Jason
Jason
Info
- #coworker #benefactor
- Home:: Thessalonica
- Other Locales:: Corinthian Church (possibly, if same as Romans 16 Jason)
- References:: Acts 17#17:5-9, Romans 16#16:21
Notes
- Hosted Paul and Silas in Thessalonica
- Dragged before city officials during the riot; forced to post bond
- Paul calls a Jason "my kinsman" in Romans 16#16:21 - likely the same person
Summary
Jason is best known for the scene in Acts 17#17:5-9, where his hospitality to Paul and Silas brought severe consequences. When Paul's preaching in the Thessalonian synagogue provoked a mob, the rioters attacked Jason's house seeking Paul and Silas. Unable to find the missionaries, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the politarchs (city officials), shouting: "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them" (Acts 17#17:6-7).
The charge was politically dangerous. The mob accused them of "acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus" (Acts 17#17:7). This framed the Christian message as sedition, a capital offense. The officials required Jason to post bond (labontes to hikanon) as security for good behavior (Acts 17#17:9), making Jason personally and financially liable for any further disturbance. Paul and Silas left Thessalonica that night, likely to protect Jason from forfeiting his bond.
The name Jason is a Greek name commonly adopted by Hellenistic Jews (from the Hebrew Joshua/Jesus). In Romans 16#16:21, Paul sends greetings from "Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen", "kinsmen" meaning fellow Jews. Scholars identify this Jason with the Thessalonian host, placing him with Paul in Corinth when Romans was written. Jason maintained his partnership with Paul despite the severe consequences he suffered in Thessalonica.
Jason's story illustrates a recurring pattern in Acts: local hosts who bore the ongoing social and legal consequences of harboring traveling equipping servants long after those servants had moved on. Jason put his person, his property, and his reputation on the line for the gospel.
References
- theodoretCommentaryRomansc425 - Theodoret of Cyrus's patristic commentary on Romans, with early church interpretation of Jason in Romans 16:21.
- mouleEpistlePaulApostle2015 - Moule's commentary on Romans covering Jason's mention in Romans 16:21.
- bruceRomans2014 - F.F. Bruce's Romans commentary addressing Jason in Romans 16:21.
- mcclainRomansGospelGod1989 - McClain's Romans commentary covering Jason in Paul's closing greetings.
- mooEncounteringBookRomans2002 - Moo's Romans survey covering the greetings context where Jason appears in Romans 16:21.
- wrightChallengeActsRediscovering2024 - Wright's study of Acts as theological history, covering Jason's role in Acts 17:5-9.
- polhillActs1992 - Polhill's Acts commentary covering Jason in Acts 17:5-9.
- paoActsIsaianicNew2002 - Pao's study of Acts through the lens of Isaiah's new exodus, providing theological context for Jason's narrative in Acts 17:5-9.
- addisonActsMovementGod2023 - Addison examines the Acts narrative as a movement model, including Jason's contribution in Acts 17:5-9.
- Acts 17 - Who was Jason? - Reading Acts
- Acts 17:6 Commentaries - BibleHub