17:11How do you evaluate sermons and teachings? The people in Berea searched the Scriptures for themselves to verify the message they heard. Always compare what you hear with what the Bible says. A preacher or teacher who gives God's true message will never contradict or explain away anything that is found in God’s Word.
Life Application Study BibleActsChapter 17
Acts 17
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866
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17Acts 17
Paul Preaches in Thessalonica
117 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul's custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I'm telling you about is the Messiah.” 4Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.* SBut some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.* 5Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers* instead and took them before the city council. 6Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.” 8The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.
Ephesians.Colossians
Paul and Silas in Berea
1010That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 'tAnd the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. 13But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. 14The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.
Paul Preaches in Athens
1616While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. 18He also hada debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What's this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” 19Then they took him to the high council of the city.* “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20“ You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it's all about.” 21(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) 22So Paul, standing before the council,* addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. 24“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is LORD of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25and human hands can't serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26From one man* he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your* own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. 30“God overlooked people's ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. $'For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” 32When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “ We want to hear more about this later.” $3 That ended Paul's discussion with them, 34but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council,* a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Textual footnotes
- brothers; also in 17:10, 14.
- rendered standing in the middle of Mars Hill; Greek reads standing in the middle of the Areopagus.
- 17:4 Some manuscripts read quite a few of the wives of the leading men.
- 17:5 Or the city council.
- 17:6 Greek
- 17:19 Or the most learned society of philosophers in the city. Greek reads the Areopagus.
- 17:22 Traditionally
- 17:26 Greek From one; other manuscripts read From one blood.
- 17:28 Some manuscripts read our.
- 17:34 Greek an Areopagite, 18:1 Athens and Corinth were major cities in Achaia, the region in the southern portion
Life Application Notes 10 notes
17:16Athens, with its magnificent buildings and many gods, was a center for Greek culture, philosophy. and education. Philosophers and educated men were always ready to hear something new, so they invited Pau! to speak to them at the meeting of the high council of the city (17:18, 19).
17:16Paul was “troubied by ail the idols he saw everywhere in the city.” The word translated “troubled” is the Greek word “paroxysm,” meaning “sudden, violent emotion.” Paul was filled with a combination of anger and grief. Seeing people spiritually lost, blinded by Satan, and trapped in a pagan culture caused Paul to be in a state of emotional upheaval. Though highly educated, the Athenians were ignorant of the one true God. It’s interesting to note that Paul turned his internal turmoil into positive action: he looked for opportunities to share the truth about Jesus. Does the lostness of people move you to action? And if so, do you seek opportunities to share the gospel?
17:18The Epicureans and Stoics were the dominant philosophers in Greek culture. The Epicureans believed that seexing happiness or pleasure was the primary goal of life. By contrast, the Stoics placed thinking above feeling and tried to live in harmony with nature and reason, suppressing their desire for pleasure. Thus, they were very disciplined.
17:19For a time the council met on a low hilt in Athens near the Acropolis. As Paul stood there and spoke about the one true God, his audience could look down on the city and see the many idols representing gods that Paul knew were worthless.
17:22ffPaul's address is a good example of how to communicate the Good News. Paul did not begin by reciting Jewish history, as he usually did, for this would have been meaningless to his Greek audience. He began by building a case for the one true God, using examples they understood (17:22, 23). The Athenians had built an ida! to the unknown god for fear of missing blessings or receiving punishment. Paul’s opening statement to the men of Athens was about their unknown god. Paul was not endorsing this god but using the inscription as a point of entry for his witness to the one true God. Then he established common ground by emphasizing what they agreed on about God (17:24-29). Finally, he moved his message to the person of Christ, centering on the Resurrection (17:30, 31). When you witness to others, you can follow Paul’s approach: Use examples, establish common ground, and then move people toward a decision about Jesus Christ.
17:23Paul explained the one true God to these educated men of Athens; although these men were, in general, very religious, they did not know God. Today we have a “Christian” society, but to most people, God is still unknown. We need to proclaim who he is and make clear what he did for everyone through his Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot assume that even religious people around us truly know Jesus or understand the importance of faith in him.
17:27,28God is in his creation and ciose to every one of us. But he is not trapped in his creation—he is transcendent. God is the Creator, not the creation. This means that God is sovereign and in control, while at the same time he is close and personal. Let the Creator of the universe rule your life.
17:30,31Paul did not leave his message unfinished. He confronted his listeners with Jesus’ resurrection and its meaning to all people—either biessing or punishment. The Greeks had no concept of judgment. Most of them preferred worshiping many gods instead of just one, and the concept of resurrection was unbelievable and offensive to them. Paul did not hold back the truth, however, no matter what they might think of it. Paul often changed his approach to fit his audience, but he never changed his basic message.
17:32-34Paul's speech received a mixed reaction: Some laughed, some wanted more information, and a few believed. Don’t hesitate to tell others about Christ because you fear that some will not believe you. Don’t expect a unanimously positive response to your witnessing. Even if only a few believe, it’s worth the effort.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 1863
ActS........65 66/68 2Peter........ 66/68 2Timothy...... 66/67 Hebrews....... 68/70 John.......0-- 85 41,2,3John.... 85/90 Revelation.....
Philemon......
Philippians.....
Matthew.......
THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: WHEN WERE THEY WRITTEN? Dates are approximate.
the heat for all the problems. Jason is just one of many “unsung heroes” who faithfully played their part to help spread the Good News. Because of Jason’s courage, Paul and Silas were able to minister more effectively. You may not receive much attention (in fact, you may receive only grief) for your service for Christ. But God wants to use you. Lives will be changed because of your courage and faithfulness. 47:6 What a reputation these early Christians had! The power of the Good News revolutionized lives, broke down all social barriers, threw open prison doors, caused people to care deeply for one another, and stirred them to worship God. Our world needs to be turned upside down, to be transformed. The Good News doesn't merely improve programs and encourage good conduct; it dynamically transforms lives. Take courage and ask God how you can help spread his Good News throughout your world. 17:7 The Jewish leaders had to concoct charges against Paul and Silas that would be heard by the city government. The Romans did not care about theological disagreements between the Jews and these preachers. Treason, however, was a serious offense in the Roman Empire. Paul and Silas were not advocating rebellion against Roman law, but their loyalty to another king sounded suspicious. 17:8, 9 Jason posted bond—putting up cash for freedom. By doing so, he promised that the trouble would cease or his own property and possibly his own life would be taken.
authorities were alarmed because it was illegal to whip a Roman citizen. In addition, every citizen had the right to a fair trial, which Paul and Silas had not been given. 17:1 Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. This is the first city Paul visited where his teachings attracted a large group of socially prominent citizens. The church he planted grew quickly, but from A.D. 50 to 54, Paul was forced out of the city by a mob (17:5, 6, 10). He later sent Timothy back to Thessatonica to see how the Christians were doing. Soon afterward, Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonian believers (1 and 2 Thessalonians), encouraging them to remain faithful and to refuse to listen to false teachers who tried to refute their beliefs. 17:1, 2 Asynagogue, a group of Jews who gathered for teaching and prayer, could be established wherever 10 Jewish males lived. Paul's regular practice was to preach in synagogues as long as the Jews allowed it. Often those who weren’t Jews would come to these services and hear Paul’s preaching. For a description of @ synagogue service, see the note on 13:14, 15. 17:2, 3 When Paul spoke in the synagogues, he wisely began by talking about Old Testament writings and explaining how the Messiah fulfilled them, moving from the known to the unknown. This is a good strategy for us. When we witness for Chcist, we should begin where people are, affirming the truth they do know, and then we can present Christ, the one who is truth. 17:5 The Jewish leaders didn’t try to refute the theology of Paul and Silas, but they were jealous of the popularity of these itinerant Preachers. Their motives for causing the riot were rooted in personal jealousy, not doctrinal purity. 17:6 We don’t know much about Jason except that he evidently was the local host and sponsor of Paul and Silas; thus, he took
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Personality profile · page 1865
One of the essential qualities of a good doctor is compassion. People need to know that their doctor cares. Even if he or she doesn’t know what is wrong or isn’t sure what to do, real concern is always a doctor’s good medicine. Doctor Luke was a person of compassion. Although we know few facts of his life, Luke has left us a strong impression of himself by what he wrote. In his Gospel, he emphasizes Jesus Christ's compassion. He vividly recorded both the power demonstrated by Christ’s life and the care with which Christ treated people. Luke highlighted the relationships Jesus had with women. His writing in Acts is full of sharp verbal pictures of real people caught up in the greatest events of history. Luke was also a doctor. He had a traveling medical practice as Paul’s companion. Since the gospel was often welcomed with whips and stones, the doctor was undoubtedly seldom without patients. It is even possible that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was some kind of physical ailment that needed Luke’s regular attention (see 2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul deeply appreciated Luke’s skills and faithfulness. God also made special use of Luke as the historian of the early church. Repeatedly, the details of Luke’s descriptions have been proven accurate. The first words in his Gospel indicate his interest in the truth. Luke’s compassion reflected his LORD’s. Luke’s skill as a doctor helped Paul. His passion for the facts as he recorded the life of Christ, the spread of the early church, and the lives of Christianity’s missionaries gives us dependable sources for the basis of our faith. He accomplished all this while staying out of the spotlight. Perhaps his greatest example is the challenge to greatness even when we are not the center of attention.
• A humble, faithful, and useful companion of Paul
• A well-educated and trained physician
• A careful and exact historian
• Writer of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts
Strengths and accomplishments
• The words we leave behind will be a lasting picture of who we are
• Even the most successful person needs the personal care of others
• Excellence is shown by how we work when no one is noticing
Lessons from his life
Vital statistics
• Where: Probably met Paul in Troas
• Occupations: Doctor, historian, traveling companion
• Contemporaries: Paul, Timothy, Silas, Peter
“Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught” (Luke 1:1-4).
Key verses
Luke includes himself in the we sections of Acts 16-28. He is also mentioned in Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1; Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 1:24.
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Study feature · page 1866
MINISTRY IN CORINTH AND EPHESUS Paul left Athens and traveled on to Corinth, one of the greatest commercial centers of the empire, located on a narrow neck of land offering direct passage between the Aegean and Adriatic seas. When Paul left from the port of Corinth at Cenchrea, he visited Ephesus. He then traveled to Caesarea, from where he went on to Jerusalem to report on his trip before returning to Antioch.