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Acts 17

Thursday Evening Bible Study

January 30, 2014

Introduction

On the day of Pentecost, the church was born. It began with the Holy Spirit filling the believers. As the apostles preached about Jesus, the church began to grow.

By chapter seven, the church was beginning to experience persecution. Stephen was the first one to die for his faith. One of the main men behind the persecution was a man named Saul. But when Saul headed for the city of Damascus to pursue the Christians there, he was knocked off his horse by a bright light and he met Jesus. Saul will be more well known by his Roman name, Paul.

By chapter 10, the gospel began to reach even the Gentiles, starting with a Roman Centurion named Cornelius.

In chapter 13, we began a new section of Acts as we began to focus on the ministry of Paul.

Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey took them from Antioch of Syria, through the island of Cyprus, up into the area of Galatia, and back again.

Paul and Barnabas then went to the church council in Jerusalem where the leaders wrestled with the concern over whether the Gentiles needed to become Jews to be truly saved.

The verdict was that salvation is through faith alone, and circumcision was not necessary.

We’ve now seen Paul off on his second missionary journey, taking Silas along with him.

Play Galatia to Philippi map clip.

They travelled first to the Galatian churches, and then made their way through modern Turkey, across the Aegean Sea, and on to Macedonia where they spent their first couple of months in Philippi. After being beaten and jailed in Philippi, they now head south.

Bible Students – mark your Bibles:

Acts 2:1, AD 33

Acts 9:1, AD 36?

Acts 10:1, AD 40

Acts 11:28, AD 41

Acts 15:1 write “AD 50”

17:1-9 Thessalonica

:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

Play To Thessalonica map clip

It’s about an eighty mile trip through hills and valleys to get from Philippi through the cities of Amphipolis, Apollonia, and on to Thessalonica. The modern city of Thessaloniki (also known as Salonica) is about 385,000 people, and is the second largest city of Greece today.

:1 Amphipolis and Apollonia

Though these were apparently good sized cities, Paul doesn’t stop in them.

Some have suggested it was because there might not have been any Jewish synagogues there. Instead he moves on to Thessalonica.

Paul is traveling on a well-known Roman road known as the Via Egnatia that connects Turkey and runs through Greece.

:1 Thessalonica

The city was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. Philip II (whom Philippi was named after).

By 41 BC, it became a free city of the Roman Republic.

It was a major city of the Roman Empire and capital of the region. It was the chief seaport of Macedonia and center for trade.

:1 a synagogue of the Jews

Unlike Philippi, there are enough Jews in the city to form a synagogue.

:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

:2 three Sabbaths

It might sound as if Paul was only in Thessalonica for a couple of weeks, but there are other scriptures that seem to indicate that it was a bit longer:

(Php 4:16 NKJV) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

(1 Th 2:9 NKJV) For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

The first three weeks were spent ministering in the synagogue. They apparently spent more time ministering to the Gentiles. Some suggest the overall ministry in Thessalonica was several months.

:3 reasoned with them from the Scriptures

It’s really not that hard to show that Jesus is the Messiah from the Old Testament Scriptures.

There are Scriptures that talk about His birthplace:

(Mic 5:2 NKJV) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

There are Scriptures that talk about His ministry:

(Is 35:5 NKJV) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

There are Scriptures that talk about His death:

(Is 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

There are Scriptures that talk about the resurrection:

(Ps 16:10 NKJV) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

There are over 300 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.

It all points to the fact that Jesus is the Christ.

:4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

:4 some of them were persuaded

A church was being established in Thessalonica. For extra credit – read Paul’s letters back to the Thessalonians (1&2Thess.)

Lesson

Loving relationships.

Paul will later write back to the Thessalonians and remind them of this time together:

(1 Th 2:1–12 NKJV) —1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Sometimes we can get the idea that “ministry” means to stand up in front of a crowd, and lecture or yell at people. If you’re not careful, you could get the idea that Paul came and delivered a speech, then left out the back door, not to be seen until the following Saturday.

