In today’s study our titles are; Verses 1-9 The uproar in Thessalonica. Verses 10-15 Paul and Silas at Berea. Verses 16-21 Paul at Athens. Verses 22-29 Paul on Mars Hill. Verses 30-34 The importance of Repentance. Acts 17 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:
Paul always taught boldly in the synagogues and 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,
He taught for three weeks the scriptures out of the Old Testament.
Acts 17:3] 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 being in the synagogue. Let’s see how Paul opens with his letter to them in 1Thessalonians 1 and verse 1 reads.
1Thess.1:1] Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice we are given here who it was that were called “They” from verse 1. We have Paul, Silas and Timothy, but don’t forget Luke is the scribe for Paul so he also was there. Back to Acts 17 and verse 4 reads.
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, the women were many. Notice that not all believed, just some.
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.
Paul and Silas stayed with Jason in his house while they were in Thessalonica. These Jews were Kenites, and able to provoke many of those in the city. Kind of like Antifa or BLM of today, upside down, evil for good and good for evil. Watchmen, watch. Let’s go back to Acts 13 and verse 44 reads.
Acts 13:44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
[45] But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
[46] Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Now these Jews are Kenites, and they are everywhere and in every synagogue, even until this day. Back to Acts 17 and verse 6 reads.
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;
Notice they will always accuse you of what they do. This is so relevant in today’s world. Didn’t we just learn in the last chapter, Acts 16 and verse 20 reads.
Acts 16:20] And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
[21] And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
[22] And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Remember Paul is a Roman citizen, and it is unlawful to beat a Roman citizen without permission from Caesar. Jason on the other hand is of the tribe of Judah. Notice it is the Jews who proclaim to be Romans. Back to Acts 17 and verse 7 reads.
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. Caesar would have had Pilot’s head. But even though Pilot knew they were liars, that left him no choice. Evil can be very smart, beware of this today. Let’s go to 1Peter 2 and verse 12 reads.
1Pet.2:11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
[12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
[13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
[14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
[15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
[16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Back to Acts 17 and verse 8 reads.
Acts 17:8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
They troubled the Romans citizens and their rulers because they heard Christ is King.
Acts 17:9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
After paying a fine, Jason was let 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.
In Acts 9:25 the brethren took Paul (Saul) and let him down by a basket at night.
Acts 17:11] 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 charged to do.
Acts 17:12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Here we have more men than women in Berea that believed on Jesus Christ.
Acts 17:13] 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. I’m sure they used the same reasons to stir up the people, that Jesus Christ was King.
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. I’m sure it was for Silas and Timothy’s sake, for their well-being.
Acts 17:16] 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. Prophesied in Jeremiah 11 and verse 12 reads.
Jer.11:12] Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
[13] For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
[14] Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Now let’s go to 2Peter 2 and verse 6 reads.
2Pet.2:6] And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
[7] And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
[8] (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
[9] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
We went to both places in God’s Word to show that God has a plan for both those who love him and those who hate him. Back to Acts 17 and verse 17 reads.
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 the Jews that lived at Athens. Asking why they would not teach the Word of God to those that lived there. Paul should have known that they did not have the Holy Spirit with them, but that he was right to bring it up to 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.
Epicureans G1946, were followers of a man named Epicurius, a philosopher. Stoicks G4770 1. pertaining to the Stoic philosophy, the author of which, Zeno of Citium, taught at Athens. Neither believed in God.
Acts 17:19] And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Areopagus is the highest court in the land, and is situated on Mars Hill. 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 that Paul was teaching resurrection and at least they wanted to know. One thing about Philosophers, they are a curious people.
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 the 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 something you know nothing about. Well, let me tell you about HIM.
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;
Here is where the Jews can’t handle the truth, in temples made with hands.
Acts 17:25] Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Let’s go to Psalms 50 and verse 12 reads.
Psa.50:12] If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
Let’s go to Isaiah 42 and verse 5 reads.
Isa.42:5] Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
And also, in Zechariah 12 and verse 1 reads.
Zec.12:1] The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
One God, creator of all things, in heaven and on earth. Back to Acts 17 and verse 26 reads.
Acts 17:26] 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;
This word Blood should have been translated as clay. Remember Adam was formed from the clay, this shows us the sixth day creation was also formed from clay. It also tells us that all races were given their own lands.
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:
Let’s go to Romans 1 and verse 19 reads.
Rom.1:19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
[20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
[22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
[23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Back to Acts 17 and verse 28 reads.
Acts 17:28] 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 G1085 Genos and means; offspring of God. We are all his children. Reread that again, even the poets believed we are 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:
He winked at this, but now demands repentance. Let’s go to Luke 24 and verse 47 reads.
Luke 24:47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Back to Acts 17 and verse 31 reads.
Acts 17:31] 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. 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