Acts 17:12
πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπίστευσαν, καὶ τῶν Ἑλληνίδων γυναικῶν τῶν εὐσχημόνων καὶ ἀνδρῶν οὐκ ὀλίγοι.
So then many of them believed, and also not a few of the noble Greek women and men.
The Response of Faith
πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπίστευσαν – “So then many of them believed.”
- πολλοὶ – “many,” masculine plural nominative, subject of the verb.
- μὲν οὖν – a common discourse marker: μὲν signals a contrast to follow; οὖν (“therefore”) links to prior argument or result—here, the result of Paul’s preaching in Beroea (cf. Acts 17:11).
- ἐξ αὐτῶν – “of them,” referring to the Jews in the synagogue.
- ἐπίστευσαν – aorist indicative of πιστεύω, “they believed,” marking a decisive act of faith.
The Broader Impact
καὶ τῶν Ἑλληνίδων γυναικῶν τῶν εὐσχημόνων καὶ ἀνδρῶν οὐκ ὀλίγοι – “and also not a few of the noble Greek women and men.”
- τῶν Ἑλληνίδων γυναικῶν – “of the Greek women.” Ἑλληνίς is feminine, referring to Greek (non-Jewish) women.
- τῶν εὐσχημόνων – “of noble form,” or more broadly, “of high social standing.” In Hellenistic usage, this word referred to the respected or well-born.
- καὶ ἀνδρῶν – “and men.” Masculine plural; suggests Greek men of similar rank.
- οὐκ ὀλίγοι – “not a few,” a litotes meaning “many.” This subtle rhetorical device strengthens the statement without sounding excessive.
Summary Table
| Greek Phrase | Translation | Form | Function / Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| πολλοὶ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτῶν ἐπίστευσαν | many of them believed | Aorist verb + subject phrase | Highlights Jewish belief in response to Paul’s message |
| τῶν Ἑλληνίδων γυναικῶν τῶν εὐσχημόνων | of the noble Greek women | Genitive phrase | Describes prominent Gentile female converts |
| ἀνδρῶν οὐκ ὀλίγοι | not a few men | Noun + litotes | Affirms significant male response |
Closing Insight
Acts 17:12 balances narrative restraint with powerful testimony. The Greek subtly communicates the widespread effect of Paul’s preaching, especially among influential social circles. With litotes and careful genitive constructions, Luke records not just the faith of “many,” but of the high-ranking—both Jewish and Gentile—establishing the cross-cultural reach of the gospel.
