Paul, Silas, and Timothy responded to a vision to go to Macedonia and have been proclaiming the gospel in Philippi. Eventually they meet with opposition so move on to Thessalonica (today Thessaloniki) in Acts 17:1. Here, they found a synagogue where, in Acts 17:2-3 Paul “discussed with them from the scriptures … saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”” with the result that in Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas.
Then in Acts 17:5 ”But the Jews were filled with jealousy” and “forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar”. These jealous people were shifting the focus from the work God was doing but, if you have ever seen a mob in action, you will know it is always better to be somewhere else as Paul and Silas and Timothy were. But if you can’t get away, then use your citizenship as Jason and the brothers with him did.
Later, Paul came to Athens, the fourth major city in Macedonia. Each of these cities had its own nature and this one may have been the least likely to be able to hear Paul because of their many philosophers. When Paul is taken to speak before the philosophers in Acts 17:22, he opens with “I see you are very religious” then he points out their own statue, one among many, “To an unknown God”. And follows with his three part approach for delivering the gospel to the Gentiles.
Come Out Now and Go In Peace
Acts 16:35–40
The chief magistrate sends an order for Paul ans Silas to be released in Acts 16:35-36 “so come out now and go in peace”. But Paul was not satisfied with them simply being released, he responds throwing the full weight of his Roman citizenship against them in Acts 16:37 “they beat us in public without due process … let them come and bring us out”. And the magistrate came in Acts 16:38-39 “and apologized” asking them to leave the city. But, Paul went first to Lydia and in Acts 16:40 “encouraged the brothers and departed”. It is interesting to note that there was very little said about who was added to the new church here other than Lidia’s household and the jailers household, but Paul and Silas were there for some time. Now as they are leaving we see them encouraging the brothers so there were more added to the church.
We are citizen’s of God’s Kingdom and that is were our future and hope and treasure is, yet, there are times when we also must use our natural citizenship for the advantage it can bring us. Paul used his citizenship as a Roman and “requests a public display of his innocence. This would provide official affirmation that the Church had done nothing illegal and would further strengthen the Church and the position of the new believers in the community”1
And Some of Them Were Persuaded
Acts 17:1–9
Paul and company come to the next major city Thessalonica in Acts 17:1 and join themselves to the synagogue there. For three Sabbaths, in Acts 17:2-3 Paul “discussed with them from the scriptures … and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”” Then we see the result, in Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and also a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
As people are responding and believing, again, we see in Acts 17:5 ”But the Jews were filled with jealousy” and they began inciting others, bringing false claims, exaggerating through emotional drama to get what they wanted., “forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar”. But the uproar wasn’t what they wanted so, “attacking Jason’s house, they were looking for them to bring them* out to the popular assembly”. They wanted them to face the mob. Paul had seen these things before and was not to be found. so, in Acts 17:6 And when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here also. It is through these broad general statements that the crowd is incited and Jason’s name is tainted because he in Acts 17:7 “entertained them as guests” and in Acts 17:8 “they threw the crowd into confusion”.
These jealous people had shifted the focus from the work God was doing Acts 17:4 “some of them were persuaded”. And when these things happen, it is always better to be somewhere else as Paul and Silas and Timothy were. But if you can’t be somewhere else, then use your citizenship as Jason and the brothers with him did. There is a natural government and a legal system and it may be used for our protection. Jason paid the bail, and was released.
They Accepted the Message With All Eagerness
Acts 17:10–15
The Bereans were different. As it says in Acts 17:11 “these were more open-minded” but not just willing to hear, they also were, “examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so”. And when they saw it in the scriptures, in Acts 17:12 “many of them believed”.
Then came, in Acts 17:13 “the Jews from Thessalonica … inciting and stirring up the crowds”. But, again, Paul was on his way somewhere else. From the beginning when they lowered him over the city wall to leave Damascus, he has mostly been a step ahead, and I say mostly because there was that one time in Lystra, Acts 14:19-20 when “Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium” and they stoned him and left him for dead.
May We Learn What Is This New Teaching
Acts 17:16–21
In Acts 17:15 “those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens” but Silas and Timothy had been left behind in Berea. We don’t really know what Paul was thinking but JFB says “Connecting this with the apostle’s leaving Timothy and Luke at Philippi on his own departure (see on Ac 16:40), we may conclude that this was his fixed plan for cherishing the first beginning of the Gospel”2 and it is very likely that this was Paul’s intent, for them to stay and strengthen the new believers in their faith. But when he arrives in Athens he sends immediately for Silas and Timothy and we then read in Acts 17:16 “his spirit was provoked in him when he observed the city was full of idols”.
Paul had come to Athens, the fourth city, each with its own nature and this one maybe the least likely to be able to hear because of their many philosophers. Acts 17:17 Paul “was discussing in the synagogue … and in the marketplace”. Then Acts 17:18-20 names the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and their response to “the good news about Jesus and his resurrection”. Paul’s message was new to them so they “brought him to the Areopagus” saying “you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears”. This was the heart of their culture as it says in Acts 17:21 “Now all … used to spend their time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new”. For them, it was about learning, analyzing, philosophizing.
This I Proclaim
Acts 17:22–34
Here is Paul’s chance to proclaim the gospel before the great minds of this city. He had now been there a while and new a little about them and we see the approach that Paul has used with other Gentiles. But here, he fine tunes. In Acts 17:22 he opens with “I see you are very religious” then he points out their own statue, one among many, “To an unknown God”.
People can be very religious and not really know God. But God is there. And people do know that somewhere, somehow, there is a God. As Paul says in Acts 17:27 “if they might feel around for him and find him”. Or, as it says in Romans 1:19-32 “from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created”.
Paul’s approach to the Gentiles
- God’s eternal power as creator and benefactor to all. Acts 17:24-29
- God has overlooked the times of ignorance. Acts 17:30
- God is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed (Jesus Christ), having provided proof to everyone by* raising him from the dead”. Acts 17:31
The answer Paul proclaims is Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 11:28–30 (LEB) Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.”
Study Verses
- Acts 17:1–9
- Acts 17:16–21
- Acts 17:22–34
Today’s Reading
- Acts 16:35-40
- Acts 17:1-34
References
- 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 16:37). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
- 2. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 201). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