To Paul, ministry meant developing a loving relationship with the people, opening up his heart to them, spending time with them, pouring out his life for them.

I have to confess that sometimes I’ve said, “I’d love the ministry, if it weren’t for the people”.

Sometimes you open up your heart to people, they can hurt you. But that’s part of the price of ministry. It’s not something that you should avoid. It’s a test of whether you have learned real agape or not.

:5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

:5 to the people – demos – the people; an organized political group, citizens

Thessalonica was a “free” or independent city. It had a ruling group of people called the “demos” (“demo-crat”), the word translated “people” here. The mob is trying to have Paul put on trial before this ruling body.

:5 Jason

Apparently Jason was Paul’s host.

:5 becoming envious

This seems to be the real motive behind the trouble.

Paul and Silas were getting more attention than these other Jewish leaders.

Lesson

Don’t be jealous

It’s sad, but sometimes this even happens in the church.

Particularly with pastors, we get jealous when another church is getting more attention or growing faster than our church.

We often like to find fault with the other church and tell people why they aren’t as “spiritual” as we are.

Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail:

(Php 1:15–18 NLT) —15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

:6 turned the world upside down

An interesting accusation. Perhaps they had heard something about what happened in Philippi.

:7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”

:7 another king—Jesus

Paul had been proclaiming Jesus to be the “Christ”, the “Messiah”, the King of the Jews. This was being twisted to make it sound as if Paul was stirring up rebellion against Rome (which he wasn’t).

Jesus told Pilate:

(Jn 18:36 NKJV) Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

I wonder sometimes if we need to be careful just how we handle politics. We need to participate in the process, but in reality our “kingdom” is in heaven.

:8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

:9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

:9 taken security from Jason

The authorities made Jason put up some money which he would lose if there was more trouble, possibly even if Paul were to ever return. Paul would write back to the church:

(1 Th 2:18 NKJV) Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

:9 they let them go

Paul and Silas will be leaving town.

It may sound as if this was a terrible defeat for the church, but the church in Thessalonica continued to grow and be an influence over the whole area:

(1 Th 1:7–8 NKJV) —7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

The church seems to thrive in difficult times.

17:10-15 Berea

:10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Play Thessalonica to Berea map clip

Berea is about 50 miles southwest from Thessalonica

:10 Berea

Today the city is called Veria. It’s one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back to 500 BC.

One of the oldest parts of the city is the “Jewish quarter”.

:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

:11 more fair-minded – eugenes (“eugenics”, “well” + “born”) – well born, of a noble family; noble minded

This is a “comparative” form of the word, meaning it’s not just “well-born”, but “more well-born”

Lesson

Be a Berean

There’s a couple of qualities that made these Bereans to be more “noble” than the folks in Thessalonica.

Word Hunger

readiness – prothumia – zeal, spirit, eagerness; inclination, readiness of mind

The Bereans had an eagerness when it came to the Word of God. They couldn’t wait to open their Bibles. They brought their Bibles to church. They took notes. They talked about the Bible. They were excited about hearing what God would have for them.

(Ps 119:103 NKJV) How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

One of the things I’ve been doing lately to renew my hunger for the Word is reading through a different version of the Bible each year. Two years ago I read through the ESV, last year the NLT, and this year the NIV.

Scripture Based

searched – anakrino (“again” + “judge”) – examine or judge; to investigate, sift, question; specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation

The Bereans made their decisions of what was right and wrong based on the Scriptures.

God’s Word is what we need to stay on track:

(2 Ti 3:16–17 NKJV) —16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Daily

The last distinguishing characteristic of the Bereans was that they didn’t get into the Word just once a week, but EVERY day!

We’ve often seen the parallel between staying in the Word on a daily basis, and how God fed the Israelites with manna in the wilderness. When the people complained about their lack of food, God gave a frost each morning that would leave a crusty thing the people called manna.

Every morning the people had to get up early and collect their days’ worth of manna.

If they tried to gather more than one days’ worth, it would turn to worms.

You can’t survive off of yesterday’s manna.

If they got up too late, the manna would have melted and disappeared.

