The Apostolic Age · AD 4–70
Jason of Thessalonica
fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) · Host of the Thessalonian mission · Thessalonica
The Apostolic Age
Who Jason of Thessalonica was
The householder who received Paul and Silas at Thessalonica. When the city’s mob could not find the missionaries they dragged Jason before the politarchs on the charge that he harbored men who “do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus”; he was released on security — the bond that likely forced Paul’s night departure. Probably the “Jason my kinsman” who greets the Romans from Corinth (Rom 16:21); later Greek tradition makes him bishop of Tarsus and missionary of Corfu.
Common questions
When was Jason active?
Jason of Thessalonica is dated fl. c. 50 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Jason in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Jason?
Jason of Thessalonica is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul of Tarsus and Luke. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Jason from?
The archive associates Jason of Thessalonica with Thessalonica.
Who were Jason’s contemporaries?
The archive links Jason of Thessalonica to 5 other figures, including Paul of Tarsus, Silas (Silvanus), Aristarchus of Thessalonica and Secundus of Thessalonica. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (2)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Romans 16:21 (traditionally the same Jason)
c. AD 57Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.Paul of Tarsus · read ↗
Acts 17:7
c. AD 85Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.Luke · read ↗
Connected in the archive
People
- Paul of Tarsus
- Silas (Silvanus)
- Aristarchus of Thessalonica
- Secundus of Thessalonica
- Sopater son of Pyrrhus (Sosipater)
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Jason.