Acts 17:1-15 | "Power in Eagerness"

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Sunday, January 26, 2020. How do you know who or what to believe when it concerns the things of God? Should you simply believe whatever the preacher says? Acts 17 uses numerous words to describe Paul's method of proclaiming Jesus. But the real lesson is for us as hearers. The Holy Spirit ushers us into the truth about Christ as we eagerly examine the word of God.

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Public Reading of Scripture

Acts 17:11–12 ESV

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

Pray

Introduction to Theme

In Acts 17, we have before us two examples of how the message of truth is not only perceived, but how it is also received.

It is a text that forces us to ask questions about our own willingness and our own eagerness to know the truth.

And not just the truth, but specifically, the truth about God. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

As you listen to the words that come out of my mouth this morning, should you believe the message that I am proclaiming to you is the truth?

Why should you believe my message? Should you take my word for it? Because of who I am?

If what I am saying is the truth, how will you know it? And does the knowledge and necessity of the truth matter to you?

Are you listening in order to be persuaded? Or are you seeking to believe?

Introduction to Text

After Paul, Silas and Timothy have been released from a Philippian jail in Acts 16, where they had been falsely imprisoned, they continue their journey through Macedonia.

Macedonia was a region toward the West, where they had concluded — through a process of failed attempts to go elsewhere, frustrations and ultimately a vision in the night — that it was the place where the Spirit of God wanted them to go to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They have already witnessed some victories.

The Lord opened the heart of Lydia to pay attention to Paul’s message (Acts 16:14).

Lydia believed and was baptized along with her household (Acts 16:15).

A slave girl who had a spirit of divination (or fortune-telling) was set free from that spirit in the name of Jesus Christ at the command of Paul.

But then their mission trip faces turbulence once again —

Because that same act that brought that slave girl freedom from that evil spirit caused Paul, Silas and Timothy to be bound.

They were seized, dragged before the city officials and beaten — inflicted with many blows of the rod. They were thrown into prison and their feet fastened with stocks. In ridding the slave girl of her demonic spirit, they had deprived the owners of the slave girl “much gain” and were accused of “disturbing the city” in defiance of Roman customs.

What appeared to be punishment for following God’s ways is revealed once again to be God’s positioning them to be at the right place at the right time.

For there in a prison, Paul, Silas and Timothy do not forsake God, but worship God even at midnight, and sing hymns so that the other prisoners listen to them.

Their feet are bound but their tongues remain loosed. As long as they are able to speak, they can continue to be a witness for Jesus, even in the dark depths of prison.

And through a series of events, that involve an earthquake and freeing of their chains, they choose to remain bound so that the jailer might be made free.

Because of their witness for Jesus, a jailer is saved and his entire household believes in God.

These victories do not come cheaply.

The gospel does not advance without cost.

The very message of the Gospel is a message about Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, with God, taking on human flesh, suffering and dying so that he might win victory over sin and death by rising from the dead so that he might free us also by his own sacrifice and blood, and give us eternal life in His name.

If our salvation in Jesus came at such a cost, should we think that proclaiming it won’t cost us too?

I. Acts 17:1-10a

A. Thessalonica & Synagogue of the Jews (Acts 17:1)

Acts 17:1 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

As is Paul’s strategy, he travels to Thessalonica which is the largest port city in Macedonia.

For him it is a strategic city. And he finds in Thessalonica a synagogue of the Jews.

Ten men were required for a synagogue to be established. Synagogues were a natural place to find gathered people interested in the things of God.

Synagogues often had their own scrolls containing what we know as the Old Testament scriptures. (NET).

1. The Word of God Proclaimed in the Synagogue (Acts 17:2-3)

Acts 17:2–3 ESV

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

This was Paul’s message and his method for delivering it.

He begins with the Jews, because he can build upon what they already know.

And the full meaning of the Old Testament is realized in Jesus Christ and he shows them this (RHG, 413-414).

First, he “reasoned with them” (v.2).

That’s the word διαλέγομαι. He dialogued with them.

It could be that they asked questions and he responded, or that he spoke in such a formal way that anticipated their thoughts and drew them into his conversation.

