Adversity in Thessalonica

Introduction

Paul has left Philippi after arrest and release

We must always be sure we are standing in the truth of the gospel

We can only do that by being connected to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 17:1–15 CSB

1 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them. 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds. 14 Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.

PRAY

Retell the story in my own words…

this was not a short trip over 100 miles of difficult travel

The gospel and its agents of delivery will always be opposed. We are called to proclaim Christ even when opposed with boldness and wisdom.

The Necessity of Christ

I tried to explain to Heather that I needed a 1975 corvette that I saw on facebook marketplace

maybe need was the wrong word, maybe I do not NEED a corvette to be a better pastor

of course she said she did not think that I could get in and out of the car

Acts 17:2–3 CSB

2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, reasoned = discuss or preach 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”

proving =

Lexham Theological Wordbook παρατίθημι

This word can indicate putting something in front of someone; in the NT it is used in this sense primarily of setting food in front of people for them to eat (e.g.,

Necessary = necessary, a must

the scriptures reveal the glory of God, and its entirety points to Jesus

Paul uses this truth to point the Jewish people and god fearing greeks to Christ

many came to believe Paul

what did Paul teach, that it was necessary for the messiah to suffer and raise from the dead

Our Lord prayed, if this cup may pass… but not my will but your will be done

We do not need to argue over what is and is not sin but instead understand what sin does to us

in general as sinners we deserve the wrath of God

it is our nature that we are born with…

Psalm 51:5 CSB

5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

a Psalm David wrote after his sinful encounter with Bathsheba, after Nathan had confronted him

my specific sin today deserves punishment

not that I was born sinful, but I sin because of the prideful, lustful heart that I have

I long for things to satisfy me instead of the being satisfied in the Lord

I would guess that I am not alone

I think of myself more often then I care to admit

instead I pray God, search my heart, reveal any unrighteousness in me

two ways to hear the truth about yourself

ask God to reveal it to you and ask four or five year old

I am not called big papa because I am skinny

this creates a need that I cannot meet

we can do nothing on our own to cover or rid ourselves of this sin

we need the grace of God

Not the we only that we need saving, but he had to suffer

Paul is not telling them that we needed saving, but i a jewish synagogue that the long awaited messiah had to die

that is very bold language… it was necessary

but it is true, there had to be a sacrifice, death in our place

if the Father simply forgave us, left our sin unpunished, then he is no longer just

the Father is the judge and the prosecutor

I used to think of Satan as the prosecutor because he is the accuser

now I see Satan as the sibling constantly telling on everyone else… like the parents didn’t know

Instead, it is God that we sin against, you lays out all that we have done wrong, every law we have violated and every sin we have committed

as the prosecutor lays out this iron clad case, just as the judge says guilty, the judge also steps in as the spotless lamb and takes the punishment upon himself

The Jealousy of the Antagonists

Acts 17:5–9 CSB

5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

retell the story in my own words

Jews in the synagogue become jealous that many were believing Paul

not just that some Jews were, but that greeks were as well

suddenly the people that these Jews had influence over was gone…

they want to get Paul, cannot find him and go to where they believe he is staying, Jason’s house

cannot find him, so they take in Jason

the men that have turned the world upside down, have come here!

they are leading people astray, is the charge

Enemies of the gospel will unite

the Jews hated being under Roman rule, but were more than happy to use that system to squash anything they did not like

We know that the priests did that to Jesus when he stood before Pilate

Pilate proclaimed, “Here is the King of the Jews,” to which they responded, “We have no king but Caesar.”

now, here is the same kind of talk

they are claiming another king but caesar… Jesus

this is only partially correct

it is not there is another king, but one king, the king of kings and lord or lords, the Lord Jesus himself

Jesus is the king and ruler of our lives

we devout ourselves to him

that is why James 1:1 is so scandalous in Roman times

“1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.”

this is what cost so many Christians their lives in the Roman times

we live under you in this world caesar, but we worship a different king

a threat to kingdoms are always dangerous

That is why the Jews went to the authorities with that claim

if they would have gone and said that they were teaching something they disagreed with

that people were believing their theology over that of the jews, nobody would have cared

The Wisdom Needed in Gospel Ministry

We laugh at people who walk into a door that they believe is a push and it is actually a pull

There is always the old person test… if you ask if they are alright its because you think they are old, if you just point and laugh it is because they’re young enough to mock

the person that is constantly attempting to go someplace the spirit does not want them to go is like the person pushing a door that is supposed to be pulled

Acts 17:10–15 CSB

10 As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds. 14 Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.

Should the Lord decide that our lives be taken because we are sharing the gospel, so be it, but we do not go looking for that end

to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord

so we do not fear the one who can crush the body, but the one who can cast your soul into hell

jumping into the Lion exhibit at the zoo does not prove our faith, but it does question our sanity

The brothers and sisters get Paul out of Thessalonica and to Berea

I do not believe that Paul agrees to this because he is fearful

there comes a time when the ministry is hampered

Paul has reached that point

the ministry continues without him, see the two letters to the Thessalonians

instead traveling by night to Berea, about 50 miles, Paul finds those of noble character

what does Luke mean by noble character

they do not simply take Paul’s word for what he says, but instead search the scripture themselves

please do that with any message I give, do not take my word for it because I have a title and a microphone, anyone can get that

instead search the scripture yourselves

Paul said to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

not that you earn your salvation, but that you understand for yourself what it is that God has done for you, the grace that he has offered

There is a wisdom that we are too live by, not just a head knowledge of the godly way to live, but we are to live by the Spirit of God as well

we need to be open to going where the spirit says to go, when the spirit says to go, sit when the spirit says to sit

but we only get to the point when we are of noble character as Paul says.

that you are seeking the Lord in his word so that you know his voice

Satan will disguise himself as an angel of light and if you do not know the voice of the Lord you can be fooled.

this is even more true as we get closer to the day of the Lord’s return

as we long for his return, let us be in tune with the spirit in readiness of his arrival

Discussion Questions

What was Paul's initial approach when he arrived in Thessalonica, and how did he engage with the Jews in the synagogue?

In what ways did the Jews in Thessalonica react to Paul's message about Jesus being the Messiah?

What does the term 'necessary' imply regarding the Messiah's suffering and resurrection, according to Paul?

Why was Jason dragged before the city officials, and what accusations were made against him?

How did the response of the people in Berea differ from those in Thessalonica regarding the message they heard from Paul?

What can we learn about the character of the Bereans compared to the Thessalonians?

How does the sermon emphasize the necessity of looking into the Scriptures for our understanding of the truth?

What role did jealousy play in the actions of the Jews in Thessalonica?

In what ways does the message illustrate the relationship between faith, suffering, and the proclamation of the gospel?

How does the sermon explain the significance of Paul's ministry amid opposition and danger?