The Way - Day 052 (Acts 17)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Acts 17
Paul and Silas departed from the house of Lydia, whose family and friends had miraculously been changed through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:11-15, 40), and they continued to the city of Thessalonica (17:1). Paul was currently embarking on his second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas, after Paul and Barnabas had separated ways over the ministry of John Mark (Acts 15:36-41). This second journey to preach the gospel and strengthen churches had already proven to be challenging as they were wrongly beaten and imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:16-24). Through a supernatural work of God, an earthquake released them from prison and many were saved as a result of the miracle (16:25-40).

Upon their arrival in Thessalonica, Paul entered the synagogue where he "reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I preach to you is Christ'" (17:2-3). His teaching continued for three Sabbaths until some who were hearing were convinced that what he said was true; in fact, Luke writes that "a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas" (17:4).

However, some Jews gathered a mob against Paul and attacked the house of Jason where Paul may have been residing (17:5). "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'" (17:6). This is an amazing statement, by those who did not believe in Christ, which proves that the message being preached by the apostles was changing the world! This mob continued to stir up the crowd against the Christians, but they finally let Jason and the other Christians go free (17:8-9).

Since Paul and Silas were in danger those who knew where they were sent them away and they departed to Berea (17:10). Luke describes the people in Berea as "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. Therefore many of them believed" (17:11-12). It seems that the Jews from Thessalonica found out that Paul had fled to Berea, so they followed him there and "stirred up the crowds" because of the message they preached about Jesus Christ(17:13). The Christians immediately sent Paul away to Athens, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea (17:14-15).

While Paul waited for Silas and Timothy to meet him in Athens, "his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols" (17:16). After all, Athens was the center of Greek culture and religion and great philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates were centered there. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered Paul as he was teaching in the synagogue (17:17-18a) and since their culture was largely pagan, they did not know this Jesus of whom Paul was speaking (17:18b). These philosophers took Paul to the Areopagus (the court where the Athenian council met) so that they could know this "god." Their interest was not necessarily in knowing salvation, but in possibly learning about a new "god" of whom they had never heard (17:19-21).

Instead of backing down from speaking to these pagan people, Paul willingly talked to them about Jesus. Since those whom Paul was addressing had no knowledge of the God of Creation, he approached them differently than his previous encounters with those who did not believe (see Acts 13:13-41). When he began speaking, Paul acknowledged that they were very religious worshipping many gods, but when he found an altar with the inscription "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD" he declared that the God of whom he was speaking was the God they did not know (17:22-23). Paul goes on to explain that the one, true God was not made with hands, but rather the One who gives life to all (17:24-29). He declared to them that this God was calling them to repent or else they would be judged "by the man whom He [God] has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead (17:30-31). When those who listened heard Paul speak of the resurrection, they mocked him because Greek philosophy did not believe in physical resurrection (17:32). "So, Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed..." (17:33-34).

These different circumstances Paul encountered evidenced that he was equipped to speak in any situation through the power of the Holy Spirit. This should challenge us to be ready and willing to converse with those who may be far from God, so that the Holy Spirit can use our words to bring conviction in the heart. Even though Paul did not see throngs of people put their faith in Jesus Christ, he was still faithful to proclaim the truth.

Dear God, help us to proclaim Jesus Christ crucified to any who will hear the message we speak. May we do so in love and leave the results to You.