After Paul spends some time in Thessalonica, including three Sabbaths teaching in the local synagogue, The Jews stir up trouble, form a mob, and rush to Jason’s house to bring Paul and Silas before the city officials. When they do not find Paul and Silas, they drag Jason before the officials and make their accusations against Paul, pointing out that “Jason welcomed them.” Jason posted bond and was released (Acts 17:5-8).
Jason suddenly appears in Acts 17 as Paul’s host in Thessalonica. Jason is a common Greek name, and it is possible some Jews used it as a rough equivalent to Joshua. One of the rival high priests prior to the Maccabean Revolt was named Jason. This is usually explained as an example of Hellenization: rather than using the Hebrew name Joshua, he uses a Greek equivalent, Jason. It is impossible to know if the Jason in Acts 17 is Greek or Jewish simply from his name.
Since he hosts Paul, Silas, and Timothy in his home, commentaries often assume he was prosperous. But this may not be the case. In Acts 18:3, Paul stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. As tent-makers, they may have rented a workshop and lived in attached rooms. Jason’s situation may have been better in Thessalonica; if he was a craftsman with several storerooms, he could have hosted several people in his home. For an illustration of the range of homes for early Christians, see Peter Oakes, Reading Romans in Pompeii (Fortress 2009).
On the other hand, Jason could post a bond not only for himself but also for Paul and Silas (17:9). In the oft-quoted opinion of A. N. SherwinWhite, “What is happening to Jason is clear enough: he is giving security for the good behavior of his guests, and hence hastens to dispatch Paul and Silas out of the way to Beroea, where the jurisdiction of the magistrates of Thessalonica was not valid” (Roman Society and Roman Law in the New Testament (Oxford, 1963], 63). Although we have no clue how much was required, that he could make any sort of payment is an indication he had some wealth.
I would also suggest Luke may be drawing a parallel between Lydia in Philippi and Jason in Thessalonica. Both respond to the Gospel and host Paul’s ministry team in their homes. Luke often uses pairs of similar stories, one featuring a female and the other featuring a male. For example, in Acts 9:32-43, Peter heals Aeneas and raises Tabitha from the dead. Perhaps Luke gives us two examples of relatively wealthy patrons who host Paul in their homes and continue to host the church after Paul leaves the city.
Is Jason the same person Paul mentions in Romans 16:21? He refers to a person named Jason, along with Sopater, “my kinsmen.” The noun συγγενής can refer to a relative, but this can be as broad as saying “fellow Jew” (Keener, 3:2550). Romans was likely written from Corinth during the three months Paul stayed in Corinth in Acts 20:2-3. In Acts 20:4, Luke indicates that Paul was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus, and Secundus from Thessalonica. Although this is possible, since Luke is ready to identify a relative of Paul in Acts 23:16, Jason is more likely not a relative of Paul. He is likely a Jew or God-fearing Gentle who heard Paul’s preaching in the synagogue and was among those who joined Paul and Silas (17:4).
That Paul and Silas are forced out of Thessalonica, leaving Jason with a financial burden, is an issue that likely haunted Paul. One of the main themes of 1 Thessalonians deals with the charge Paul was a huckster who came to Thessalonica for personal gain and left Jason in financial and legal danger.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Jason was almost certainly a Jew, since the name was about 16 times more common among Jews than among the general population (which included Jews!).
In my recent Tyndale Bulletin paper I argue that hosts of churches were given new names and that Aristarchus was the new name given to Jason. This explains why we read Aristarchus in Acts 20:4, where we would expect to see Jason, and why we read Jason in Rom 16:21, where we would expect to see Aristarchus, and it also explains why Jason was with Paul when he wrote Romans. You can find the article
here.
There is a debate about whether Jason was Gentile or Jew. There is strong evidence to suggest either is the case. There seems to be an intentional parallel between Lydia and Jason, which would suggest that he is another Gentile person who accept Paul into his home (Long). He was very hospitable towards Paul and Silas, allowing them to reside in is home during the time they were visiting Thessalonica (Acts 17:7). He was open to their visit and to the message of God, similar to the way Lydia accepted Paul and God. Also, the wording in the Bible seems to suggest that Jason was hosting church within his home. Acts 17:6 says that “Jason and some brothers” were dragged from their home. This implies that there were brothers in Christ in the home with Jason. In addition to that, Paul used Jason’s home as a platform for his ministry to the Gentiles in Thessalonica (Jipp 92). It is interesting to note that people choose to be in Jason’s home to hear the message of God, rather than the synagogue. He hosted church in his own home, making it a safe place for people to encounter God. Therefore, regardless of whether Jason was Gentile or Jew, he did amazing things to aid in the ministry of Paul. The parallel between him and Lydia suggests to me that he was a Gentile who was receptive of God and Paul, but I think that it is important to focus on the part he played in Paul’s ministry rather than if he was a Gentile or Jewish.
