Acts 17

Acts 17 details Paul's missionary journeys to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, where he engaged with both Jews and Gentiles. This chapter highlights the diverse reactions to the Gospel, ranging from hostility and rejection to acceptance and belief, showcasing the challenges and triumphs of early Christian evangelism.

Acts 17:1-5 (NKJV)
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went into them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 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.” 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. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and set all the city in an uproar; and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people.

Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica and engage in their customary practice of going to the synagogue to discuss the Scriptures. Over three Sabbaths, Paul articulates that the Messiah was prophesied to suffer and rise again, identifying Jesus as that Messiah. This message convinces many, including influential Greeks and women. However, the Jews who reject the message incite a mob, driven by envy, leading to public disorder and an attack on the residence of a new convert, Jason.

Acts 17:6 (NKJV)
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.”

Unable to locate Paul and Silas, the mob seizes Jason and other Christians, presenting them to the city authorities with accusations of causing upheaval across the Roman world by advocating for a different king, Jesus.

Acts 17:7 (NKJV)
Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”

The accusers charge Jason with hosting Paul and Silas, claiming that their group promotes allegiance to Jesus, positioning Him in opposition to Caesar, which could be seen as a political and social rebellion against Roman authority.

Acts 17:8-9 (NKJV)
And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

The allegations stir anxiety among the city officials and the populace, leading to a demand for a bond from Jason and the others as assurance against further disturbances. This payment secures their release, indicating a temporary resolution to prevent escalation.

Acts 17:10 (NKJV)
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

To ensure their safety and continue their missionary work, Paul and Silas are sent under cover of night to Berea. Upon arrival, they again enter the synagogue, demonstrating their strategy of first reaching out to the Jewish community in each city.

Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
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.

The Bereans are depicted as more open and noble than the Thessalonians because they enthusiastically embraced the Gospel while diligently verifying Paul’s teachings against the Hebrew Scriptures. This approach highlights their commitment to discerning truth.

Acts 17:12 (NKJV)
Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

This earnest investigation leads to belief among many Jews and Greeks in Berea, including notable women and men, indicating a significant and diverse group of new converts.

Acts 17:13 (NKJV)
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.

The hostile Jews from Thessalonica, unwilling to let the spread of Christianity go unchallenged, travel to Berea to agitate and incite the local population against Paul, mirroring their previous disruptions.

Acts 17:14-15 (NKJV)
Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 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.

Concerns for Paul's safety lead to his quick departure from Berea, escorted to the coast while Silas and Timothy stay behind, possibly to continue nurturing the new believers. Paul is then sent ahead to Athens, where he calls for Silas and Timothy to join him urgently, indicating the importance of their partnership in his ministry.

Acts 17:16 (NKJV)
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.

In Athens, Paul is deeply troubled by the widespread idolatry, reflecting his concern for the spiritual well-being of the city's inhabitants, showcasing his constant zeal for God's truth amidst pervasive pagan practices.

Acts 17:17 (NKJV)
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.

Paul engages various audiences in Athens, including Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue and a broader public in the bustling marketplace, reflecting his adaptability and commitment to evangelism.

Acts 17:18 (NKJV)
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.

Paul's teachings draw the attention of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who debate with him, some dismissively labeling him a "babbler." Their curiosity is piqued because they interpret his message about Jesus and the resurrection as the introduction of new deities.

Acts 17:19-21 (NKJV)
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 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.

Paul is brought to the Areopagus, a prominent cultural and intellectual hub, where he is asked to clarify his teachings. This reflects the Athenians' intense curiosity and their cultural penchant for discussing and evaluating new ideas.

Acts 17:22-23 (NKJV)
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I passed by and observed the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you.”

Paul begins his discourse by acknowledging the Athenians' religiousness, using their altar to an unknown god as a starting point to introduce them to the true God, whom they unknowingly worship, thus connecting their existing beliefs with the Gospel.

Acts 17:24-25 (NKJV)
“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. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.”

Paul teaches about the sovereignty and self-sufficiency of God, contrasting the Creator of all with the localized, anthropomorphic gods of Greek religion, emphasizing that the true God is not confined to temples or reliant on human actions.

Acts 17:26-27 (NKJV)
“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, 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;”

Paul explains God's creation of all humanity from one source and His orchestration of their histories and geographies to encourage a universal search for Him, emphasizing His closeness and accessibility to all people.

Acts 17:28 (NKJV)
“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.’”

Citing local cultural elements, Paul references a saying by Greek poets to connect the Athenians' own intellectual heritage with the theological reality that all life and existence derive from God, fostering a relatable foundation for his message.

Acts 17:29-31 (NKJV)
“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. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 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.”

Paul urges a reevaluation of their idolatrous practices, highlighting the illogical nature of crafting divine representations from inert materials. He introduces a universal call to repentance, pointing to a future judgment by Jesus, validated by His resurrection, thus presenting a critical shift from ignorance to accountability.

Acts 17:32-34 (NKJV)
When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a member of the council, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

The Athenian response is mixed; some mock the concept of resurrection, others remain intrigued, and a few, including notable individuals like Dionysius and Damaris, become converts. This varied reception underscores the challenging yet fruitful nature of spreading the Gospel in diverse cultural contexts.