact that he made two attempts to return, before or during his stay at Corinth (1Thessalonians 2:18).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:1-9 The drift and scope of Paul's preaching and arguing, was to prove that Jesus is the Christ. He must needs suffer for us, because he could not otherwise purchase our redemption for us; and he must needs have risen again, because he could not otherwise apply the redemption to us. We are to preach concerning Jesus that he is Christ; therefore we may hope to be saved by him, and are bound to be ruled by him. The unbelieving Jews were angry, because the apostles preached to the Gentiles, that they might be saved. How strange it is, that men should grudge others the privileges they will not themselves accept! Neither rulers nor people need be troubled at the increase of real Christians, even though turbulent spirits should make religion the pretext for evil designs. Of such let us beware, from such let us withdraw, that we may show a desire to act aright in society, while we claim our right to worship God according to our consciences.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And when they had taken security of Jason - This is an expression taken from courts, and means that Jason and the other gave satisfaction to the magistrates for the good conduct of Paul and Silas, or became responsible for it. Whether it was by depositing a sum of money, and by thus giving bail, is not quite clear. The sense is, that they did it in accordance with the Roman usages, and gave sufficient security for the good conduct of Paul and Silas. Heuman supposes that the pledge given was that they should leave the city. Michaelis thinks that they gave a pledge that they would no more harbor them; but if they returned again to them, they would deliver them to the magistrates.

And of the other - The other brethren Acts 17:6 who had been drawn to the rulers of the city.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

9. And when they had taken security of Jason and of the other—"the others"—probably making them deposit a money pledge that the preachers should not again endanger the public peace.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Had taken security; either being satisfied with their answer, or having bail for their appearance, if need were; the word only hinting their being satisfied, or contented, as Mark 15:15.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other,.... That is, received satisfaction from them, by the defence which they made for themselves, and the apostles, by the account that they gave of them and of their doctrines; whereby it plainly appeared to the full satisfaction of the magistrates, that their principles had no tendency to move sedition, or to alter the form of their government, or to do anything detrimental to Caesar, as was suggested: the Syriac, and Arabic versions render it, "took sureties"; of them for their good behaviour, and that they would be forthcoming, whenever called for:

they let them go; about their business, to their own houses, and company, and did not inflict any punishment upon them, or commit them to prison.

Geneva Study Bible

And when they had taken {c} security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

(c) When Jason had put them in good assurance that they would appear.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 17:9. λαβόντες τὸ ἱκανὸν = satis sccipere (cf. Mark 15:15, and Wetstein, in loco). Blass regards the phrase as a commercial one, due to the frequency of commercial intercourse, and cf. Acts 5:31, Acts 18:15, Acts 19:38 (Acts 24:24, [307]); properly a pecuniary surety, or sureties, here security for good behaviour from Jason and the others, that nothing illegal should be done by them, and certainly nothing against the majesty of the emperor. The words have been explained as meaning that securities were given for the production of the Apostles, and that thus Jason and his friend, by sending them off at night, ran a risk of their lives (Chrys., Grotius), or that the Apostles should not be sheltered any longer, or that they should be obliged to depart at once. Evidently the magistrates did not consider the evidence very weighty = ἀπέλυσαν αὐτούς.

[307] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

9. And when they had taken security of Jason] i.e. having made him responsible either by his finding securities to be bound with and for him, or by making him give some deposit as a pledge for his good conduct, they took measures for securing, so far as those at present in custody were concerned, that they should commit no treason.

and of the other] Other is often found in old English as a plural. Cp. Bp. Pilkington’s Works (Parker Soc.), p. 7: “Phinees … punished that wickedness which other winked at.”

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 17:9. Λαβόντες) viz. οἱ πολιτάρχαι.—λαβόντες τὸ ἱκανὸν) τὸ ἱκανὸν ποιῆσαι is to satisfy, Mark 15:15, “Pilate, willing to content the people:” ἰκανὰ δοῦναι, to give security or adequate satisfaction, and λαβεῖν τὸ ἱκανὸν, to receive security, are Correlatives. Chrysostom on this passage says, ὅρα πῶς ἱκανὰ δοῦς Ἰάσων ἐξέπεμψε Παῦλον, ὥστε την ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἔδωκεν ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ; Jason made himself surety for Paul.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. - From for of, A.V.; the rest for of the other, A.V. The rest, or others, are of course the "certain brethren" of ver. 6. Acts 17:9

Vincent's Word Studies

Security (τὸ ἱκανὸν)

See on Luke 7:6. Bail, either personal or by a deposit of money. A law term. They engaged that the public peace should not be violated, and that the authors of the disturbance should leave the city.