<p>17:4 <i>And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, as did many of the devout Greeks<em>- </em></i>First of all there must be an intellectual understanding if there is to be conversion. Men were &ldquo;persuaded&rdquo;, not just emotionally bullied (Acts 17:4; 18:4; 19:8,26; 28:23,24). The intellectual basis of appeal is made clear in the way we read of accepting &lsquo;truth&rsquo; as well as accepting the person of Jesus. Thus converts believe the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-13), acknowledge truth (2 Tim. 2:25; Tit. 1:1), obey truth (Rom. 2:8; 1 Pet. 1:22 cp. Gal. 5:7), and &lsquo;come to know the truth&rsquo; (Jn. 8:32; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:3; 1 Jn. 2:21). Preaching itself is &lsquo;the open statement of the truth&rsquo; (2 Cor. 4:2). And so it is perfectly in order to seek to intellectually persuade our contacts.</p><p><em>And not a few of the chief women- </em>Paul had to later remind the Thessalonians that he isn't preaching because he wants to take money and have relationships with women (1 Thess. 2:3-12). There were some wealthy women in Thessalonica who accepted the Gospel (Acts 17:4 Western Text), and no doubt gossip spread from this.</p>