Acts Chapter Seventeen

 Act 17:1  And traveling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 

Act 17:2  And according to Paul's custom, he went in to them and reasoned with them from the Scriptures on three sabbaths, 

Act 17:3  opening and setting forth that the Christ must have suffered, and to have risen from the dead, and that this is the Christ, Jesus, whom I announce to you. 

Act 17:4  And some of them were persuaded and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, both a great multitude of the worshiping Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. 

Act 17:5  But becoming jealous, and having taken aside some wicked men of the market loafers, and gathering a crowd, the disobeying Jews set the city into turmoil. And coming on the house of Jason, they sought to bring them on to the mob. 

Act 17:6  But not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city judges, crying, Those turning the habitable world upside down have come here, too; 

Act 17:7  whom Jason has received. And these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus. 

Act 17:8  And hearing these things, they troubled the crowd and the city judges. 

Act 17:9  And taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 

Act 17:10  But the brothers at once sent both Paul and Silas to Berea during the night; who having arrived went into the synagogue of the Jews. 

Act 17:11  And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with all readiness, daily examining the Scriptures if these things are so. 

Act 17:12  Then indeed many from among them believed, and not a few of the honorable Greek women and men. 

Act 17:13  But when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that the Word of God was also announced in Berea by Paul, they came there also, shaking up the crowd. 

Act 17:14  And immediately, then, the brothers sent away Paul, to go as toward the sea. But both Silas and Timothy remained there. 

Act 17:15  But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens. And receiving a command to Silas and Timothy that they come to him quickly, they departed. 

Act 17:16  But awaiting them in Athens, Paul's spirit was pained within him, seeing the city full of images. 

Act 17:17  Then, indeed, he addressed the Jews in the synagogue, and those worshiping, also in the market every day, to those happening to be there. 

Act 17:18  And some of the Epicureans and of the Stoics, philosophers, fell in with him. And some said, What may this seed-picker wish to say? And these others, He seems to be an announcer of foreign demons (because he announced Jesus and the resurrection to them). 

Act 17:19  And taking hold of him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying, Are we able to know what is this new doctrine being spoken by you? 

Act 17:20  For you bring startling things to our ears. We are minded, then, to know what these things wish to be. 

Act 17:21  And all Athenians and the strangers living there have leisure for nothing else than to say and to hear newer things. 

Act 17:22  And standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said, Men, Athenians, I see in everything how god-fearing you are; 

Act 17:23  for passing through and looking up at the objects of your worship, I also found an altar on which had been written, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Not knowing, then, whom you worship, I make Him known to you. 

Act 17:24  The God who made the world and all things in it, this One being Lord of Heaven and of earth, does not dwell in handmade temples, 

Act 17:25  nor is served by hands of men, as having need of anything. For He is giving life and breath and all things to all. 

Act 17:26  And He made every nation of men of one blood, to live on all the face of the earth, ordaining fore-appointed seasons and boundaries of their dwelling, 

Act 17:27  to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and might find Him, though indeed He not being far from each one of us. 

Act 17:28  For in Him we live and move and exist, as also some of the poets among you have said, For we are also His offspring. 

Act 17:29  Then being offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone, engraved by art and the imagination of man. 

Act 17:30  Truly, then, God overlooking the times of ignorance, now strictly commands all men everywhere to repent, 

Act 17:31  because He set a day in which "He is going to judge the habitable world in righteousness," by a Man whom He appointed; having given proof to all by raising Him from the dead. Psa. 9:8 

Act 17:32  And hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some indeed ridiculed, but said, We will hear you again concerning this. 

Act 17:33  And so Paul went out from their midst. 

Act 17:34  But some men believed, joining themselves to him, among whom also were both Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. 

ACTS CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JEALOUSY, REJECTION, ACCEPTANCE AND THE “GREAT” AUDIENCE

Verses 1-9: Paul and Silas head to Thessalonia. They teach in the synagogue and the gospel converts many people. Some of the Jews become jealous and stir up a mob. They go to the house of Jason supposing they are there to give over to the mob. Paul and Sials are not there. They pull Jason and some others out and drag them to court. They claim that they are disrupting the laws of Caesar, claiming that Jesus is king. The judges take a surety from them and release them.s

1. From verse four, who was being persuaded? Some of the Jews, Gentiles and leading women.

   a. What does this say about the position some women held in society? These are "chief" citizens. They apparently held a measure of political sway.

