Acts 17:6 Notes

Acts 17:1–10“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 th…”

Context: Acts 17

Paul and Silas made up in their mind, that they planned on preaching the Gospel throughout the whole land. Silas who is with Paul and the bible speaks of a man who risked his life.

This council was convened in ad 49. As Silas was already a leader and one who “risked his life” for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:22, 26), he probably converted very early.

Silas became a missionary with Paul throughout Acts 15:40–18:5, Read these chapters to get some insight as to what happened and what they were doing and saying.

Notes on Paul and Silas' missionary trip.

Acts 16:20–21 “And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.””

Turn the world upside down - When do you see when you read this phrase??

What about it needs changing?

(Acts 16:24-40) Fresh from their release from the Philippian prison. Prison slowed their pace but not their preaching.

The Gospel is revolutionary (6-7)

v.2

Reasoned - Speak argumentatively / Discussion /

v.3

explained - open up / interpret

Prove - Show to be true

Necessary - Christ death HAD to happen, so did his Rise. Paul and Silas believed they HAD to let the world know that the NECESSARY has happened.

Why was Christ death and Rise necessary?

Who did it benefit?

Title: "Stirring Souls in the City: Lessons from Acts 17:1-5"

Introduction: Well, good morning, saints and sinners, brothers and sisters! I tell you today, we're gonna dive deep into the Word of God, just like Paul and Silas dived deep into the city of Thessalonica. Ain't nothin' gonna stop the truth from spreadin' like wildfire, and that's what we find in Acts 17:1-5. So let's get ready to shout "Hallelujah" and say "Amen" as we explore how to stir souls right here in the city!

Point 1: A Dedicated Departure (Verse 1)My first point, church, is all about that "dedicated departure." Now, Paul and Silas, they'd just come from Philippi, where they'd faced beatings and imprisonment. But did they let that stop 'em? No, sir! They didn't sit there lickin' their wounds. They got up and hit the road to Thessalonica, a new city with new opportunities to preach the Gospel.

Now, what does this mean for us, family? It means that no matter what trials we face, no matter how tough life gets, we gotta keep on movin' for the Lord. We can't stay stuck in our past mistakes or pains. Like Paul and Silas, we've got a mission, and that mission is to share Jesus with the world.

Point 2: A Powerful Presentation (Verses 2-4)Now, my second point is all about that "powerful presentation." Paul and Silas didn't just show up in Thessalonica to take a vacation, no sir! They hit the ground runnin', and what did they do? They went to the synagogue, and for three Sabbaths, they reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures.

You see, it wasn't just about preachin' at folks. They didn't come in with a "holier than thou" attitude. Nah! They engaged in dialogue, they reasoned, they shared the Word, and they explained how Jesus is the Messiah, the One sent to save.

And, beloved, that's a lesson for us today. When we wanna stir souls in the city, we gotta meet folks where they're at. We gotta engage in conversation, build relationships, and share God's Word with love and patience. It's not about bein' pushy; it's about bein' persuasive through the power of the Gospel.

Point 3: A Dynamic Reaction (Verse 5)Now, here's my third and final point, family: "a dynamic reaction." You see, when the Word of God goes forth, it stirs up somethin' in people. And in Thessalonica, some believed, and a great multitude of devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women joined Paul and Silas. But, oh, here's where it gets good!

The devil don't like it when souls are stirred up for the Lord. So what happened next? Jealousy and anger, that's what! The Jews who didn't believe, they stirred up some trouble, and the whole city was in an uproar.

But that's the thing, my friends. When we're out here, stirrin' souls, and the devil stirs up trouble, it means we're doin' somethin' right! It means the Word of God is penetratin' hearts, and it's causin' a reaction. And that reaction might be opposition, but it might also be revival!

Conclusion: So, brothers and sisters, as we wrap this up, let's remember these three "P's" from Acts 17:1-5: a dedicated departure, a powerful presentation, and a dynamic reaction.

We gotta keep movin' forward, no matter what we've been through. We gotta present the Gospel with love and patience, meetin' folks where they're at. And when the Word stirs up a reaction, whether it's opposition or revival, we gotta press on with even more determination.

I don't know 'bout you, but I'm ready to hit these city streets, stirrin' souls for Jesus, and lettin' His light shine through us. So let's go out there, church, and turn this city upside down for the glory of God! Can I get an "Amen"? Amen!

Point 1: Passionate Proclamation (Acts 17:6a) Our first point is "Passionate Proclamation." Acts 17:6a states, "And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities." Here, "they" refers to the enraged crowd in Thessalonica, who were seeking to apprehend Paul and Silas. But when they couldn't find them, they seized Jason and other believers.

A. Pursuit of the Lost: Just as the mob pursued the apostles, we must passionately pursue the lost souls in our communities, workplaces, and families. Just like the world is passionate about their passions we should be just as passionate concerning The Passion. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 compels us to go and make disciples of all nations.

B. Boldness in Evangelism: We see in this verse that the Gospel message stirred up opposition. Yet, this didn't deter the early disciples from passionately proclaiming Christ. Our evangelism must be marked by boldness and unwavering commitment to sharing the message of salvation.

C. Prayerful Persistence: As we proclaim the Gospel, we should do so with prayerful persistence, trusting that God will open hearts and draw people to Himself.

Point 2: Powerful Transformation (Acts 17:6b) Our second point is "Powerful Transformation." Acts 17:6b continues, "…crying out, 'These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.'"

A. Visible Impact: The impact of the Gospel turned the world upside down in the eyes of those who opposed it. When we faithfully share the Gospel, it has the power to transform lives and communities, leading people to question the status quo.

B. Radical Change: As ambassadors of Christ, we must be living examples of the transformation the Gospel brings. Our lives should be so radically changed that they inspire others to seek the source of our hope and joy.

C. Unity in Purpose: Notice that it was not just one person but a group of disciples who were accused of turning the world upside down. Together, we can achieve more for the Kingdom when we unite in purpose and work tirelessly to spread the Gospel.

Point 3: Perseverance in Tribulation (Acts 17:7) Our final point is "Perseverance in Tribulation." Acts 17:7 explains why the crowd was so upset: "And Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

A. Counter-cultural Commitment: The disciples' commitment to Jesus as King clashed with the prevailing culture that exalted Caesar. Likewise, we must be prepared to face opposition when our allegiance to Christ challenges the values of the world.

B. Enduring Faith: In the face of adversity, our faith should remain unwavering. Just as the early Christians faced persecution, we may encounter trials for our faith. However, we can find strength in knowing that our ultimate allegiance is to the King of kings.

C. Glorifying Jesus: Through our perseverance in tribulation, we glorify Jesus as the one true King. Our commitment to Him should shine brightly in a world that desperately needs His love and redemption.