In brief
Jason is a resident of Thessalonica, in Macedonia, who receives Paul and Silas in his house during Paul's second missionary journey. When jealous Jews stir up the city, the mob rushes to his house and then drags him before the authorities, accusing him of welcoming men who proclaim another king, Jesus. He is released only after posting bond. We remember a believer who pays the price of his hospitality toward the servants of the gospel.
What does the name Jason of Thessalonica mean?
Jason is a Greek name, also borne by Jews of Greek culture; it is generally linked to a Greek verb meaning to heal. The Bible does not explain the name.
The story of Jason of Thessalonica
The gospel in Thessalonica
Acts 17:1-4Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica. For three Sabbaths Paul reasons in the synagogue from the Scriptures and shows that the Christ had to suffer and rise again, and that this Christ is Jesus. Some Jews are persuaded, along with a great crowd of God-fearing Greeks and many leading women. The rest of the account shows that Jason received the missionaries in his home.
The mob at his house
Acts 17:5Jealous Jews take along some wicked men from the marketplace, gather a crowd, and throw the city into an uproar. They rush to Jason's house and look for Paul and Silas, to bring them out to the people. The missionaries are not there: it is their host who will face the anger of the crowd.
Dragged before the authorities
Acts 17:6-7Unable to find Paul and Silas, the mob drags Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting that these men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and that Jason has welcomed them. They are accused of acting against the decrees of Caesar by saying there is another king, Jesus.
Released on bond
Acts 17:8-10These words disturb the crowd and the authorities. They let Jason and the others go only after receiving bond from them. Jason thus puts his own property at stake for his brothers. Right away, that same night, the brothers send Paul and Silas off to Berea, away from the turmoil of Thessalonica, and the gospel keeps moving.
A Jason in the letter to the Romans
Romans 16:21At the end of the letter to the Romans, Paul passes on greetings from Timothy, his fellow worker, and from Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, whom he calls his relatives. Nothing allows us to say with certainty that this is the Jason of Thessalonica. The connection is possible, but the Bible does not establish it.
What Jason of Thessalonica teaches us
- Opening your home to God's servants is real service, even when it carries risks.
- Proclaiming Jesus as King can draw opposition from those who see him as a rival.
- Ordinary believers sometimes carry the weight of persecution in place of the preachers, and God sees their faithfulness.
- Concrete solidarity, even to the point of standing surety for one's brothers, is part of the life of the church.
Key verses
The charge brought against Jason reveals the power of the message: these Christians are seen as people who turn the world upside down, because they proclaim Jesus as King in a city subject to Caesar.
Jason is released only after posting bond. His hospitality toward Paul and Silas costs him dearly, but it allows the missionaries to continue their journey toward Berea.
Jesus says that whoever receives his disciples receives him. By welcoming Paul and Silas, Jason was in fact welcoming the Lord who had sent them.
Sermons about Jason of Thessalonica
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jason in the Bible?
Jason is a resident of Thessalonica who receives Paul and Silas in his home (Acts 17:7). During the riot stirred up by jealous Jews, the mob rushes to his house and then drags him before the authorities. He is released after posting bond. A Jason is also named in Romans 16:21, though it is not certain he is the same man.
Why was Jason accused?
He is blamed for welcoming Paul and Silas, described as people who have turned the world upside down. The crowd accuses them of acting against the decrees of Caesar by saying there is another king, Jesus. Announcing the kingship of Jesus was seen as a political threat.
Where can the story of Jason be found in the Bible?
His story is in Acts 17:1-10, during the visit of Paul and Silas to Thessalonica on the second missionary journey. A Jason is also mentioned in the greetings of Romans 16:21, among those Paul calls his relatives, but the text does not say he is the same man.