Revision #15499
Jason
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Biblical Record
=
- Jason appears in Acts 17:1–9. During Paul's second missionary journey, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica and for three Sabbaths proclaimed in the synagogue that Jesus was the Christ. Some of the Jews, moved with envy, gathered troublemakers from the marketplace, stirred up a riot, and rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul's party. When they could not find Paul and Silas, the mob dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city (the civic magistrates). They accused Jason of having received "these that have turned the world upside down," who "do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus" (Acts 17:6–7). The rulers took security (a bond) from Jason and the others and released them. Afterward the brethren sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (Acts 17:10).
+ Jason appears in Acts 17:1–9. During Paul's second missionary journey, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, where for three Sabbaths they proclaimed in the synagogue that Jesus was the Christ. Some of the Jews, moved with envy, gathered troublemakers from the marketplace, started a riot, and rushed to Jason's house to find Paul's party. When they could not find Paul and Silas, the mob dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city (the civic magistrates). The accusers charged that Jason had received "these that have turned the world upside down," who "do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus" (Acts 17:6–7). The rulers took security (a bond) from Jason and the others and released them. Afterward the brethren sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (Acts 17:10).
=
- The same name also appears in Romans 16:21, where Paul, sending greetings, mentions "Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen."
+ The same name appears in Romans 16:21, where Paul includes greetings from "Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen."
=
= ## Significance Within Scripture
=
- In Acts, Jason is portrayed as one who received Paul's company and bore the cost on their behalf. His case also illustrates how, when the church in Thessalonica was first founded, a believer's home served as a base for gathering and mission. Commentators frequently note that the charge was framed not as a religious matter but as a political accusation of treason against the emperor.
+ Acts portrays Jason as a man who welcomed Paul's company and bore the cost on their behalf. His case also shows how a believer's home served as a base for gathering and mission when the church in Thessalonica was first founded. Commentators frequently note that the charge was framed not as a religious matter but as a political accusation of treason against the emperor.
=
= ## Interpretations and Issues
=
- - **Are the two Jasons the same person?** Many scholars hold that Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, so the Jason of Thessalonica may have been with Paul at that time. For this reason some interpreters identify the two as the same individual. However, it is also widely held that the matter cannot be settled, since the text does not say so.
+ - **Are the two Jasons the same person?** Many scholars hold that Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, so the Jason of Thessalonica may have been with Paul at that time. For this reason, some interpreters identify the two as the same individual. It is also widely held, however, that the question cannot be settled because the text does not say so.
= - **The meaning of "kinsmen"**: The word "kinsmen" in Romans 16 is generally understood to refer not to blood relatives but to fellow members of the Jewish people, that is, fellow countrymen. The Greek name Jason is known to have been used at the time by Hellenized Jews in place of Yeshua (Joshua).
- - **The meaning of the security**: The security is understood as a guarantee that no further disturbance would occur. Some commentators believe this bond made it difficult for Paul to return to Thessalonica and connect it with 1 Thessalonians 2:18, "but Satan hindered us." This is conjecture.
- - **Extrabiblical tradition**: Eastern Orthodox tradition counts Jason among the Seventy Disciples. It also holds that he and Sosipater preached the gospel on the Greek island of Kerkyra (Corfu). This is a later tradition not found in Scripture.
+ - **The meaning of the security**: The security is understood as a guarantee that no further disturbance would occur. Some commentators believe this bond made it difficult for Paul to return to Thessalonica and connect it with 1 Thessalonians 2:18, "but Satan hindered us." This remains conjecture.
+ - **Extrabiblical tradition**: Eastern Orthodox tradition counts Jason among the Seventy Disciples and holds that he and Sosipater preached the gospel on the Greek island of Kerkyra (Corfu). This is a later tradition not found in Scripture.
=
- ## In the Korean Church
+ ## In Korean Churches
=
- In Korean church preaching, Jason is mentioned chiefly in sermons on Acts 17. He is often presented as an example of service and hospitality, one who risked danger to receive those who preached the gospel. He is also discussed in expositions of 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians when explaining the background of the founding of the Thessalonian church.
+ In Korean churches, Jason is mentioned chiefly in sermons on Acts 17. He is often presented as an example of service and hospitality, a man who risked danger to receive those who preached the gospel. He is also discussed in expositions of 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians that explain the background of the founding of the Thessalonian church.
Jason was a believer in Thessalonica who received Paul and his companions into his home during Paul's second missionary journey, was caught up in the ensuing riot, and was dragged before the city authorities. He appears in Acts 17.
Jason was a believer in Thessalonica who received Paul and his companions into his home during Paul's second missionary journey. When a riot broke out, he was dragged before the city authorities. His story is told in Acts 17.
Full revision
Jason was a believer in Thessalonica who received Paul and his companions into his home during Paul's second missionary journey. When a riot broke out, he was dragged before the city authorities. His story is told in Acts 17.
Biblical Record
Jason appears in Acts 17:1–9. During Paul's second missionary journey, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, where for three Sabbaths they proclaimed in the synagogue that Jesus was the Christ. Some of the Jews, moved with envy, gathered troublemakers from the marketplace, started a riot, and rushed to Jason's house to find Paul's party. When they could not find Paul and Silas, the mob dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city (the civic magistrates). The accusers charged that Jason had received "these that have turned the world upside down," who "do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus" (Acts 17:6–7). The rulers took security (a bond) from Jason and the others and released them. Afterward the brethren sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea (Acts 17:10).
The same name appears in Romans 16:21, where Paul includes greetings from "Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen."
Significance Within Scripture
Acts portrays Jason as a man who welcomed Paul's company and bore the cost on their behalf. His case also shows how a believer's home served as a base for gathering and mission when the church in Thessalonica was first founded. Commentators frequently note that the charge was framed not as a religious matter but as a political accusation of treason against the emperor.
Interpretations and Issues
- Are the two Jasons the same person? Many scholars hold that Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, so the Jason of Thessalonica may have been with Paul at that time. For this reason, some interpreters identify the two as the same individual. It is also widely held, however, that the question cannot be settled because the text does not say so.
- The meaning of "kinsmen": The word "kinsmen" in Romans 16 is generally understood to refer not to blood relatives but to fellow members of the Jewish people, that is, fellow countrymen. The Greek name Jason is known to have been used at the time by Hellenized Jews in place of Yeshua (Joshua).
- The meaning of the security: The security is understood as a guarantee that no further disturbance would occur. Some commentators believe this bond made it difficult for Paul to return to Thessalonica and connect it with 1 Thessalonians 2:18, "but Satan hindered us." This remains conjecture.
- Extrabiblical tradition: Eastern Orthodox tradition counts Jason among the Seventy Disciples and holds that he and Sosipater preached the gospel on the Greek island of Kerkyra (Corfu). This is a later tradition not found in Scripture.
In Korean Churches
In Korean churches, Jason is mentioned chiefly in sermons on Acts 17. He is often presented as an example of service and hospitality, a man who risked danger to receive those who preached the gospel. He is also discussed in expositions of 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians that explain the background of the founding of the Thessalonian church.