Jason Is in the Bible — His House Was Attacked for Hosting Paul

Summary

Jason is in the Bible. In Acts 17:5-9 a mob comes to his house in Thessalonica looking for Paul and Silas and drags him before the city officials when they are not found.
The charge was politically serious — acting against Caesar’s decrees and saying there is another king — and Jason was released only after posting bond, taking on liability for men who left that night.
A Jason sends greetings in Romans 16:21, described with Paul as a fellow Jew. Whether it is the same man cannot be settled.
The name is Greek, connected to the verb meaning to heal, and was commonly adopted by Greek-speaking Jews in place of Joshua or Jesus.
Acts moves along a chain of people willing to have strangers in the house — Lydia, Mnason, Jason. Romans 12:13 and 1 Peter 4:9 keep the instruction.

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Jason is in the Bible. He appears twice, and the first time his house is being attacked.

Jason of Thessalonica

Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica, spend three Sabbaths arguing in the synagogue, and persuade some people. Then this:

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house.” (Acts 17:5-7)

The charge is specific and it is legally serious: that they are acting against Caesar’s decrees and saying there is another king, Jesus. Under Roman law that is not a religious dispute.

The outcome is quietly telling: they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go (Acts 17:9). Jason put up money as surety, which means he took on legal and financial liability for men who left the city that night.

That is everything we know about him, and it is a great deal. He opened his house to strangers, he was dragged through the streets for it, and he paid to guarantee their good behaviour after they were gone.

A blessing card for Jason

Jason

means connected to the verb meaning to heal

Greek, from Iason

In the BibleJason of Thessalonica hosted Paul and Silas (Acts 17:5-9), and a Jason sends greetings in Romans 16:21

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen.

Romans 16:21 Berean Standard Bible

Jason, may the LORD bless you and keep you. Numbers 6:24

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Read about the name Jason

Jason in Romans

A second mention closes the letter to Rome: Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. (Romans 16:21)

Whether this is the same man is not certain and the text does not say. If it is, he was still with Paul years later.

Where the name comes from

Jason is Greek — Iason, connected to the verb meaning to heal. It belonged to the mythological captain of the Argo long before it belonged to anyone in Acts.

And there is a further wrinkle worth knowing. Jason was commonly adopted by Greek-speaking Jews as a substitute for Joshua or Jesus, because it sounded similar and travelled better in a Greek city. A high priest in 2 Maccabees does exactly that.

So the Jason of Acts, described by Paul as a fellow Jew, was very possibly a Joshua at home.

What the story is for

Acts is full of people who appear once, host somebody, and are never mentioned again. Lydia in Philippi. Mnason in Caesarea. Jason in Thessalonica.

The pattern is easy to miss because it is so undramatic. The mission moved along a chain of people willing to have strangers in the house, and it is not obvious that it could have moved any other way.

The instruction stayed in the letters: Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality. (Romans 12:13)

And more bluntly: Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9) — a sentence written by someone who knew exactly what hosting costs.

Verses for a Jason

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here. (Acts 17:6) — a hostile description that the church has cheerfully kept.

Greet Jason. — the sort of thing that survives two thousand years when nothing else about a person does.

A blessing for Jason

May we keep a house that strangers can be brought to.

May we be willing to stand surety for people who then leave town.

And may we count it no dishonour to be dragged before the officials for it.

Frequently asked

Is Jason a biblical name?

Yes. Jason of Thessalonica hosted Paul and Silas and was dragged before the city officials for it (Acts 17:5-9), and a Jason sends greetings in Romans 16:21.

What does Jason mean?

It is Greek, connected to the verb meaning to heal. It was also commonly adopted by Greek-speaking Jews in place of Joshua or Jesus.

What happened to Jason in Acts?

A mob came to his house looking for Paul and Silas, did not find them, and dragged Jason before the authorities. He was released after posting bond — putting up money as surety.

Is the Jason of Romans 16 the same man?

Possibly. The text does not say, and it cannot be settled.