But notice what his basis for dialogue was: (v.2) “he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

He began with what they had. He began with God’s word.

Illustration: Washington D.C., Museum of the Bible, replica of a synagogue. A cupboard, where the scrolls of Scripture would be brought out and read during the synagogue services.

What are the Scriptures? In Paul’s day the Scriptures were the Old Testament - Moses, the Prophets, the Psalms and writings. In our day the Scriptures include also the New Testament.

Paul will later write to Timothy and say —

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The necessary equipping for ministry and mission is God’s holy word.

After reasoning with them, “dialoguing” from the Scriptures, verse 3 says Paul also went on:

Acts 17:3 ESV

3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

The word “explaining” means to “open something that has been previously hidden or obscure” (LN). To interpret.

Paul is connecting the dots for them that they previously had not connected.

And he’s “proving” that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.

He’s presenting evidence for this, from the Scriptures.

It is a strong claim for Paul to say anything was “necessary.” As we’ve seen this word used in Acts it’s a strong word. It is not optional.

And this is what was difficult for the Jews to understand: Why is it that the Christ, the anointed one of God, would have to suffer and die?

How could someone who was crucified possibly be the Messiah? (Int. Hglights). This didn’t make sense, because they didn’t understand the scriptures.

What about you? Does that word “necessary” grab your attention?

Do you know why it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead?

Do you know why Paul and Silas and Timothy and countless others throughout history have been willing to suffer and give up their own lives to proclaim the message of Jesus?

As Paul will write so clearly to the Corinthians later:

1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

It was necessary for Christ to die because of sin — Sin that is recorded in the Scriptures as early as Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve thought they knew better than God and disobeyed His word that was meant to be the source of their life!

And sin demands a price. For Adam and Eve it was the life of an animal and the promise of a coming Savior.

As Paul will write later to the Romans:

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our sin against God, our lawlessness does not come with an optional penalty.

Our sin demands and requires and necessitates the holy and righteous judgment of God, and wrath of God.

Our sin demands death, because it stands in opposition to the God of life.

Our forgiveness requires the exchange of an innocent life in our place because in sin we are dead. And that forgiveness was bought by the blood of Jesus that was poured out for us on the cross for our sin, according to the Scriptures.

Do you think that there was an option when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before his death:

Matthew 26:39 ESV

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Paul proclaimed in the synagogues (v.3):

"it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.”

Paul explained this, and by proving this from the Scriptures Paul shows how the Scriptures themselves reveal God’s plan and are in fact God’s word.

And Paul summed all of his message up in Jesus — saying:

“This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” (Acts 17:3).

Every sermon, every teaching, every act of worship is summed up in the same way — in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to God! Jesus is the only way to life and eternal life!

B. Response to the Word of God (Acts 17:4)

Acts 17:4 ESV

4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

These in Thessalonica did not discover the truth themselves, but they were convinced of the truth— they were persuaded to follow Jesus joining with Paul and Silas.

This preaching of Jesus was not only for the Jews, but the “God-fearing” Greeks and quite a few of the leading women were persuaded as well.

These “leading women” had influence. They were upper-class women who could enjoy a higher status in the synagogue than what they could in society. (Keener, IVP Background).

Luke does not neglect to mention the women throughout Luke and Acts.

The women obviously had an important role in the faith in the early church, as women continue to do in the church today.

The role of women in the church is hotly debated, but here Luke draws attention to their conversion and their importance.

C. Opposition of the Jews (Acts 17:5-9)

Acts 17:5 ESV

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

This jealousy has at its root the word for “zeal.” But here it is an overcoming zeal that manifests itself in resentment and envy.

So in their jealousy they go to the marketplace and find men who are “of the rabble.”

This means they are “loafers” and “bums” (LN). They make a habit of being idle. They have nothing to do. As such, they are dangerous men.

And these men are described as being “wicked.” That word “wicked” could also be translated as “worthless.”

They were worthless men that find usefulness in one task — forming a mob, and setting the city in an uproar.

They attack the house of Jason, the one who has shown hospitality to Paul and his co-laborers, searching for the missionaries.

