Jason

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

JASON . This Greek name was adopted by many Jews whose Hebrew designation was Joshua (Jesus). 1. The son of Eleazar deputed to make a treaty with the Romans, and father of Antipater who was later sent on a similar errand, unless two different persons are meant ( 1Ma 8:17; 1Ma 12:16; 1Ma 14:22 ). 2. Jason of Cyrene, an author, of whose history 2 Mac. (see 2Ma 2:23; 2Ma 2:26 ) is an epitome (written after b.c. 160). 3. Joshua the high priest, who ousted his brother Onias iii. from the office in b.c. 174 ( 2Ma 4:7 ff.), but was himself driven out three years later, and died among the Lacedæmonians at Sparta ( 2Ma 5:9 f.). 4. In Acts 17:6 ff. a Jason was St. Paul’s host at Thessalonica, from whom the politarchs took bail for his good behaviour, thus (as it seems) preventing St. Paul’s return to Macedonia for a long time (see art. Paul the Apostle, § 8). The Jason who sends greetings from Corinth in Romans 16:21 , a ‘kinsman’ of St. Paul ( i.e. a Jew), is probably the same man.

A. J. Maclean.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

(Ἰάσων)

Jason is a Greek name, often adopted by Jews of the Dispersion, sometimes as not unlike the names Joseph or Joshua.

1 . In Acts 17:5 ff., the host of St. Paul and Silas at Thessalonica, who was seized with other converts and dragged before the politarchs. These authorities bound over Jason and his friends in security that there should be no further disturbance and perhaps that St. Paul should leave the city and not return (see Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen , 1895, p. 230f.).

2 . In Romans 16:21, a person whose greetings St. Paul sends to his readers with greetings from Timothy, Lucius, and Sosipater, all of whom he describes as his ‘kinsmen,’ i.e. fellow-Jews or perhaps members of the same tribe. It is quite probable that 1 and 2 are the same man.

T. B. Allworthy.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Graecized from Joshua. The Thessalonian who received Paul and Silas (Acts 17:5-7; Acts 17:9), whom the mob therefore, after assaulting his house, dragged before the magistrates. Jason had to give security before he was let go. In Romans 16:21 Paul sends Jason's salutations from Corinth, calling him his "kinsman" or fellow tribesman, or fellow countryman, as the word is used Romans 9:3.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ja'son. (one who will heal). Jason, called the Thessalonian, entertained Paul and Silas, and was in consequence, attacked by the Jewish mob. Acts 17:5-7; Acts 17:9. (A.D. 48). He is probably the same as the Jason mentioned in Romans 16:21. It is conjectured that Jason and Secundus, Acts 20:4, were the same person.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Acts 17:5Acts 17:6-7Romans 16:21

2. A Jewish high priest during the final years of Seleucid control of Palestine. His Greek name reflects the Hellenistic influence that increasingly permeated Jewish life during the period before the Maccabean revolt. See Intertestamental History.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Jason (jâ'son), one who will heal. A Thessalonian, and probably a relative of Paul, whom he entertained, and in consequence received rough treatment at the Hands of the unbelieving Jews. Acts 17:1-34; with Romans 16:21.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A kinsman and host of Paul, at Thessalonica. His person and goods were interposed to shield the apostle from the rabble, A. D. 52, Acts 17:5-10 . He seems also to have been with him at Corinth, five years afterwards, Romans 16:21 .

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The host of Paul and Silas at Thessalonica, whose house was attacked by the Jews, and himself arrested. Acts 17:5-9 . Perhaps the same as the one at Rome described as a kinsman of Paul. Romans 16:21 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Acts 17:5-9Romans 16:21

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

A mythological Greek hero, son of Æson, king of Iolcos; brought up by the centaur Chiron, was supplanted on the throne by his half-brother Pelias; undertook the leadership of the Argonautic expedition, assisted by Medea in this enterprise; he took her to wife, but cast her off for Creusa, whom Medea to avenge herself killed, with her father and her two sons by Jason, she herself escaping to Athens in a chariot drawn by winged dragons; Jason took refuge from her fury in the sanctuary of Poseidon near Corinth, where the timber of the ship Argo deposited there breaking up fell upon him and crushed him to death.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ja´son, a kinsman of St. Paul, and his host at Thessalonica, where the Jews forced his house in order to seize the Apostle. Not finding the Apostle, they dragged Jason himself and some other converts before the magistrates, who released them with an admonition (A.D. 53). Jason appears to have accompanied the Apostle to Corinth .