2. Describe the actions of the “jealous” Jews. Their intent was fairly typical based on similar actions in other cities. Find anyone easily swayed by false narratives. Whip up violent dissent. Then go after your opponent. Not finding their objectives, they sought to discredit anyone else associated with them.

   a. Did Jason stand firm? Ultimately unknown, but I like to think yes. We do not see him denouncing Christianity. He pays the fine and goes on with his life. Moving forward, he might need to stay out of the synagogue.

Verses 10-15: The brothers head to Berea. The Bereans studies the scriptures and many were converted. Rebel rousers in Thessalonia hear of this and come to Berea to stir up the crowds against Paul. He goes off to Athens, eventually calling for Silas and Timothy.

3. How were the Bereans different from the Thessalonians? They studied the scriptures Paul used to convey the gospel.

4. Berea and Thessalonica are about fifty miles apart. Considering the modes of transportation during this time, how powerful was the jealousy in these men’s lives? That was a 2-3 day walking journey (one way). This took a week out of their lives at minimum. These had to be people of means. Seeing their traditions and power of influence change or removed was too much to bear. Their anger clouded their judgement. 

   a. How can a person’s emotions take over their actions? In this instance, pride and a lack of an open mind drove action. In this day, these were the "conservatives." They had become too comfortable in their estimation of their own "righteousness." The term "stiffnecked" is used extensively throughout the old testament. Stephen uses it to accuse his murderers. The term simply illustrates an unwillingness to look at and consider other things we do not agree with, with an open mind. Growing a firm faith is imperative for all Christians. That does not mean that if someone teaches something from the scriptures we do not agree with that we summarily reject it (unless it is obviously false). At the same time, we should grow our faith so as not to be "blown about with every doctrine."
Conservatism is good if what is being conserved is good.  

Verses 16-21: Paul is in Athens and he is disturbed by all the idolatry. He begins evangelizing in the synagogue and in the market place. Many of the elite philosophers hear the word and are disturbed by it. They take Paul to the Areopagus and ask him to expound.

5. Athens was a center for wealth, culture, knowledge, wisdom, and idolatry. What did all this “provoke” Paul to do? Evangelize, to whomever was near enough to hear it.

6. Why were these people interested in Paul? The gospel was something new to them. Many of these citizens had ample leisure time to speak and debate concerning philosophical/religious matters. The gospel startled them. They simply had never heard anything like it. For many, if this was going to be the next big "thing" they wanted to be at the forefront.

Verses 22-34: Paul preaches in the Areopagus. He baits them with their own idolatry and assigns Jehovah God to their "unknown" god-idol. He then tells them to repent since God has been revealed to them. He tells of judgment coming from the risen son. At that point they scoff and Paul leaves. Some of the crowd is convinced. 

7. Paul’s audience was made up of some well respected, influential citizens. If any of them were won over to the gospel, it would be a great victory. Why? Some of these people were cultural and by influence, political leaders. 

   a. Is it any less of a victory when “ordinary” folks are won over to Christ? No. It may well be that ONLY ordinary folk were won over in this case. If you are influential in one thing, changing that one thing may damage your reputation or reach. It is somewhat apparent that the topic of resurrection was a doubtful topic to these influencers. 

   b. How does Paul approach these people? He petitions their weakness, idolatry. What is even more fascinating is that they might believe in all the idol mumbo-jumbo, but balk at the thought that Jesus died and rose victorious over that death.

   c. Does Paul make God part of the many gods? (24) No. It starts to look that way, but ultimately he makes Jehovah the only true God. He also tells them to repent. I think that is when he starts to lose much of the audience.

8. Did the gospel work? Yes. This is the bigger overview. Paul likely knew the futility of trying to teach a group "intellectuals." That did not stop him. It was another day at the office for him. He was well practiced by going first to the synagogues, constantly being rejected. He knew the word would have some effect. There would always be a few tender hearts looking for God.

   a. Do you think Paul ever felt intimidated by his audiences? Yes. Paul is normal, extraordinary, but normal.

Additional: From verse six, what does the gospel do and why is it important to remember this? It will turn some people's world upside down. That is why we see all the different reactions to it. Some are looking for it. Others are looking for it, but they don't want the "extreme" parts like repenting or life changes. Repentance simply means to change your mind/thinking.