Get up early and spend time with God.

:12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

:13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.

:13 the Jews from Thessalonica

This is similar to what happened on the first missionary trip when the unbelieving Jews from Antioch of Pisidia followed Paul and Barnabas from city to city and stirred up trouble in the Galatian cities.

:14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.

Play Berea to Athens map clip

Paul will head back to the coast, possibly to take a boat to Athens. (or use a coastal road)

Athens is about 200 miles south of Thessalonica.

Four hundred years earlier, Athens was at its peak. It was still filled with awesome architecture and a world famous university, but the city was in a bit of a decline from its earlier days compared to Paul’s day.

:14 the brethren sent Paul away

Though Paul will leave, Silas and Timothy stay behind in Berea to help with the young church.

Here’s Paul’s own words about the incident:

(1 Th 3:1–2 NKJV) —1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

:15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

:15 to come to him

While Paul waits in Athens, word is sent back to Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens. Apparently Paul got a bit lonely without Silas and Timothy.

(1 Th 3:6 NLT) But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.

17:16-34 Athens

:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

:16 was provoked – paroxuno – sharpen; to stimulate, spur on, urge; to irritate

Athens was a city filled with temples dedicated to all the various gods.

Paul is stirred up.

Lesson

What moves you?

What moves you to share your faith?

For Paul, it was looking at the idolatry in Athens, and how the people had swallowed up an empty philosophy, that he was moved to speak.

For Dwight L. Moody, in the 1800’s, it was after the Great Fire of Chicago that he resolved never to speak again without giving an opportunity to receive the Lord.

For some, it’s after a loved one dies, and we begin to realize how fragile life is, that we decide we need to speak up.

I was a bit stirred up this week thinking about how close we could be to the Lord’s coming.

It may not be the “gods” around you, but it might happen when our eyes are opened to what’s really going on in people’s lives.

Play “Get Service” clip

Lesson

Look around you.

I remember as a college student being instructed to go to the top of the Humanities building and sit and look at the students coming and going, to get a vision for reaching the campus for the Lord.

See what happened when Jesus stopped and looked at the people –

(Mt 9:36–38 NKJV) —36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Go to work early someday and watch all the people come in. Ask God for a burden for those you live with.

:17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

:17 reasoned – dialegomai (“dialogue”) – to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought; argue, discuss

Paul talked with all kinds of people in Athens.

He talked with the Jews in the synagogue.

He talked with Gentiles out in the marketplace.

:18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

:18 Epicurean and Stoic philosophers

Epicureans followed the teachings of Epicurus (341-270 BC), who said the chief end of man was pleasure and happiness. (Note: I have not seen this movie, but the trailer speaks for itself…)

Play Hangover trailer clip.

Their followers tended to lead life by trying to please their senses, “eat and drink for tomorrow we die”. They did not believe in an afterlife.

Stoics followed the teachings of Zeno (340-265 BC) who taught on a “porch” (Greek – “stoa”).

They emphasized the rational over the emotional.

It sounds like they were the “Vulcans” of the ancient world – logic over emotion.

Play Spock Logic clip

These guys had no fun. These were the guys who thought they were better than everyone else. The first two leaders of the Stoic school of philosophy committed suicide.

:18 babbler

:19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

:19 Areopagus

The name of this hill means “Ares Rock”. The Romans Romanized it to “Mars Hill”.

It was a tall hill northwest of the famous Athens “Acropolis”. You can see the famous Parthenon from the Areopagus.

In early Greek days it was where important court cases were heard.

Paul is not on trial here. They simply want him to share his ideas.

:20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

:21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

I imagine that the Stoics considered Paul “fascinating”

Play Star Trek Spock Fascinating clip

:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;

:22 very religious – deisidaimonesteros (“fearful” + “gods, demons”) – reverencing god or the gods, pious, religious; superstitious

This is the comparative form, “very religious”

I find it interesting to look at what Paul says to these pagan Athenians. Look what he includes in his message of the gospel to the Athenians.

