Acts 17:3

Easy-to-Read Version

He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, "This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”

King James Version (1611)
Opening and alleadging, that Christ must needs haue suffered and risen againe from the dead: and that this Iesus whom I preach vnto you, is Christ.

King James Version
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

English Standard Version
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."

New American Standard Bible
explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

New Century Version
He explained and proved that the Christ must die and then rise from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I am telling you about is the Christ."

Amplified Bible
explaining and pointing out [scriptural evidence] that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

Legacy Standard Bible
explaining and setting before them that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is that Christ."

Berean Standard Bible
explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he declared.

Contemporary English Version
to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about.

Complete Jewish Bible
explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that "this Yeshua whom I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah."

Darby Translation
opening and laying down that the Christ must have suffered and risen up from among the dead, and that this is the Christ, Jesus whom *I* announce to you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Opening, & alleadging that Christ must haue suffered, and risen againe from the dead: and this is Iesus Christ, whom, said he, I preach to you.

George Lamsa Translation
Interpreting and proving that Christ had to suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that he is the same Jesus Christ whom I preach to you.

Good News Translation
and explaining the Scriptures, and proving from them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from death. "This Jesus whom I announce to you," Paul said, "is the Messiah."

Lexham English Bible
explaining and demonstrating that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

Literal Translation
opening and setting forth that the Christ must have suffered, and to have risen from the dead, and that this is the Christ, Jesus, whom I announce to you.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
Saying to them clearly and openly that Christ had to be put to death and come back to life again; and that this Jesus, whom, he said, I am preaching to you, is the Christ.

Hebrew Names Version
explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Yeshua, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah."

International Standard Version
He explained and showed them that the Christ[fn] had to suffer and rise from the dead. He said,He said">[fn] "This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ."[fn]Luke 24:26,46; Acts 18:28; Galatians 3:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
expounding, and showing, That Meshiha was to suffer and to rise from the house of the dead, and he is Jeshu the Meshiha whom I preach to you.

Murdock Translation
expounding and showing, that the Messiah was to suffer, and to arise from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I announce to you is the Messiah.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Openyng and alleagyng, that Christ must needes haue suffred, and rysen agayne from the dead, and that this is Christe Iesus, which I preache to you.

English Revised Version
opening and alleging, that it behoved 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.

World English Bible
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Opening them and evincing, That Christ ought to suffer, and to rise from the dead, and that this is the Christ, even Jesus, whom I declare unto you.

Weymouth's New Testament
which he clearly explained, pointing out that it had been necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise again from the dead, and insisting, "The Jesus whom I am announcing to you is the Christ."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and openyde, and schewide that it bihofte Crist to suffre, and rise ayen fro deth, and that this is Jhesus Crist, whom Y telle to you.

Update Bible Version
opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.

Webster's Bible Translation
Opening and alledging, that it was needful that Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ.

New English Translation
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

New King James Version
explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."

New Living Translation
He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, "This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah."

New Life Bible
He showed them that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. He said, "I preach this Jesus to you. He is the Christ."

New Revised Standard
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
opening up, and setting forth, that it was needful for, the Christ, to suffer, and to arise from among the dead; and saying , This, is the Christ, - Jesus, whom, I, am declaring unto you.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.

Revised Standard Version
explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
openynge and allegynge that Christ must nedes have suffred and rysen agayne from deeth and that this Iesus was Christ whom (sayde he) I preache to you.

Young's Literal Translation
opening and alleging, `That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and alleged, that Christ must nedes haue suffred, & ryse agayne from the deed: and this Iesus, whom I preach vnto you (sayde he) is ye same Christ.

Mace New Testament (1729)
explaining them, and setting it to view, that the Messiah was to suffer and rise again from the dead: and that Jesus, whom he denounc'd to them, was that very Messiah.

Simplified Cowboy Version
He explained what the Good Book had predicted about how the Top Hand must have the roughest ride anyone ever had, then die, and then come riding back from the grave three days later. Paul told 'em, "This cowboy, Jesus, is the Top Hand."

Contextual Overview

¹ Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia. They came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² Paul went into the synagogue to see the Jews as he always did. The next three weeks, on each Sabbath day, he discussed the Scriptures with them. ³ He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, "This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah." ⁴ Some of the Jews there believed Paul and Silas and decided to join them. Also, a large number of Greeks who were worshipers of the true God and many important women joined them. ⁵ But the Jews who did not believe became jealous, so they got some bad men from around the city center to make trouble. They formed a mob and caused a riot in the city. They went to Jason's house, looking for Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out before the people. ⁶ When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the other believers to the city leaders. The people shouted, "These men have made trouble everywhere in the world, and now they have come here too! ⁷ Jason is keeping them in his house. They all do things against the laws of Caesar. They say there is another king called Jesus." ⁸ When the city leaders and the other people heard this, they became very upset. ⁹ They made Jason and the other believers deposit money to guarantee that there would be no more trouble. Then they let them go.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Opening: Acts 2:16-36, Acts 3:22-26, Acts 13:26-39

