Paul's Custom Preaching (2)

Paul’s Custom Preaching | Resurrection Sunday 2023

Acts 17:1–9 (ESV)

Acts 17:1–9 ESV

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 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.” 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. 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. 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, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

Theme

Background

We’ve been travelling together as a church through the book of Acts. We’ve gotten all the way through chapter 16 together.

If you’re just joining us here’s what you need to know:

The theme for the book is found in verse 8 of Chapter 1:

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

We could summarize Acts as Jesus’ people being His witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The verse also contains the outline: Beginning in Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, then to the end of the earth.

In chapter 16 the Gospel had just reached into Europe. The first church in Europe was planted in a city called Philippi.

Now our missionary team, headed up by Paul has entered into new European territory.

Resurrection Sunday?

You may be asking, “why are we in this text instead of a resurrection account from one of the gospels?”

We’ll touch on those, but I want us to look into, not just THAT the resurrection happened, but WHAT DOES IT MEAN? And how was it presented?

By God’s grace, He has us right here in a wonderful place in Acts to see that very thing.

Just passing through

Just passing through

Acts 17:1 ESV

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

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

The last city we saw Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke in was Philippi, and it was a city that, by all appearances didn’t have a Synagogue. It seems by the pronouns in the text that we left Luke (the author of Acts) behind in Philippi.

It was a fruitful trip. People got saved, the Holy Spirit was at work, a girl was delivered from a demon and a church was planted. This was a church by the way, that became a beloved church of the apostle Paul. It’s evident in the letter he writes to them later called Philippians.

But it wasn’t without difficulty. They faced persecution. They were mobbed, publicly beaten, and thrown into a dungeon.

It’s been suggested that the account picks up in Thessalonica and nothing is mentioned in Amphipolis or Apollonia, because there wasn’t a Synagogue.

Remember Paul was a real dude. Though it was fruitful, planting a church in a town without a Synagogue got away from his M.O. as we’ll see in the next verse. Did he go back to what was familiar to him?

So, here we are in Thessalonica, in Greece. This is the same place that Paul wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians to.

It’s modern day, Thessaloniki or Salonica, off the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Acts 17:2 ESV

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

2And Paul went in, as was his custom,

Where did Paul go in? To the Synagogue.

This may even be the first Synagogue he’s had a chance to visit in Europe. Remember in Philippi, he went to a place of prayer outside the city on the Sabbath. It’s assumed that there was no Synagogue for him to visit there.

and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

I absolutely love this passage.

For three Saturdays in this town, in the Synagogue, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures.

Let’s look first at the “Scriptures.”

What does that mean?

It’s a reference to the OT. The Jewish Scriptures.

There are some people who falsely teach that we don’t need the Old Testament. That we need to “unhitch” ourselves from the Old Testament.

Now if people think we need to “keep the Old Covenant” now that Jesus Christ has died, been buried, and raised; we have no need to do that, BUT our faith in Christ is grounded on the foundation of the OT.

if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3, ESV)

Psalm 11:3 ESV

if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2, ESV)

Romans 3:2 ESV

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4–5, ESV)

Romans 9:4–5 ESV

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,(Romans 1:1–2, ESV)

Romans 1:1–2 ESV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Romans 15:4 ESV

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Even Jesus used the “Scriptures,” the OT.

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.(Matthew 22:29, ESV)

Matthew 22:29 ESV

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21, ESV)

Jesus doesn’t use this next one to speak negatively about scripture but to point out that they are the very thing that point to Him.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.(John 5:39–40, ESV)

Here we have an NT example of using the OT with the Gospel.

Paul isn’t “unhitching” from them but reasoning from them.

First see that it’s from the Scriptures. They give the foundation for his reasoning.

Second see that he reasons.

That word usually refers to a dialogue. Speaking with others. It’s most often translated as reasoned or reasoning. Though there are other times that it can refer to arguing, disputing, addressing, or talking.

Just because arguing or disputing are used in reference to this word, it doesn’t imply yelling. What is most likely is conversation and discussion.

7 of the 13 times the word appears in thee NT it’s translated as “reasoned(ing)” in the ESV.

What do I want us to see?

The presentation of the Gospel, and Christianity itself isn’t without reason.

We should be able to discuss, why we believe what we believe.

This also does away with the idea that we’re just supposed to have blind faith. The Bible never presents the idea that we just “shut up and believe.”

The caveat is that you might not always like the answers.

How did Paul reason from the scriptures?

I’ll offer 3 possibilities though there are probably more.

