Acts 17

Acts_17
Sun. 11/30/08

Acts_17
I. Review
A. Paul and Silas had been ministering in Philippi where they were beaten and thrown into prison.
1. In spite of the persecution and suffering through supernatural events they had led the jailer and his household to faith in Christ.
2. The magistrates had sent word to release them the day following the arrest but they confronted the magistrates concerning their unlawful arrest.
a. They finally agreed to go but do so on their own terms, first taking time to visit the believers who were now meeting at the home of Lydia one of the new converts, in order to encourage them.
II. Which brings us to chapter-17 and our text for today, beginning with ministry in Thessalonica.
Acts 17:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
A. Leaving Philippi they traveled through a couple of small towns on their way to Thessalonica.
1. No indication given of ministry by them in the two smaller towns.
2. Paul's pattern was to minister in the larger towns that had a synagogue.
a. And he had the expectation that new believers would evangelize the smaller towns around them.
B. The fact that Paul ministered three weeks in the synagogue is not indicating the length of his stay in Thessalonica.
1. We know he was there long enough to receive financial support from Philippi twice.
Philippians 4:15-16
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

2. He also spent time working in his trade as a tent maker part of the time.
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (NKJV)
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 (NKJV)
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
C. He presented Jesus to them as the Christ (Messiah)
1. The Jews were faced with a dilemma in the scriptures, because they were familiar with passages like Isa. 53 which speaks of a Suffering Messiah and Psalm-2 which speaks of a Reigning Messiah.
a. The only way to reconcile this in their minds was to have two Messiahs.
(1) The Reigning Messiah they referred to as Messiah Ben David, and the Suffering Messiah they referred to as Messiah Ben Joseph…
2. But Paul laid out to them how both sets of prophecy were fulfilled in one Person - Jesus, who suffered when He was crucified on the cross, but rose from the dead to rule and reign forever.
a. The key to opening the scriptures is to focus on the Person of Christ.
D. The result; a few Jews, a multitude of Greeks, and many of the prominent women believed!
1. That is the result of the word being taught!
III. But not all were persuaded; vv-5-9
Acts 17:5-9 (NKJV)
5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 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.
7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.
9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

A. The unbelieving Jews, prompted by envy decided to take action against Paul and Silas.
1. The accusation is that they are acting contrary to Caesar, but the accusation is really only a cover for their envy.
a. Often those who bring accusation, have a deeper reason or undisclosed motive.

2. And they get together some trouble-makers to start a riot, and attack the house so that they might get to Paul and Silas.
a. Not finding Paul and Silas they drag Jason and some of the brethren to the government officials.
(1) Church historians tell us that six million Christians were killed in the first 2.5 centuries for refusing to say "Caesar is Lord"
3. They refer to the Christians as those who have turned the world upside down! Wow what a great testimony…
a. Since the world is upside down to begin with, they are guilty of making it right again.
b. What contrast there is between God's plan and intent, and the ways and values of man!
4. They make a deal with Jason that as long as Paul and Silas leave they won't press charges, so desiring to see Paul and Silas go free they agree to the deal.
IV. On to Berea vv10-15
Acts 17:10-15 (NKJV)
10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were 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.
12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.
14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

A. Paul and Silas rather than being discouraged were ready to go on.
1. And they jumped right back into the pattern of ministry they had established, going right to the synagogue.
B. What an encouragement the Berean's must have been as we consider what vv-11 says.
1. The man or woman who receives the word of God, with a ready mind, that is they embrace it, the welcome it, but they diligently examine and scrutinize it for themselves to see if what has been said or taught concerning it is accurate, are considered of noble mind.
a. We are exhorted by scripture
2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

b. The Berean’s, heard it, they searched it out, and they formed an opinion about it!
c. Look at verse-13 "But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds."
(1) It was the word of God, i.e. what God has said, and that is what they preached and that is what changes lives.
(a) Not the theories and opinions of men.
C. The unbelieving Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul and Silas were in Berea and followed them there and stirred up opposition.
1. The brethren having heard and having received the word of God sent Paul on realizing that it would be better for him to keep moving.
a. But Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
2. Leaving Berea, Paul traveled on to Athens
a. Athens was the intellectual capital of the world.
(1) It was the city of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates.
b. When Paul arrived in Athens, Paul immediately sent word back for Silas and Timothy to join him as quickly as possible.
V. Athens
Acts 17:16-21 (NKJV)
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?
20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”
21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
A. As Paul waited his heart was greatly stirred for this incredible city, so full of the wisdom of men, but so devoid of God's truth.
1. Here in this intellectual center of the world there were over 3000 altars and temples built to different deities.
a. Temple to Aphrodite, abounding with prostitutes, man's attempt to justify sexual promiscuity.
b. Temple to Zeus, for the "make my day mentality" for those into savagery.
c. The temple to Bacchus for those into alcohol.
2. Paul's heart was stirred but he didn't jump up and form committees or political protest groups against idolatry.
a. Instead verse-17 tells us that he began to dialogue (reason), discuss, and dispute, in the churches and on the street (market place) with those in the city who were gripped by idolatry.
3. As he does this the Epicureans and the Stoics get involved.
a. Epicureans - philosophers who taught that man ought to live for pleasure.
b. Stoics - those who taught a disciplined lifestyle, avoiding anything, emotional, sensual, or material.
(1) Enjoy life or Endure life.
c. Neither group believed in eternal life, so talk of the resurrection caught the interest of both groups.
B. They took him to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where the philosophers and the council of education (which sort stood watch over new teachings) could hear him.
1. The smartest men in the world had the understanding that religion and education could not be separated, how far we have drifted from that idea today.
C. The Athenian's were caught up in the endless analysis of new truth.
1. It has been said that "if it's true it's not new" and if it's new, it's not true". It is not some new novel truth we need but a return to the old truths, which have been with us from the beginning.
a. As we look in scripture we find that we have all the truth we need, and we would do well to learn as much of it as possible.
D.
Acts 17:22-34 (NKJV)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
1. Paul seized upon his observation of their culture and used it as a launching pad to present the truth.
a. He speaks of
God's greatness(vv24),
God's goodness (vv25),
the government of God (vv26-27),
the glory of God (vv28,29),
and the grace of God (vv30-34).
b. He quotes from two poets popular within intellectual circles, to support his logic.
(1) Quoted from Epimenides, the Cretan poet
(2) The poet Aratus, from Paul's homeland Cilicia:
2. Yet it wasn't a very fruitful endeavor.
a. While some have said this should be the model of a good sermon (great intro, applicable illustrations, and sequential order of thought)
b. Jon Courson believes it is here as an example of failure, in that it lacks mention of the crucifixion, and the name of Jesus.
(1) That Paul was trying to make it culturally relevant instead of preaching Christ and Him crucified and thus it had little impact!
(2) Certainly there is some food for thought in his notion.
VI. All important is what you do with the message of the gospel
A. Just as Paul points out
29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
1. Since we are the created and He is the creator we are not free to worship the work of our hands.
2. And He has overlooked for awhile our ignorance and has suffered long with us.
a. We have had general revelation, but now in hearing the gospel message we have received specific revelation and we are responsible for how we respond to it.
b. What is your response?