The Jews interpreted the words of Paul to mean that Christ would come the second time in that generation, and reign upon the earth as king over all nations. The charge was brought against the apostles with so much determination that the magistrates credited it, and put Jason under bonds to keep the peace, as Paul and Silas were not to be found. The persecuting Jews flattered themselves that by their course toward the Christians they had regained the confidence of the magistrates, and had established their reputation as loyal citizens, while they had, at the same time, gratified their malice toward the apostles, and transferred to the converts to Christianity the suspicion which had heretofore rested upon themselves. {LP 85.2}

Jøderne fortolkede Paulus ord til at Kristus ville komme for anden gang i den slægt, og regere over jorden som konge over alle nationer. Anklagen blev ført bestemt imod apostlene at byfogederne troede på det, og pålagde Jason tavshed, da Paulus og Silas ikke var at finde. De forfølgende jøder bildte sig selv ind at de, ved deres kurs over for kristne, hade genvundet byfogedernes tillid, og havde fået ry for at være loyale borgere, medens de samtidig havde tilfredsstillet deres skinsyge imod apostlene, og overført den mistanke der hidtil havde hvilet over dem selv til kristendommens nyomvendte.