· Promises

· Prophecies

· Foreshadowing

While Promises and Prophecies could be considered the same, there may be a slight difference.

I see the personal/relational element of God’s promises. And I see the powerful, predictive expectations of His prophecies.

Promises

Genesis 17:1–8 (KJV 1900)

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant iswith thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” (Genesis 50:25, ESV)

Deuteronomy 26:16–19 (ESV)

16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. 18 And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for his treasured possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, 19 and that he will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that he has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8–9, ESV)

2 Samuel 7:12–16 (ESV)

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ”

These relational promises are fulfilled in Jesus.

Prophecies

Genesis 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2; Psalm 16:10; Zechariah 12:10; etc.

Foreshadowing aka Types of Christ

The Ark

And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.(Genesis 6:13–14, ESV)

For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. (Genesis 6:17–19, ESV)

The giving of the son of promise.

He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”(Genesis 22:2, ESV)

He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” (Genesis 22:12, ESV)

and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, (Genesis 22:16–17, ESV)

Paul gives us his own idea in Scripture with Jesus being a type of the rock that the Children of Israel saw in their wilderness wandering after Egypt but before the Promised Land.

1 Corinthians 10:1–4 (ESV)

1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

There are many more.

Explaining and proving

Notice in Paul’s customary reasoning and dialogue he used the Scriptures to explain and prove…

3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying,

This word explaining is an interesting one. It’s the goal of any Bible teacher really. The point of studying the Bible is to grow in our understanding and in growing in that understanding, we grow in our relationship with the Lord.

The interesting thing is that this is the only place in the NT that this word is translated as “explaining.”

I think that’s the perfect word for what’s happening but know that every other time it’s translated in the ESV it’s translated as “opens,” or “opened.”

This is the word that’s used to describe Jesus opening the ears of a deaf and mute man in Mark 7:34.

This is the word that is used to describe the opening of a womb, in reference to the firstborn child, in Luke 2:23.

In Acts 16:14 the word is used to refer to the opening of Lydia’s heart to receive the message from Paul.

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14, ESV)

In Acts 7:56 it’s used by Stephen, the first martyr of the church, when the heavens are opened, and Jesus is standing to receive him.

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”(Acts 7:56, ESV)

And a really big example is here:

Luke uses this word three times describing the events that happened on that very first Resurrection Sunday.

Twice with the two men on the road to Emmaus, and once with the rest of the disciples.

The First time with the Emmaus Disciples it referred to their eyes.

Luke 24:13–16 (ESV)

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Luke 24:22–27 (ESV)

22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:30–31 (ESV)

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

The Second time with the same disciples it referred to Jesus opening the Scriptures.

Luke 24:32 (ESV)

32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

And lastly to the rest of the disciples on that first Resurrection Sunday.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.(Luke 24:44–47, ESV)

I think as a disciple of Jesus, Paul is doing something very similar.

Such a diverse use but it fits our desire today.

To recap:

· Opened ears – Will we hear what the Spirit says?

· Opened womb – Will we experience spiritual life, the new birth?

· Opened heart – Will our hearts be open to the Lord?

· Heaven Opened – Will we receive the Lord and be received by the Lord?

· Opened eyes to see Jesus – will we see the beauty of what Jesus has done and who He is?

· Opened mind – Will we grow in our understanding of the Lord from the Scriptures?

That’s just Paul explaining.

We also see him proving.

This word also appears in a number of ways, for example: put, entrust, commit, commend.

One example that might seem odd for me to use at first, but I think it will illustrate things well for us.

This word was used in the last chapter.

Paul and Silas were in a dungeon worshipping the Lord around midnight. There was an earthquake. The jailer from Philippi thought they’d all escaped, but they hadn’t.

He falls down before Paul and Silas and asks one of the most important questions in the entire Bible:

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30, ESV)

And the simple answer was given:

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31, ESV)

Upon hearing that the man received Christ!

Here comes the verse we’re looking for:

Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (Acts 16:34, ESV)

The word from our text in chapter 17 shows as “proved” we have in chapter 16 as “set.”

The Philippian jailer took these hungry, beaten prisoners and set food before them.

Parents

Do you remember having your young child in a highchair and introduced food to them. That’s how I picture this. Just putting it in front of them.

Will they eat? How hungry are they?

One of my kids was very picky about food. If it wasn’t PB&J they didn’t want it. The harder you tried to get them to eat a new food the harder they resisted. They didn’t believe, they weren’t open to the idea, and hadn’t experienced that healthy hunger.

They wouldn’t even eat a hamburger or cheeseburger.

What did I attempt to do?