:23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

:23 worship

:23 TO THE UNKNOWN GOD

To make sure they had all their bases covered, the Athenians had an altar to the “Unknown” god, just in case they forgot a god or didn’t know about a god.

Illustration

Elvis was apparently fond of wearing lots of gold jewelry from various religions. When someone asked him why he wore things from so many different beliefs, he said something like, “Just coverin’ all my bases. Uh-huh”

:23 whom you worship without knowing

Lesson

Start where they’re at.

Paul doesn’t rebuke them for their idolatry, he uses it to turn the conversation to Jesus.

:24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

:24 God, who made the world

Paul speaks of creation – the Scriptures tell us that creation tells us that there is a Creator:

(Ro 1:20 NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

These pagan Greeks might not know anything about the Scriptures, but they are all aware of the witness of creation.

It’s also interesting to see a connection with an earlier sermon by Stephen before he was martyred. A message that Paul had heard before becoming a Christian:

(Ac 7:48–50 NKJV) —48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’

:25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

:25 as though He needed anything

Lesson

God doesn’t need you.

Sometimes we are given the wrong impression, that somehow God needs us and the things we give him.

(Ps 50:9–15 NKJV) —9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

The idea of sacrifice in the Old Testament is not because God is hungry or needs to smell some roasting lambs. It’s to teach the Israelites about the consequences of their sins, and how they need to seek continually to be right with God. The idea of sacrifice is ultimately to point to Jesus Christ, who would pay the price for our sins.

There are some people on TV and radio who will give you the impression that God is broke and needs your money to help. This is wrong!

God doesn’t need you. You need God.

:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

:26 has determined their preappointed times

Paul is describing a GREAT God.

The prophetic sections of the Old Testament show us that God speaks of things regarding nations of the world hundreds of years before they occur.

:27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

:27 they might grope for Him and find Him

This Creator God wants people to seek after Him.

:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

:28 some of your own poets

Who is he quoting?

The first phrase (“in Him we live and move and have our being”) is a quote from Epimenides, a Cretan poet.

The last phrase is a quote from Aratus (“we are His offspring”) a poet from Paul’s home area of Cilicia.

Paul was familiar with and read secular literature.

:29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.

:30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

:30 overlooked … repent

Paul speaks of God’s patience towards mankind.

He also warns that God is looking for men to turn around.

:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

:31 He will judge the world

This is the reason why we warn people.

There will be a day of judgment.

Every person will one day stand before God and give an account of their lives.

Jesus is the one who will judge us.

We can know that Jesus is different from other people because He rose from the dead.

:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”

:32 some mocked

In particular, the Epicureans didn’t believe in life after death – they would have thought that Paul was crazy.

:33 So Paul departed from among them.

:34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

:34 some men joined him and believed

There wasn’t a large group converted by Paul’s message on Mars Hill, but there were some. We don’t have a record of a church being established in Athens at this time.

:34 Dionysius the Areopagite

Being a member of the Areopagus was a high honor.

Home Library

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Target 4400 words

On the day of Pentecost, the church was born. It began with the Holy Spirit filling the believers. As the apostles preached about Jesus, the church began to grow.

By chapter 10, the gospel began to reach even the Gentiles, starting with a Roman Centurion named Cornelius.

In chapter 13, we began a new section of Acts as we began to focus on the ministry of Paul.

Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey took them from Antioch of Syria, through the island of Cyprus, up into the area of Galatia, and back again.

Paul and Barnabas then went to the church council in Jerusalem where the leaders wrestled with the concern over whether the Gentiles needed to become Jews to be truly saved.

The verdict was that salvation is through faith alone, and circumcision was not necessary.

We’ve now seen Paul off on his second missionary journey, taking Silas along with him.

Play Galatia to Philippi map clip.

They travelled first to the Galatian churches, and then made their way through modern Turkey, across the Aegean Sea, and on to Macedonia where they spent their first couple of months in Philippi. After being beaten and jailed in Philippi, they now head south.

Extra credit homework: Read Philippians and 1&2 Thessalonians

Bible Students – mark your Bibles:

Acts 2:1, AD 33

Acts 9:1, AD 36?

