Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 17:3
Verse 3. Opening and alleging] paratiqemnov, 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Opening , etc.] 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 f846 , as that such a Rabbi jtp , 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 Messiahs 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 Gods 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, Psalm 22:1-31) ( Isaiah 53:1-12, Daniel 9:1-27, Psalm 16:10, Hosea 6:2) 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The drift and scope of Paul's preaching and arguing, was to prove tha Jesus is the Christ. He must needs suffer for us, because he could no otherwise purchase our redemption for us; and he must needs have rise again, because he could not otherwise apply the redemption to us. We are to preach concerning Jesus that he is Christ; therefore we may hop to be saved by him, and are bound to be ruled by him. The unbelievin Jews were angry, because the apostles preached to the Gentiles, tha they might be saved. How strange it is, that men should grudge other the privileges they will not themselves accept! Neither rulers no people need be troubled at the increase of real Christians, even thoug turbulent spirits should make religion the pretext for evil designs. O such let us beware, from such let us withdraw, that we may show desire to act aright in society, while we claim our right to worshi God according to our consciences.
Greek Textus Receptus
διανοιγων 1272 5723 V-PAP-NSM και 2532 CONJ παρατιθεμενος 3908 5734 V-PMP-NSM οτι 3754 CONJ τον 3588 T-ASM χριστον 5547 N-ASM εδει 1163 5900 V-IQI-3S παθειν 3958 5629 V-2AAN και 2532 CONJ αναστηναι 450 5629 V-2AAN εκ 1537 PREP νεκρων 3498 A-GPM και 2532 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ ουτος 3778 D-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ο 3588 T-NSM χριστος 5547 N-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM ον 3739 R-ASM εγω 1473 P-1NS καταγγελλω 2605 5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Opening and alleging. The latter word is rather propounding, or setting forth (paratiqemenov). See on set before, Luke ix. 16; and commit, 1 Pet. iv. 19. Bengel remarks, "Two steps, as if one, having broken the rind, were to disclose and exhibit the kernel."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:3 {Opening and alleging} (dianoigwn kai paratiqemenos). Opening the Scriptures, Luke means, as made plain by the mission and message of Jesus, the same word (dianoigw) used by him of the interpretation of the Scriptures by Jesus (#Lu 24:32) and of the opening of the mind of the disciples also by Jesus (#Lu 24:45) and of the opening of Lydia's heart by the Lord (#16:14). One cannot refrain from saying that such exposition of the Scriptures as Jesus and Paul gave would lead to more opening of mind and heart. Paul was not only "expounding" the Scriptures, he was also "propounding" (the old meaning of "allege") his doctrine or setting forth alongside the Scriptures (para-tiqemenos), quoting the Scripture to prove his contention which was made in much conflict (#1Th 2:2), probably in the midst of heated discussion by the opposing rabbis who were anything but convinced by Paul's powerful arguments, for the Cross was a stumbling-block to the Jews (#1Co 1:23). {That it behoved the Christ to suffer} (hoti ton criston edei paqein). The second aorist active infinitive is the subject of edei with Ton criston, the accusative of general reference. this is Paul's major premise in his argument from the Scriptures about the Messiah, the necessity of his sufferings according to the Scriptures, the very argument made by the Risen Jesus to the two on the way to Emmaus (#Lu 24:25-27). The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was a passage in point that the rabbis had overlooked. Peter made the same point in #Ac 3:18 and Paul again in #Ac 26:23. The minor premise is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. {To rise again from the dead} (anastenai ek nekrwn). this second aorist active infinitive anastenai is also the subject of edei. The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (#1Th 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (#1Co 15:3-4) and from his own experience (#Ac 9:22; 22:7; 26:8,14; 1Co 15:8). { this Jesus is the Christ} (houtos estin ho cristos, ho iesous). More precisely, " this is the Messiah, viz., Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you." this is the conclusion of Paul's line of argument and it is logical and overwhelming. It is his method everywhere as in Damascus, in Antioch in Pisidia, here, in Corinth. He spoke as an eye-witness.
