Jason Ἰάσων
Paul's host in Thessalonica; relative of Paul
Who is Jason in the Bible?
Jason was Paul's host in Thessalonica who provided lodging for the apostle and Silas during their missionary visit to the city (Acts 17:5-9). When Jewish opponents grew jealous of Paul's success in converting people to Christianity, a mob attacked Jason's house searching for the missionaries. Unable to find Paul and Silas, the angry crowd dragged Jason and other believers before the city authorities, accusing them of harboring those who defied Caesar's decrees. The officials released Jason after taking security from him and the others, though the incident forced Paul and Silas to leave the city. Paul later mentions a Jason as his relative and fellow worker who sends greetings to the church in Rome (Romans 16:21), and this may be the same person, demonstrating how Jason's faithful hospitality to Paul resulted in his becoming a valued partner in the early church's mission.
Biography
Jason is mentioned in Act.17.5-9 as the host of Paul and Silas during their visit to Thessalonica. He provided lodging for the missionaries while they preached in the city. However, their presence caused an uproar among the Jews who were jealous of Paul's success in converting people to Christianity. A mob formed and attacked Jason's house, seeking to bring Paul and Silas before the city authorities. When they could not find the missionaries, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, accusing them of harboring those who were defying Caesar's decrees. The officials took security from Jason and the others before releasing them. In Rom.16.21, Paul mentions a Jason as one of his fellow workers and relatives who send greetings to the church in Rome. It is unclear whether this is the same Jason who hosted Paul in Thessalonica, but the shared name and association with Paul suggest that it could be the same person.
In Scripture
2 biblical books ; 2 with study contentActs 4 verses
- Acts 17:5
"The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people."
Study Acts → - Acts 17:6
"But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,"
Study Acts → - Acts 17:7
"and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”"
Study Acts → - Acts 17:9
"And they collected bond from Jason and the others and then released them."
Study Acts →
Romans 1 verse
- Romans 16:21
"Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen."
Study Romans →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἰάσων |
Jason (1)
with other deputies to Rome "to make a league of amity and confederacy" (1 Macc 8:17; Josephus, Ant, XII, x, 6), and perhaps to be identified with (2).
(2) The father of Antipater who went as ambassador of Jonathan to Rome in 144 BC (1 Macc 12:16; 14:22; Ant, XIII, v, 8).
(3) Jason of Cyrene, a Jewish historian, who is known only from what is told of him in 2 Macc 2:19-23. 2 Macc is in fact simply an abridgment in one book of the 5 books written by Jason on the Jewish wars of liberation. He must have written after 162 BC, as his books include the wars under Antiochus Eupator.
(4) Jason the high priest, second son of Simon II and brother of Onias III. The change of name from Jesus (Josephus, Ant, XII, v) was part of the Hellenizing policy favored by Antiochus Epiphanes from whom he purchased the high-priesthood by a large bribe, thus excluding his elder brother from the office (2 Macc 4:7-26). He did everything in his power to introduce Greek customs and Greek life among the Jews. He established a gymnasium in Jerusalem, so that even the priests neglected the altars and the sacrifices, and hastened to be partakers of the "unlawful allowance" in the palaestra. The writer of 2 Macc calls him "that ungodly wretch" and "vile" Jason. He even sent deputies from Jerusalem to Tyre to take part in the worship of Hercules; but what he sent for sacrifices, the deputies expended on the "equipment of galleys." After 3 years of this Hellenizing work he was supplanted in 172 BC in the favor of Antiochus by Menelaus who gave a large bribe for the high priest's office. Jason took refuge with the Ammonites; on hearing that Antiochus was dead he tried with some success to drive out Menelaus, but ultimately failed (2 Macc 5:5 ff). He took refuge with the Ammonites again, and then with Aretas, the Arabian, and finally with the Lacedaemonians, where he hoped for protection "as being connected by race," and there "perished-miserably in a strange land."
(5) A name mentioned in Ac 17:5-9 and in Ro 16:21. See following article.
J. Hutchison
ja'-sun (Iason): A Greek name assumed by Jews who bore the Hebrew name Joshua. This name is mentioned twice in the New Testament. (See also preceding article.)
(1) Jason was the host of Paul during his stay in