Christ: Luke 24:26, Luke 24:27, Luke 24:32, Luke 24:44, Luke 24:46, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 Corinthians 15:4, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:6

this: Acts 2:36, Acts 9:22, Acts 18:28, Galatians 3:1

whom I preach: Acts 1:4

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:7 - reason Nehemiah 8:8 - and gave the sense Mark 13:7 - must Luke 2:11 - which Luke 2:26 - the Lord's Luke 9:20 - The Acts 3:18 - those Acts 5:42 - preach Acts 8:5 - preached Acts 8:35 - preached Acts 18:5 - and testified Acts 18:19 - but Acts 28:23 - he expounded 1 Corinthians 9:20 - unto Colossians 1:28 - Whom 1 Thessalonians 2:2 - bold 1 Peter 2:21 - because

Cross-References

Genesis 17:17
Abraham bowed his face to the ground to show he respected God. But he laughed and said to himself, "I am 100 years old. I cannot have a son, and Sarah is 90 years old. She cannot have a child."

Genesis 17:18
Then Abraham said to God, "I hope Ishmael will live and serve you."

Genesis 17:23
Then Abraham gathered together Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house. He also gathered all the slaves he had bought. Every man and boy in Abraham's house was gathered together, and they were all circumcised. Abraham circumcised them that day, just as God had told him to do.

Genesis 17:24
Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised.

Exodus 3:6
I am the God of your ancestors. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

Numbers 14:5
Moses and Aaron bowed low to the ground in front of all the people gathered there.

Numbers 16:22
But Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground and cried out, "God, you know what people are thinking. Please don't be angry with all these people. Only one man really sinned."

Numbers 16:45
"Move away from these people so that I can destroy them now." So Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground.

Joshua 5:14
The man answered, "I am not an enemy. I am the commander of the Lord 's army. I have just now come to you." Then Joshua bowed his face to the ground to show respect and said, "I am your servant. Does my master have a command for me?"

Judges 13:20
Manoah and his wife were watching what happened. As the flames went up to the sky from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up to heaven in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw that, they bowed down with their faces to the ground.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Opening,.... That is, the Scriptures of the Old Testament, explaining and expounding them, giving the true sense of them; so this word is frequently used in Jewish writings e, as that such a Rabbi פתח, "opened", such a Scripture:

and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; he set this matter in a clear light, and made it plain and manifest, from the writings of the Old Testament, that there was a necessity of the Messiah's suffering and rising from the dead; or otherwise these Scriptures would not have been fulfilled, which have said that so it must be; for these things were not only necessary on account of God's decrees, and the covenant transactions the Son of God entered into, and on the account of the salvation of his people; but because of the types, promises, and prophecies of the Old Testament: the Scriptures which the apostle opened and set before them, and reasoned upon, showing the necessity of these things, very likely were such as these, Genesis 3:15

Isaiah 53:1 with many others:

and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ; he showed that all the things which were spoken of Christ, or the Messiah, in those Scriptures, were fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, who was the subject matter, the sum and substance of his ministry; and therefore he must be the Messiah, and the only Saviour and Redeemer of lost sinners.

e Zohar passim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Opening - διανοίγων dianoigōn. See Luke 24:32. The word means to explain or to unfold. It is usually applied to what is shut, as the eye, etc. Then it means to explain what is concealed or obscure. It means here that he explained the Scriptures in their true sense.

And alleging - παρατιθέμενος paratithemenos. Laying down the proposition; that is, maintaining that it must be so.

That Christ must needs have suffered - That there was a fitness and necessity in his dying, as Jesus of Nazareth had done. The sense of this will be better seen by retaining the word “Messiah.” “That there was a fitness or necessity that the Messiah expected by the Jews, and predicted in their Scriptures, should suffer.” This point the Jews were unwilling to admit; but it was essential to his argument in proving that Jesus was the Messiah to show that it was foretold that he should die for the sins of people. On the necessity of this, see the notes on Luke 24:26-27.

Have suffered - That he should die.

And that this Jesus - And that this Jesus of Nazareth, who has thus suffered and risen, whom, said he, I preach to you, is the Messiah.

The arguments by which Paul probably proved that Jesus was the Messiah were:

(1) That he corresponded with the prophecies respecting him in the following particulars:

1. He was born at Bethlehem, Micah 5:2.
1. He was of the tribe of Judah, Genesis 49:10.
2. He was descended from Jesse, and of the royal line of David, Isaiah 11:1, Isaiah 11:10.
3. He came at the time predicted, Daniel 9:24-27.
4. His appearance, character, work, etc., corresponded with the predictions, Isaiah 53:1-12.

(2) His miracles proved that he was the Messiah, for he professed to be, and God would not work a miracle to confirm the claims of an impostor.

(3) For the same reason, his resurrection from the dead proved that he was the Messiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 17:3. Opening and alleging — παρατιθεμνος, Proving by citations. His method seems to have been this:

1st. He collected the scriptures that spoke of the Messiah.

2d. He applied these to Jesus Christ, showing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled, and that he was the Saviour of whom they were in expectation. He showed also that the Christ, or Messiah, must needs suffer-that this was predicted, and was an essential mark of the true Messiah. By proving this point, he corrected their false notion of a triumphant Messiah, and thus removed the scandal of the cross.