Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
As his custom was (kata to eiwqov tw Paulw). The same construction in Luke 4:16 about Jesus in Nazareth (kata to eiwqov autw) with the second perfect active participle neuter singular from eqw. Paul's habit was to go to the Jewish synagogue to use the Jews and the God-fearers as a springboard for his work among the Gentiles.
For three Sabbaths (epi sabbata tria). Probably the reference is to the first three Sabbaths when Paul had a free hand in the synagogue as at first in Antioch in Pisidia. Luke does not say that Paul was in Thessalonica only three weeks. He may have spoken there also during the week, though the Sabbath was the great day. Paul makes it plain, as Furneaux shows, that he was in Thessalonica a much longer period than three weeks. The rest of the time he spoke, of course, outside of the synagogue. Paul implies an extended stay by his language in I Thessalonians 1:8. The church consisted mainly of Gentile converts (II Thessalonians 3:4, II Thessalonians 3:7-8) and seems to have been well organized (I Thessalonians 5:12). He received help while there several times from Philippi (Philippians 4:16) and even so worked night and day to support himself (I Thessalonians 2:9). His preaching was misunderstood there in spite of careful instruction concerning the second coming of Christ (1Th. 4:13-5:5; II Thessalonians 2:1-12).
Reasoned (dielecato). First aorist middle indicative of dialegomai, old verb in the active to select, distinguish, then to revolve in the mind, to converse (interchange of ideas), then to teach in the Socratic ("dialectic") method of question and answer (cf. dielegeto in verse Acts 17:17), then simply to discourse, but always with the idea of intellectual stimulus. With these Jews and God-fearers Paul appealed to the Scriptures as text and basis (apo) of his ideas.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 17:2:
Acts 13:5
Acts 17:17
Acts 18:19
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