I would not only set before my child a delicious cheeseburger, but I would prove the goodness of the burger but eating it with them. A happy participant in the goodness of the burger.

Paul was a man who had been radically changed by the risen Christ. He was presenting Jesus Christ as the Living God who changes lives. As living proof of the goodness of God and the gospel.

He set before them the gospel. And he would prove it by living it out as a glad recipient of the life of Jesus Christ.

One day after a practice my wife gave them only one option, a cheeseburger. You’d think that would be easy to get a kid to eat, but not to the kid who had never had one and wasn’t open to it.

But hunger. She set it before them, and the burger was gone.

I got a phone call that night because I was away at work or at church. “Dad! Cheeseburgers are amazing! I love them!”

Paul in the synagogue in Thessalonica, as in other places, spoke with the people, opened up the scriptures and set before them, the Messiah Jesus.

I believe Paul set before them the facts, and those facts proved the reality of all that Jesus fulfilled and accomplished.

They were presented will all of the proofs necessary.

Next it says he showed that what the Christ, Messiah did was “necessary.”

In a way, he showed them their need. They didn’t know how hungry they were.

Living in the world they were only used to eating garbage.

More than that he showed the necessity of the Messiah’s work. This dealt with Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is exactly what needed to happen.

The necessity was twofold.

· It was necessary from Scripture.

· It was necessary for our salvation.

Necessary from Scripture

We’ve already looked at some of the prophecies, but there’s more.

The entire meta-narrative of Scripture deals with God’s redemption of fallen mankind, which hinges upon Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

It had to happen because it fulfills God’s plan from Scripture.

Necessary for our salvation

Ever since sin entered the world, death followed.

Sin is a word we often use but don’t always define.

It means to miss the mark. We violate God’s righteousness. Either by doing the wrong thing or by not doing the right thing.

The Law was meant to show us our need, and our guilt.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, ESV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23, ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, ESV)

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. (James 2:10, ESV)

Most of us have gotten so used to sin that we think of it as no big deal. Or we compare ourselves to others, but that’s one of the dangers of it. It blinds us, stops our ears, closes off our hearts and ultimately leads to death.

But it might help to think of what heaven is.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3–4, ESV)

If heaven, is a place with no more tears. A place without death, without mourning, without pain. And sin is the cause of all of those things, how much sin can there be in heaven and have it still be heaven? None.

Jesus describes it in this way.

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (John 3:13, ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:16–19, ESV)

He had to come from heaven to save us to heaven.

But the wages had to be paid. It was necessary for Jesus to suffer and die, to pay the cost we’ve incurred with our sin.

And in His resurrection Jesus conquered death and paid the price for anyone who receives Him and the offer He gives.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

“This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

What proves that Jesus is the Messiah?

That He suffered and rose again from the dead.

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3, ESV)

This Jesus did the things that the Christ was supposed to do in His life and in His ultimate proof, he rose from the dead.

Jesus even claimed that as His own proof early in His ministry.

So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:18–19, ESV)

His Resurrection not only PROVES who He is, it proves His promises and ministry are true too. The accomplishments of Jesus are substantiated by His resurrection.

Things like forgiveness, adoption, reconciliation, eternal life, divine hope and love are validated through what Jesus suffered, (as God in the flesh), and that He rose from the dead.

One last thing before we leave this part.

People don’t normally resurrect. That’s the point. It had to be proven with a supernatural miracle.

If resurrections happened all the time, people would say, “so what? What’s the big deal?”

The fact that they don’t happen normally, yet one did, IS THE POINT OF THE PROOF.”

Dr. Frank Turek calls them the 6 E’s:

Early Testimony: almost all books written before 70 A.D.

Eyewitness Testimony: During the time of the writing most of these accounts could be verified or discounted by eyewitnesses. In fact, Luke says that he’s relying on eyewitness accounts for his gospel. The style gives way to him clarifying more fully the things Theophilus probably learned orally.

Embarrassing Testimony: if the account was made up why would the main perpetrators and leaders include such embarrassing details. It was common in ancient writings and histories to exclude embarrassing details.

Excruciating Testimony: Most of the writers and apostles and Christians died a martyr’s death and even lived fugitive and imprisoned lives until then. People usually lie for 3 reasons Money, Sex, Power. What did they gain if this wasn’t true.

Expected Testimony: The gospels fulfill prophecies. Period. This really strengthened my faith in my early twenties.

Extra-biblical Testimony: accounts outside the Bible verify it’s claims even unbelievers like Josephus. This category would include archeological testimony.

The Two Responses

Response #1

4And 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.

