Acts 17 keeps on rolling along and verse 1 reads.
Acts 17:1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Always teaching boldly in the churches.
Acts 17:2] And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
[3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Teaching the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is Messiah, this they should know from scripture.
Acts 17:4] And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Both men and women, never overlook the women also because some would say women don’t belong teaching in churches, how wrong this saying is.
Acts 17:5] But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Kind of sounds like antifa, or BLM. Always shutting down other peoples thoughts, because of their own. And upside down is turning good for evil, and evil for good.
Acts 17:6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Again, accusing them of what they are doing.
Acts 17:7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
This is the only reason that Pilot allowed them to crucify Jesus, when they claimed that he was a king. Ceasar would have had Pilots head. But even though Pilot knew they were liars, that left him no choice. Evil can be very smart, beware of this today.
Acts 17:8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
They troubled the Romans.
Acts 17:9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
After paying a fine they let them go.
Acts 17:10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
[11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Testing your teachers, very important to do, making sure what they said was in scriptures of God and not of man. Also, teaching boldly in the churches. This is what we are to do.
Acts 17:12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
[13] But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
These Jews are Kenites. They wouldn’t leave them alone. They will follow and create trouble for them. And they will cause you problems today also.
Acts 17:14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
[15] And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Now Paul is in Greece, and needs Timothy and Silas with him.
[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Imagine walking around and seeing all the false gods and idols everywhere. It would stir my spirit up also.
Acts 17:17] Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Disputed with them that were living there, why they would not teach them truth. Paul should have known that they did not have the Holy Spirit with them.
Acts 17:18] Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
[19] And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Why God chose Paul is evident here, he is the perfect orator. And probably the only one who could speak to these people. Imagine how hard it is to speak to those that think they are so smart and are ignorant to the truth.
Acts 17:20] For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
They had heard Paul was teaching resurrection. At least they are curious of what they had heard, and want to know more.
Acts 17:21] (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Kind of like the guys downtown sitting around talking about weather. Nothing to do but gossip.
Acts 17:22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Too religious, is a better translation of superstitious.
Acts 17:23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
I think this is brilliant how Paul would bring this up to them. In ignorance you worship some thing you know nothing about. Well, let me tell you who this is.
Acts 17:24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
[25] Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
[26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Paul is doing so well I hate to interrupt with a technicality. This word blood should have been translated “clay”. Remember Adam was formed from the clay.
Acts 17:27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
[28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
This word offspring is “Genos” in the Greek, and means offspring of God.
Acts 17:29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
[30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
[31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
A great lesson from Paul, but will it be received of them? Remember it’s not for all to hear the word of God but to those that do, you could never tell them different. Because they now have the truth. This is why Paul was sent out and why you are too. Teaching the resurrection to non- believers is the most difficult thing to do.
Acts 17:32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Remember the Stoicks from verse 18, they don’t believe in life after death.
Acts 17:33] So Paul departed from among them.
[34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
So, some believed but not all. That’s Ok because Paul did what the LORD sent him there to do. And those that did believe, are now disciples of Christ and the church keeps growing. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible