Acts 17:1-9 "Turning the World Upside Down"

And, they went to the chief city, Philippi, (now modern day Greece), where they had several encounters with locals on different days as they went to pray.

First, they met Lydia, a seller of purple and she and her household became the first recorded Christians in Europe.

On another day while going to pray, a demon possessed girl shouted, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”

And, she did this for several days until Paul commanded the demon to come out of her.

And, while this was a victory over the demonic… not all the people in Philippi rejoiced.

This girl was a slave, and her masters made much profit over the fortune-telling ability this girl had while demon-possessed.

Now that their hope of profit was gone… the slave masters laid hold of Paul and Silas and brought them before the authorities in Philippi.

Which led to accusations, and Paul and Silas being beaten with rods… then imprisoned and their feet fastened in the stocks.

How quick life circumstances can change?

They were just going to pray, and now all this.

But, God used this bad circumstance for good…

While imprisoned, Paul and Silas had a great attitude… they prayed and sang hymns to God, and all the other prisoners listened.

A great model for how we should act when life throws us a curve.

Suddenly, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison… and all the doors and chains were loosed.

Seeing this, the jailer was about to kill himself instead of suffering penalties for neglect of duty, but…

Paul stopped him, and the jailer was broken before the Lord crying out for salvation. And, he and his whole household heard the gospel and believed.

The following day, Paul let it be known that he and Silas’ rights as Romans were violated and the authorities apologized and released them.

And, before departing, Paul again encouraged the household of Lydia… which brings us to Chapter 17…

Where Paul’s party leaves Philippi and travels to Thessalonica… and, once again, their preaching stirs up a mob.

Our message today is “Turning the World Upside Down.”

Let’s pray!

Acts 17:1-4 “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 [Jews] were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”

Notice V1 begins “Now when they…” The pronoun has changed from “we” to “they.”

Acts 16:10 was the first time the pronoun “we” was used, and being that Luke is the author of Acts, it’s assumed Luke joined the missionary party in or near Troas.

And, he travelled with them as far as Philippi, but now his time with them has come to an end… at least for now.

We will see Luke again at Philippi where he again joins Paul in Acts 20:5 and travels with him to Jerusalem.

And, then a final time in Acts 27:1 from Caesarea to Rome.

It is interesting that… as Luke departs from the missionary party… we read of no hard feelings from Paul… a contrast to the time John Mark departed on the first missionary journey and returned to Jerusalem in Acts 13:13.

When John Mark departed, Paul was quite upset… and there’s a possibility Paul was being too rigid against John Mark.

Chuck Smith used to say, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall bend and not be broken.”

So, maybe when Luke departed… Paul lightened up a bit, and exercised more grace.

Another possibility why Luke seems to depart with no hard feelings is maybe there was a different level of commitment made by Luke versus John Mark.

In Acts 15, as Paul and Barnabas planned the Second Missionary Journey, Paul insisted they NOT take John Mark.

A sharp contention over John Mark caused Paul and Barnabas to go their separate ways.

It seems Paul had an expectation that John Mark should have stayed the whole journey,… and expectation Paul doesn’t seem to have for Luke.

Maybe Dr. Luke was just along for a short-term journey? Maybe his time with them was an unexpected surprise… a blessing of fellowship and laboring… or maybe just to watch over Paul as he was recovering from a suspected illness.

Whatever the case… certainly there are times and seasons of life. Times to go… times to stay.

Pay attention to how God opens and closes doors, and wait on Him as you discern His will…

One last application before moving on… we don’t have the complete picture why John Mark left, but if he did depart prematurely… and broke a commitment… that’s a lesson for us on what NOT to do.

1 Cor 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

If John Mark was called to be a long-term missionary, but cut the journey short… this was a failure in faithfulness.

But later, he was certainly found faithful. And, keep this in mind if you’ve ever messed up.

Has anyone ever messed up out there? Three of you…? well for you three…

Keep in mind… John Mark was not discarded as useless. Even though Paul was done with him for a season…

God was NOT done with him… Mark would pen the Gospel of Mark… and he and Paul would later be reconciled.

Well… that was a lot to say about the word “they”… at this rate we’ll get out of here at dinnertime.

So “they” now being three… Paul, Silas, and Timothy… travelled further Southwest into Macedonia.

Let’s pull up a map of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey… find the red Asterisk for Acts 17.

From Philippi, they pass through the smaller towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and arrive at Thessalonica.

From Philippi to Amphipolis was about 35 miles…

Amphipolis is an ancient city and is still named this today. It’s city name means “around city.”

“Amphi” means “around” and “polis” means “city”, as in a Metropolis… a chief city.

Amphi… as in amphitheatre. Roman amphitheaters (like the Colosseum) had 360 degree seating… like modern football stadiums.

A Greek theater like we will encounter in Ephesus in Acts 18-19 had 180 degree seating…

Now what was around Amphipolis… at least on three sides was the Strymon river… which is a clue to the origin of this town’s name.

Next, the missionaries travel another 30 miles and pass through Apollonia a city name that means “belonging to Apollo”…

The same pagan Greek god we discussed a couple weeks ago who killed Python… the snake. Which we discussed in looking at that word “divination.”

37 more miles down the road… a road that became the famous Via Egnatia… and they arrive at Thessalonica…

And, you say, “Thank you Lord”… because the geography lesson is over. Kind of.

Thessalonica was the present capital of Macedonia and the largest and most prosperous city.

And, Paul will successfully plant a church in this city and would later write his epistles 1 & 2 Thessalonians to the church here.

In V1, It’s not surprising that Paul finds a synagogue of the Jews here.... being this was a larger city.

Synagogue means “a bringing together”… or an “assembly.”

Similar to the word “church” which also means “assembly.”

Unlike Philippi or Lystra… cities without Synagogues… Paul easily found Jews in Thessalonica…

Ten Jewish men are required to form a synagogue… or what Jews call “completing a minyan.”

A minion minyan.

Then Paul, V2… note the words “as his custom was… ”

I’ve said many times that Paul had a pattern of first visiting the Jews and then the Greeks or Gentiles, and this verse is confirmation.

As is the Bible… The OT is largely about the coming Messiah and the anticipation Israel had for their coming Messiah.

So, it makes sense why Jesus focused His ministry on Jews.

When Jesus sent the Twelve Apostles out on their first missions trip, Jesus instructed in Matt 10:5-6 “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

To Israel the promises were given… from Israel the Messiah was born… and to Israel the Gospel would go first. And, then to the Gentiles.

In Rom 1:16 Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”

So, as his custom was Paul enters the synagogue of the Jews.

And, V2 states Paul “for three Sabbaths” went into the Synagogue to preach to the Jews.

This gives us the minimum length of time the missionaries were in Thessalonica… 3 Sabbaths or three weeks of teaching… but the total stay in this city may have been longer.

And, we could just move on from here, but if we turn this stone over… we get a bigger picture of Paul’s life in Thessalonica.

And, I find this rich…

A couple cross references tell us more… in Phil 4:16 we see the church in Philippi (home of Lydia… our seller of purple)… they sent at least two gifts to support Paul while he was in Thessalonica.

Phil 4:16 “For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.”

Even though the authorities of Philippi arrested and beat Paul and Silas unjustly, the church loved them… and would continue to bless and support their necessities… their needs… not their greed's.

They sent at least two gifts… from about 100 miles away / 30 hours/ a 4-6 day journey.

So, two trips could have happened in the three weeks mentioned in V2, but likely… it longer.

Some scholars extend their time in Thessalonica to 6 weeks…

Some say three months… I’ve heard even up to a year, because of the depth of teaching that occured in Thessalonica.

When you read 1 & 2 Thessalonians, you notice that Paul discusses about every Bible doctrine… doctrines he taught them in person and reinforced in his letters.

If he did all that doctrinal teaching in three weeks… that’s impressive.

That would be like one of those block courses I took in Bible College. Like drinking through a fire-hose.

But, most likely, the initial three weeks in the synagogue served as a base for establishing relationships with Jews and God-fearing Gentiles… but the doctrines he taught would stretch out further... beyond three Sabbaths.

Other cross references reveal Paul picked up a trade while in Thessalonica… he was bi-vocational… three weeks seems short to start a job and leave so soon…

If you’re wondering what Paul’s job was… according to Acts 18:3, his trade was “tentmaking” meaning Paul was an artisan who worked with cloth and leather to make tents and possibly other goods.

In 1 Thes 2:9, Paul reminded the Thessalonians how his party labored night and day to not be a financial burden on them.

And, when not working his trade, he was preaching the Gospel of God.

In 2 Thes 3:8-9, Paul reiterated they were self-supporting… “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.”

In context, they set this example because of some believers living disorderly or undisciplined lifestyles… so, as a contrast Paul labored night and day in trade and word… to set an example… so they would cease from living an undisciplined life.

If your life lacks discipline between work and being in the word… perhaps looking back on Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians would be helpful.

This bi-vocational tentmaking gig of Paul’s was not universal, but certainly stood as a witness for certain towns.

Elsewhere he would teach that supporting the teacher of the word was right.

Gal 6:6 “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.”

1 Tim 5:17 “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”

Also 1 Cor 9…Corinth… another town where he was bi-vocational… laboring in work and word.

I know a thing or two about this bi-vocational lifestyle… and look forward to the day when I can labor in word only.

So, in Thessalonica… likely some six weeks to three months…

Paul labored in work… in word… and received gifts from the church in Philippi.

Back in V2… for three Sabbaths, Paul entered the synagogue, and what does Paul do upon entering the Synagogue?

VSS 2-3 states he “… 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.”

Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”

The word “reasoned” means “to say thoroughly” or “to discuss either in an argument or exhortation”… reasoned can also be translated as “preached.”

And, I imagine Paul did all of the above over the three Sabbath synagogue services… he preached thoroughly how Jesus was their Messiah… and had some discussions… probably arguments with those who did not believe… and exhortations or encouragements with those who believed.

And, Paul used scripture as the base of his apologetics… to explain and demonstrate… some versions say he gave “evidence” or “proved” who Jesus was.

Paul only had the OT, which was fine… because the OT has a plethora of verses that point to the Christ.

I love how Matthew wrote to the Jews and 15x in his gospel the word “fulfilled” appears... and Matthew cross references OT prophet… and how their writings were fulfilled by the life of Jesus Christ.

Christ meaning “Anointed One” or “Messiah.”

Over three Sabbaths, Paul opened the OT Scriptures and gave evidence that the Jewish Messiah… their Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead.

The Jews mistakenly awaited Messiah’s second coming as the conquering King… they didn’t understand He first would come as the Suffering Servant to conquer sin, hell, and death.

Jesus had to suffer to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world… to fulfill the Passover… to become the sacrifice that propitiated or satisfied God’s wrath on all unrighteousness.

Jesus had to die to prove all He said was true because NO ONE has ever predicted their death and resurrection three days later… and it was so.

Mohammed is dead. Joseph Smith is dead. Buddha is dead. In Jerusalem, there’s an empty tomb… Jesus is alive!

Only Christianity… as proven by the Resurrection… is true!

The Father accepted His Son’s sacrifice and Jesus was raised from the dead… proving sin was defeated… and death could not hold Him.

Paul could have taken them to a number of OT Scriptures. I imagine the Psalms would be on the list.

Ps 16:10 clearly displays Messiahs resurrection, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.”

Ps 22 written about 1000 years prior to Jesus’ death on a cross… vividly depicts Messiah’s suffering… His death on the cross… and the surrounding events.

Jesus Himself referenced Ps 22:1 from the cross “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me...”…

That was not just a statement by Jesus, but a cross reference to Ps 22 for all who heard Him.

Here are some excerpts from Ps 22…

V6 “A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me.”

Messiah was rejected by His own creation.

V14 “… all my bones are out of joint...”

Hanging from the cross pulls the joints out of their sockets.

V15 “… My tongue clings to My jaws…”

Dehydration. Jesus said, “I thirst.”

V16 “They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones.”

They crucified Him, but did not break one of His bones… not even His legs because no man takes His life… He gave up His ghost much earlier then they expected.

V18 “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

The Roman guards literally did this.

All exactly fulfilled in Jesus’ suffering.

Easily Paul could have reasoned with the Jews from a number of passages that Jesus of Galilee… born in Bethlehem (according to Mic 5:2)… the Jesus Paul preached… He is the Messiah they have been waiting for… He is the Christ.

And, after three Sabbaths of reasoning with them… V4 “some of them” were persuaded… they believed.

“Them” who were persuaded points to Jews when compared to V5 “But the Jews who were not persuaded.”

“Persuaded” by def. “to have confidence” or “to convince.”

So, the synagogue has now become a divided house. Divided over Jesus. Some believe He is their Messiah… others do not.

The hearts of the Jews were hard soil.

In Rom 8 Paul wrote, “… whom He foreknew, He also predestined…” And, “… whom He predestined, these He also called…”

Not all the Jews answered the call of Christ… only some of the Jews.

However, “a great multitude”… many of the “devout Greeks”…Gentile “God fearers” like Cornelius… they believed.

They already were following the monotheistic God of the Jews. One God made more sense than the pantheon of Roman gods. They attended synagogue services… but they were not full Jewish converts… especially because circumcision did not work for them…

Also, “not a few of the leading women”… or many prominent women… women of high standing… likely wives of city officials and principal citizens… many of them joined Paul and Silas… they became Christian converts.

There was a greater openness and response from the Gentiles.

These who could never measure up to the Law.

There was a greater openness and response from the women who, in that society, were treated less than.

If you are here today, and you feel like you can’t measure up and that you are less then… you’re exactly where you need to be to come to Jesus.

He doesn’t require perfection… He wants humility… someone who has come to the end of themselves and are honest enough to admit, “I need you God. I need you in my life because what I’m doing doesn’t work. I can’t save myself.”

In Matt 11:28 Jesus invited you… “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

In John 7:37-38, Jesus cried out for you, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

And, for these Gentiles… for the prominent women… and maybe for you today… on this day, they said, “Yes. Jesus… you are my Lord and Savior.”

Their prominence and money and position and national identity even their religion… none of these saved.

They needed a living Savior. They needed Jesus Christ.

After church service today, if you’ve never prayed that you believe Jesus is the Christ… the Savior… your Savior… tell me… or tell someone… don’t leave here, but humble yourself to say that prayer and be saved today.

Real people in Thessalonica… heard Paul preach in the synagogues… and believed… and started a relationship with the true and living God… with Jesus Christ.

That can be your story on this 18th of Dec… 2022.

After this great harvest of souls saying yes to Jesus… just like it has been for Paul in many cities during his missionary journeys… persecution now comes…

Now that Kingdom impact is happening… here comes persecution…

If you are off the couch and being a doer of the word… not a hearer only… you should expect fiery darts from the enemy…

The person who just sits on their couch… and plays with the lint in their navel… that person is NOT a target for the enemy…

They’re doing exactly what the enemy wants… NOTHING.

But, when you get off the couch, and make and impact for the Kingdom… watch out…

That’s when the fiery darts of the enemy come.

And as Paul was off the couch… look what happens… there’s an assault on his host home… on Jason’s house…

Acts 17:5-9 “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious [motive], took some of the evil men [hoodlums] 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.”

What a world Paul lived in! Can you imagine? His heart is for people to know Jesus… and almost every city he visits… he is persecuted for sharing truth in love.

One English Theologian said, “Wherever St. Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.”

I would suggest that there is only so much tea one can drink. Wouldn’t it be kind of awesome if we caused a riot by preaching Jesus?

The larger danger we face in this society that affords religious freedoms… is complacency.

And, it’s easy for people to pose as Christians because there are no consequences… no persecution.

If you claim Christianity in a persecuted country… you’re serious about Jesus because it’s going to cost you everything.

It’s crazy how these Jews respond…

With a motive of envy over the great multitude of people flocking to Jesus instead of them… they find rabble… worthless men who live idle lives on the streets… and form a mob… stir up the whole city… and attack the home where Paul and his team were staying.

Because that’s a godly response to losing an argument… and losing your following.

This is the exact response we see from hyper-liberal unbelievers today… if you try to reason with them… they just shout… twist words… literally there have been riots on streets in our country when they don’t get their way.

They show the same maturity as this mob here in Acts… there’s nothing new under the sun.

They attack the house of Jason… a man only mentioned here in Acts and once in Romans.

In Romans, Paul call Jason his “countryman” or “kinsman”, so it seems Jason is a Jew… possibly a relative of Paul’s or in the least one of the Jews who was persuaded by Paul at synagogue.

His name means “Healing” or “He that cares.”

We think it would be an honor to host someone like Paul in our home… but in that day there was a risk… and for Jason… more than a risk… there was a cost.

We know this is where Paul’s missionary team was staying because in V7 Jason is accused of “harboring them.”

Harboring by def. means “to receive under one’s roof” or “to receive as a guest.”

Would you receive a fellow Christian or a missionary if you knew there was personal risk?

The way our world is going… this could be a reality.

Would you harbor me? And, my family?

Jason would have, and he did for Paul.

When the mob does not find Paul, Silas, and Timothy… they drag Jason out of his home… and they grab some other Christians… and take them all to the city authorities to lay legal charges against them.

Would you risk facing legal charges to be associated with Jesus?

These were the realities of first century Christianity.

And, it was worth it to so many Christians… they held loosely to all the things of this world… including their very lives… for the sake of eternity with Jesus.

In Phil 3:7-8 Paul wrote, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ...”

Nothing of the world mattered to Paul anymore… all that his former religion had to offer… his position and status in Judaism… it was all like dung… when compared to the life He had in Christ.

Don’t hold tight to the things of this world… which will be stolen or fade in time… don’t even hold tight to your own life for it is a vapor.

The only thing of this lifetime that will stand the crucible of time is the sincere moment you say, “Yes… Jesus you are Lord.”

And, all you do for Him afterwards to build His kingdom.

And, I imagine for Jason… there will be a crown of righteousness awarded to him for what he endured here…

For this terrifying moment of being dragged down the streets by a mob… for begin associated with Christ.

What was he thinking? “Are they going to kill me? Are they going to abuse me? Imprison me? Will the legal charges stand?”

Or, did he just rest in Christ?

Jason indeed would face legal charges.

But, first… a character slight from the mob is presented… V6 “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

This is a similar tactic used by the slave masters in Philippi… Acts 16:20 “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city...”

They play on the national pride of being Roman… and stir up an emotional prejudice against the Jews.

And, they claim Paul’s team… in other cities… turned the world upside down… and now they attempt to do so in Thessalonica.

What they failed to realize was the world was already upside down… and it still is today.

It was first upside down beginning in Gen 3… the fall of man… and it’s never been right side up since.

The world has everything mixed up.

Isa 5:20 depicts this: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

That’s upside down… it’s an attempt to push God out… to rid the world of Biblical principles, so sin can be exercised freely.

God does not approve of this upside down thinking… in Pro 17:15 the Psalmist wrote, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”

It’s wrong to justify sin, but people do it because they love sin.

In Greek there are many words for love... Agapē love has been described as ‘God’s love’ because it is a ‘self-sacrificial love.’

One scholar wrote, “Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.”

In my searching of scriptures, there is only one verse I have found where mankind loves something in an agape way…

That verse is John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

That’s upside down. To love sin more than the Savior? To run from the light of the Lord, because the passing pleasures of sin… because darkness holds a dearer place in one’s heart? That’s upside down.

John further wrote about the world in 1 John 2:15-17 instructing “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

The world packages sin and darkness as alluring… as acceptable… and many fall into it’s snare… many walk the broad road of destruction…

Following a world that is passing away… that will come to an end…

Remember what Paul wrote, “…what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.”

Paul had an eternal mindset.

As you live your life and live in the world… how important is it for you to have an eternal mindset?… to do the will of God and abide forever…

Let it be said of me… and let it be said of you that we are turning the world upside down.

Which is a compliment.

More proper… we are turning the world right side up.

Act in the power of God… abide in His Holy Spirit and His word… and let people see Him in your life… in your words… in your actions… by how you season your speech… by what you do and don’t do… by what you press into, and what you back away from.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5)

That’s how you turn the world right side up.

But, back in Acts… the mob twisted the intentions of Paul and claimed our missionaries were turning the world upside down… and they charge them with treason against Caesar.

In V7… the charge states they act “contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king- Jesus.”

This charge was a threat to Rome… another king besides Caesar could mean a plot to overthrow Caesar…

We have seen this same plot in other cities… it’s a charge against the Pax Romana… the peace of Rome.

As we close, I’m happy to see that Jason and the other Christians are not beaten and imprisoned.

But saddened that financial threats are leveraged against their relationship with the missionaries.

I imagine they are not beaten and imprisoned because the city officials saw through the charges… after all the mob was led by Jews… and Jews hated Rome…

How strange for Jews to protect the law of Caesar?

The officials perhaps saw there was a motive behind the charges, but nevertheless they and the mob… V8 … were still troubled.

Troubled or “stirred up”, “confused”, or “thrown into turmoil.”

But, instead of taking a pound of flesh from Jason and the rest of the Christians they … they “took security” V9.

They made Jason and the other Christians ALL pay a sum of money… like posting bail…

But, if they again harbored Paul… or associated with the team… they would forfeit their money.

So, this was a relational and financial persecution, and this grieved Paul greatly as reflected in 1 Thes 2:17 “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.”

This account in Thessalonica ends with Jason and the other Christians being let go…

And, we fortunately know Paul would write 1 & 2 Thessalonians… to continue their spiritual discipleship.

V10 concludes their time together… “the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea.”

Which is where we will pick up next week… read ahead.

Let’s Pray!

This account today has a bitter sweet ending to me.

And, sometimes that’s just the way it is when your turning the world upside down for Christ.

But, the persecution ONLY Came because of the great spiritual victory. Great multitudes of people were saved in Thessalonica… and a church was born.

All because Paul got off the couch…

Go make an impact… turn the world right side up this week!

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