Acts 17:6–7 ESV

6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

That word “shouting” may also be translated “screaming” if that helps you visualize what they were doing. And this charge of “turning the world upside down” is not a positive thing.

As Christians some have leveraged this phrase as a mission statement - to “turn the world upside down.”

But it is a word that means to “stir up trouble.” “To cause people to rebel against or reject authority. To incite a revolt.” (LN).

That is nothing like who we are as Christians.

Christians are people who understand authority and are taught by God to respect the authorities that God has put in place. Not to be known as troublemakers or those who incite revolts.

While the charges by the mob against Paul and his co-laborers are false, one truth was understood clearly.

At the end of v.7, they report Paul’s teaching to be: “There is another king, Jesus.”

That’s a good word for somebody who has for too long been bowing down, worshiping and obeying your own kings. The gospel proclamation is “There is another king — Jesus.” Jesus is the King of Kings!

Acts 17:8–9 ESV

8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

So they let Jason and the brothers go on bond.

D. Results of Opposition (Acts 17:10a)

Acts 17:10 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

God uses this opposition as a way of moving Paul about.

Now Paul goes to Berea, about fifty miles southwest of Thessalonica by night (Keener). This is the second movement of this narrative.

II. Acts 17:10b-15

A. Berea & Synagogue of the Jews (Acts 17:10b)

And once in Berea, Paul consistently repeats his same message, using the same method, by going into the Jewish synagogue that was there.

“Insanity” has been defined as doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results. Insanity is not a word that describes Paul’s mission!

For he does the same thing again, but the response in Berea is different.

B. Response to the Word of God (Acts 17:11-12)

Acts 17:11–12 ESV

Here the same people are mentioned — Greeks both men and women, and even women of high standing! Believing!

Because their reception of the word of God is different.

Of the Berean’s, it is not said that they were persuaded (as in Thessalonica). Of the Berean’s, it is said they believed.

How we approach God’s word matters. If we approach God’s word skeptically, we are looking to be persuaded.

If we approach God’s word seekingly, then we are looking to believe.

Are you looking to be persuaded? Or are you looking to believe? The end result may be the same, but those who believe take ownership of their convictions more quickly!

These Jews in Berea were “more noble” than those in Thessalonica.

This is a word that means “open-minded.” They had “a willingness to learn and evaluate something fairly” (LN).

And they accepted the message (v.11) with all eagerness. They desired the message about Jesus! They desired the truth!

The attitude with which we approach God’s word matters.

The Bereans “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11). To see if what Paul was teaching was the truth.

As you listen to the words that come out of my mouth this morning, should you believe the message that I am proclaiming to you is the truth?

You should, if what I am proclaiming is found in Scripture.

How will you know that?

Search the Scriptures yourself!

(Hear how often I say … “read with me in this verse…or notice in this verse….” I’m directing you to the scripture for you to see for yourself and believe!)

This is why everything we do as a church will be rooted in the word of God and summed up in Jesus Christ!

As a result of the Bereans’ careful study, evaluating and examining the Scriptures, they became owners of what the Scriptures taught.

Not merely persuaded, but believers themselves.

C. Opposition of the Jews (Acts 17:13)

Acts 17:13 ESV

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

In an interesting twist, “it is the Jews who are disturbing the peace, not the Christians.” (NET).

But such is the case with those who are jealous and zealously so — they don’t stop with their opposition and seek to undermine the truth even if it means spreading lies.

D. Results of Opposition (Acts 17:14-15)

Acts 17:14–15 ESV

14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

Conclusion

Paul would later write to Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

Acts 17 is profitable for teaching and training us that power in gospel proclamation will always include God’s word - the scripture.

The Scriptures tell us not only about who God is, but also who we truly are - as people who have sinned against God and are in need of a Savior.

And the Scriptures, Old and New, point to Jesus as the only Savior.

In Acts 17 forces us to ask questions about our own willingness and our own eagerness to know the truth.

Proposition

The Holy Spirit ushers us into the truth about Christ as we eagerly examine the word of God to believe rather than waiting to be persuaded by it.

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