Jason was someone who got brought up in Acts 17. Jason was a host to Paul and Silas as they were in Thessalonica, but Jason ended up getting the brutal end of things with the Jews that were jealous. I do not think that Jason has any correlation with Paul other than he is a guy that is confident in the Lord. Jason was willing to host Paul, putting himself at risk for having someone who was just proclaimed as “the men who turned the world upside down” and “acting against the decrees of Caesar” stay with him. That shows me that Jason had a heart for the Lord.
Jason is a good example of being a light in a dark time. Paul, at this point, has been mocked, rejected, chased down, etc. If I were in his shoes, I know I would be exhausted and discouraged. Jason, by stepping up, was an encouragement to Paul. Jason showed that one person believing in Jesus is worth being mocked and rejected. Jason is not a well known person in the book of Acts, but he shows a lot of character traits that show that he is zealous for the Lord.
Similar to the story of Lydia in Acts 16, Jason is a wealthier individual who was able to help out Paul by hosting him in his home. The practice of hospitality is highly important to God and in biblical times this looked like opening your home up to travelers, but it wasn’t something that was easily doable. It required sacrifice and discipline. It is unknown whether or not Jason is Jewish or Greek but what we do know is that he was a Jew or a God-fearing Gentile. His actions and hospitality allowed him to stick out and for Paul and the other missionaries with him Jason was a blessing. In Paul’s journey the people that were willing to open their home up like this were unique. Not only was Paul able to preach with them about the good news, he was building relationships with them. Paul was also able to reach a deeper personal level among those who hosted them because they were able to spend extra time together. In these relation building times Paul was disciplining in a way where he was making disciples. It is most likely that after Paul left, those who he had stayed with would then use their homes as a new meeting place to preach the gospel. It wasn’t an uncommon thing for people to meet in homes and share about Jesus and what he had done on the cross for us. Because Jason was willing to let the people into his home, he then was able to build a relationship and learn more about who Jesus was.
Back in the ancient world, knowing the name of someone revealed a decent amount of information about that person and we see this portrayed many times in Scripture. Parents would name their children after a certain characteristic they noticed about the child. For example, Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:24-26). Also, they would use a name that is somehow attached to a personal experience with God. We see this occurrence in 1 Samuel when Hannah desires a child, so when she prays to the Lord and He hears her prayer, and answers her request, she dedicates Samuel to God and named him after that personal experience with God. We also see in the book of Daniel that he and his friends all had to convert to Babylonian names in order to be blended with the culture, and it might have been the same case in this situation, as mentioned in the article. Jason could have been a different form of the Hebrew name Joshua (Long). I personally hold to the view that Jason was somewhat wealthy because he had lodging and welcomed the disciples in to stay and then also he was able to post bond for Paul, Silas, and himself which is telling that he had a decent amount of money to do that.
It is mentioned that Jason could have been a craftsman with several storerooms. This is important to know because that is how he was able to host several people in his home like Paul, Silas, and Timothy. While staying at Jason’s in Thessalonica Paul was helping Aquilla and Percilla. “In Acts 18:3 Paul stayed and worked with Aquila and Priscilla. As tent-makers, they may have rented a workshop and lived in rooms attached to the workshop” (Long). One thing that I thought was pretty interesting while reading this blog is that Jason posted bond for him and his guests Paul and Silas. So Jason was known for not only giving his guest a place to stay but also keeping them guarded and safe. Jason was a man of the Lord. You can tell this by his heart and his actions he does. Jason was willing to go out of his way to help others so that the gospel could be spread. Jason took a big leap of faith when he listened to God and hosted Paul and the other people and he did this even though he didn’t know what would happen to him, which was a financial burden I believe. Jason shows that you should trust in the Lord if he calls you to do something. He is a great leader because he followed Christ without knowing the consequences, a great leader will always do what’s right despite the consequences that might come.
I found the connection Long draws between Jason in Thessalonica and Lydia in Philippi an interesting parallel. They share many similarities, while also being distinct enough in their stories that I would not have made the connection on my own. I find the literary side of these parallels interesting. According to Long, using pairs of stories with men and women was something Luke did often, an example being Aeneas and Tabitha being healed by Peter. Despite the differences between Jason and Lydia, there are many similarities. While Lydia converts to Christianity after hearing Paul’s message, Jason appears to already be a believer even before interacting with Paul. And, just like Lydia, Jason eagerly welcomed Paul and his fellow ministry team into his home.
I find it interesting that Jason was living at peace amongst the Jews until Paul came along, igniting the Jews jealously. Only then do they turn on Jason for receiving Paul and other believers into his home. Because Jason acted on his beliefs, the Jews had an issue with him. I also find it interesting in Acts 17:6, the Jews describe Paul’s men as men who have “turned the world upside down.” Polhill (2008) asserts how little they knew of what they said, because truly they were changing the course of history through the movement of Christ. Once Jason posted bond, only then did the Jews calm down and let them go. Then, Paul and his men left. It makes me wonder what happened to Jason afterward. He didn’t go with Paul, so how did the Jews treat him after that incident?
