Jason Ἰάσων
Paul's host in Thessalonica; relative of Paul
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 Study available
- Acts 17:5
"But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people."
Study Acts → - Acts 17:6
"When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,"
Study Acts → - Acts 17:7
"whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”"
Study Acts → - Acts 17:9
"When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go."
Study Acts →
Romans 1 verse Study available
- Romans 16:21
"Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives."
Study Romans →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Ἰάσων | G2394 |
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