Acts 10:1, AD 40

Acts 11:28, AD 41

Acts 12:25, write “James written AD 45”.

Acts 13:4 write “1st Missionary Journey, AD 48”

Acts 14:28 write “Paul writes Galatians, AD 49”.

Acts 15:1 write “AD 50”

Acts 15:36 write “2nd Missionary Journey, AD 50”

17:1-9 Thessalonica

:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

Play To Thessalonica map clip

It’s about an eighty mile trip through hills and valleys to get from Philippi through the cities of Amphipolis, Apollonia, and on to Thessalonica. The modern city of Thessaloniki (also known as Salonica) is about 385,000 people, and is the second largest city of Greece today.

:1 Amphipolis and Apollonia

Though these were apparently good sized cities, Paul doesn’t stop in them.

Some have suggested it was because there might not have been any Jewish synagogues there. Instead he moves on to Thessalonica.

Paul is traveling on a well-known Roman road known as the Via Egnatia that connects Turkey and runs through Greece.

:1 Thessalonica

The city was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. and princess of Macedon as daughter of Philip II (whom Philippi was named after).

By 41 BC, it became a free city of the Roman Republic.

It was a major city of the Roman Empire and capital of the region. It was the chief seaport of Macedonia and center for trade.

:1 a synagogue of the Jews

Unlike Philippi, there are enough Jews in the city to form a synagogue.

:2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

:3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

:2 three Sabbaths

It might sound as if Paul was only in Thessalonica for a couple of weeks, but there are other scriptures that seem to indicate that it was a bit longer:

(Php 4:16 NKJV) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

(1 Th 2:9 NKJV) For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

The first three weeks were spent ministering in the synagogue. They apparently spent more time ministering to the Gentiles. Some suggest the overall ministry in Thessalonica was several months.

:3 reasoned with them from the Scriptures

It’s really not that hard to show that Jesus is the Messiah from the Old Testament Scriptures.

There are Scriptures that talk about His birthplace:

(Mic 5:2 NKJV) “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

There are Scriptures that talk about His ministry:

(Is 35:5 NKJV) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

There are Scriptures that talk about His death:

(Is 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

There are Scriptures that talk about the resurrection:

(Ps 16:10 NKJV) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

There are over 300 Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.

It all points to the fact that Jesus is the Christ.

:4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

:4 some of them were persuaded

A church was being established in Thessalonica. For extra credit – read Paul’s letters back to the Thessalonians (1&2Thess.)

Lesson

Loving relationships.

Paul will later write back to the Thessalonians and remind them of this time together:

Sometimes we can get the idea that “ministry” means to stand up in front of a crowd, and lecture or yell at people. If you’re not careful, you could get the idea that Paul came and delivered a speech, then left out the back door, not to be seen until the following Saturday.

To Paul, ministry meant developing a loving relationship with the people, opening up his heart to them, spending time with them, pouring out his life for them.

I have to confess that sometimes I’ve said, “I’d love the ministry, if it weren’t for the people”.

Sometimes you open up your heart to people, they can hurt you. But that’s part of the price of ministry. It’s not something that you should avoid. It’s a test of whether you have learned real agape or not.

:5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

:5 to the people – demos – the people; an organized political group, citizens

Thessalonica was a “free” or independent city. It had a ruling group of people called the “demos” (“demo-crat”), the word translated “people” here. The mob is trying to have Paul put on trial before this ruling body.

:5 Jason

Apparently Jason was Paul’s host.

:5 becoming envious

This seems to be the real motive behind the trouble.

Paul and Silas were getting more attention than these other Jewish leaders.

Lesson

Don’t be jealous

It’s sad, but sometimes this even happens in the church.

Particularly with pastors, we get jealous when another church is getting more attention or growing faster than our church.

We often like to find fault with the other church and tell people why they aren’t as “spiritual” as we are.

Paul wrote to the Philippians while he was in jail:

The city was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. Philip II (whom Philippi was named after).