It is interesting to read how Jason was treated by the Jewish people for welcoming Paul and Silas into his home. At this point in time, it is difficult to understand why Jason is relevant and what he truly meant to Paul and Silas’s teachings in Thessalonica. I found it very interesting on how the name Jason is the Greek meaning for the Jewish name of Joshua, I did not know that and I believe this is a cool fact to gain the knowledge of. I was told that Jason was believed to be more on the richer end of society because he was able to post his own bail as well and Paul and Silas’s. Personally, I believe that Jason’s hospitality of Paul and Silas was the work of a good man treating the Lord’s missionaries with decency and respect. This same thing had happened to Paul before, I believe it was in Acts 16, and she also proceeded to give Paul the hospitality of a good individual by letting him reside at her home while Paul was on his mission journey. I do not believe that this is an indicator for anything more in depth, just the fact that there were some good people during the time when the book of Acts took place, not everyone hated Paul and others who shared the gospel of the Lord. All in all, I believe this is showing the kindness that Christian’s in today’s society are supposed to have and treat everyone with kindness and respect because that is what happened to Paul when many people despised him because of his preachings and teachings.
I choose this blog post because when I read Act 17 I had the same question. I am not extremely familiar with Bible stories as I am still learning more every day. When I read Acts 17 my first thought was, “Jason? Who is Jason.” I had not heard that name in the Bible yet. Incidentally, I was curious on who this person was, and why he was mentioned. Even though he is a small character, I think there is a lot to learn from him. Jason clearly had the financial ability to bail not only himself out, but Paul and Silas out too. This makes me think of our callings as Christians. We are all called to spread the gospel and worship God. However, we all have different specific callings. While some are called to the mission’s field like Paul, others are called to help in other ways such as finances. While Paul and Silas may feel bad, they left Jason with a mess, perhaps Jason felt like he made a difference. Maybe he felt he was able to truly make a difference and help spread the gospel.
Jason in Acts 17, hosts Paul and Silas in Thessalonica, only to face persecution and a financial burden when Paul and Silas are forced to leave. Jason’s circumstances show the challenges early Christians faced, particularly when their faith clashed with local authorities. Jason’s role as a host and his ability to post bond showed that he may have been a relatively prosperous individual, but it’s unclear whether he was wealthy or simply able to meet the financial requirements in this case. I thought it was interesting that the mention of Jason in Romans 16:21 shows the possibility that he could be the same person Paul references later, though it’s unlikely, given that “kinsmen” in this context likely refers to a broader sense of Jewish identity.
The comparison between Jason and Lydia is an interesting one. Both characters represent the welcoming nature of early Christians, who provided hospitality to Paul’s and his helpers. Their actions reflect the role of local believers in nurturing the spread of Christianity. Jason’s story tells us of the financial and legal consequences of aiding in the early Christian movement, which was often misunderstood and met with hostility. In my opinion, Jason’s experience serves as a reminder of the often-overlooked sacrifices made by early Christians who provided support to Paul and his ministry. His willingness to host Paul despite the potential for backlash exemplifies the courage of those who played vital roles in the growth of Christianity, often at great personal cost. The financial burden he faced probably weighed heavily on Paul’s conscience, as it highlights the tension between spreading the Gospel and the real-world consequences faced by believers.
Jason, mentioned in Acts 17, played an important role in spreading Christianity in Thessalonica. While we don’t know much about him, his actions show some of the struggles early Christians faced. Jason is said to have hosted Paul, Silas, and Timothy, suggesting that he was likely well-off enough to offer them a place to stay. He might have been a craftsman with a home large enough to accommodate them. When Paul and Silas had to leave Thessalonica to escape trouble, the Jewish leaders became angry and accused Jason of helping them. Jason was able to pay a bond, showing that he had some money. This also shows the risks early Christians faced, as posting bail for Paul put Jason in danger. Jason’s story is similar to Lydia, another early Christian who hosted Paul in Philippi. Both Lydia and Jason were likely wealthy and helped support Paul’s work of spreading the Gospel. While Lydia’s story focuses on her financial support, Jason’s story highlights the legal and social challenges Christians faced in a city that was hostile to their faith. It’s not clear if the Jason in Acts 17 is the same person mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:21, but either way, Jason’s actions show that early Christians, like him, made sacrifices to support the church, even when it meant facing financial and legal trouble.
We don’t know for certain if Jason was a Jew or Gentile. Polhill suggests that Jason could’ve been a convert, the name ‘Jason’ was often a name taken by Diaspora Jews (1992). Regardless, he was a God-fearing man who hosted Paul and his team when they were in Thessalonica. I find the parallel that Long points out between Lydia and Jason interesting. Even though we don’t know how much wealth Jason had, he had enough substance to accommodate Paul and even pay for his bail, along with Paul’s and Silas’s. I agree with Dr. Long that Luke’s use of similar stories is an example of wealthy patrons hosting Paul and their continuation to host the church after Paul’s departure (2019). Jason, however, has to deal with a mob’s anger when they cannot find Paul and Silas. He bears the brunt of the mob’s anger when they drag him to the magistrate’s and accuse of him of aiding in ‘turning the world upside down’. Jason does not negate the claims, rather he pays his bail and is let go. In comparison, Lydia did not face any challenges when hosting Paul and his team. Both Lydia and Jason used their wealth of accommodations and connections to flourish the early church.