Sermon Tone Analysis

Public Reading of Scripture

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)

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)

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 —

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.