Some of them were persuaded and joined.

The talking, the opening, the setting before of the Gospel bore fruit.

My goal would be to persuade you in the same way.

But their persuasion didn’t stop there it led to them joining the disciples.

They were persuaded by the presentation, but they were changed by being joined to Christ.

The First Letter to the Thessalonians might help us understand their response better. Remember Paul is describing these people.

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10, ESV)

They were persuaded in acts 17, and 1 Thessalonians shows their persuasion resulted in repentance,

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (1 Thessalonians 1:9, ESV)

Jesus didn’t die for our respect. He didn’t die for our reverence. He died for our sins to give us new life.

Jesus isn’t your additive for life improvement – He’s your substitute to give you eternal life.

The Thessalonians turned to God, from idols, to serve Him.

What an amazing example.

Response #2

A jealous rabble-roused mob of ner-do-wells, wicked men.

I can’t think of an instance in the Bible where a mob is ever described in a positive way.

Sound biblical advice, resist the mob, stand alone for Jesus if you must.

5But 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. 6And 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, 7and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

We see four things from the dissenters.

1. In their frenzy they didn’t care who they hurt. Couldn’t hurt Paul, get Jason instead. Again, that mob mentality.

2. The second thing we see is in their first accusation.

“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.”

Enemies of the cross claiming that you’ve turned the world upside down, that’s high praise.

That phrase “turned the world upside down” only happens 3 times but is only translated that way here in Acts.

In Acts 21:38 it is used of someone who “Stirred a revolt.”

The other place may give us a little more help.

I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! (Galatians 5:12, ESV)

To be “unsettled.”

The Apostles with their preaching and proclamation of Jesus as Christ, Messiah, unsettled them.

I think that’s a good thing. Anyone travelling on their way to Hell, should, out of love for their souls, be unsettled in their complacency and comfort.

We ought to unsettle people who are dying with the offer of life.

Be unsettled by the conviction, of sin and judgement.

That act of being unsettled, may just be what we need to wake us up, cause us to hunger for the good news that’s set before us and respond with repentance and faith.

Bad news can be unsettling. It can turn our world upside sown. The truth is that We live in an upside-down world that’s being destroyed by sin and death. It’s the Gospel that turns things right side up. From death to life, darkness to light, fear to love, condemnation to justification. The gospel brings reconciliation, restoration, resurrection life to an upside-down world.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.(John 10:10, ESV)

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18–20, ESV)

To them it seemed upside-down, but they had rejected what was put in front of them.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV)

3. The Third thing is even more telling. They understood Paul’s claim, but rejected his Lord.

“…saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

Jesus revealed this heart in one of His parables:

But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ (Luke 19:14, ESV)

Or their accusation of the day of His trial and crucifixion.

And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”(Luke 23:2, ESV)

Is that it for us? For some that’s the biggest obstacle.

I don’t want Jesus as king. I don’t want Jesus to rule my life. I want to.

They knew the claim, and they didn’t want Jesus as King.

As a disciple Jesus warned:

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23–25, ESV)

4. The last thing we see. They didn’t care about Caesar. It was all using political manipulation to stop the Gospel.

How can I say that? A little bribery ended the issue. They might’ve feared the government, but they didn’t care about Caesar’s honor.

Have we been persuaded?

What will we do with Jesus?

Keep talking about Him. Open to Him. Set Him before others. Accept Him for yourself. Be persuaded. Repent and join the saints.

Jesus accomplished so much for us with His suffering death, taking the wrath of God; and His resurrection.

All of that is shown right here in Scripture.

Eventually, you’ll have to trust Him. Not blindly but Scripturally.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, ESV)

But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4, ESV)

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.(John 5:39–40, ESV)

How do I come to Him?

Like the Thessalonians did.

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (1 Thessalonians 1:9, ESV)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9–10, ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

But what about the person who’s suffering? Facing a trial or difficulty?

Jesus knows what suffering is, and He’s our sympathetic High Priest. He’s promised never to leave you or forsake you.

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17–18, ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

What about to the One who’s in mourning over loss?

It’s the Lord who promises to wipe every tear away from out eyes, and to put an end, in totality, to death and pain.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:4–5, ESV)

Lamentations describes our sin as a yoke, but Jesus promises us a different yoke, one that ties us to Him. He becomes the One to walk alongside us in life, as our life.

“My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they were set upon my neck; he caused my strength to fail; the Lord gave me into the hands of those whom I cannot withstand. (Lamentations 1:14, ESV)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)

Where did I find all of those promises? In the Scriptures. In Jesus Christ.