Acts.10

Paul’s Second Journey part two

Bible Passage: Acts 17:10-18:22

Summary: This passage showcases Paul’s journey through the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth illustrating how he encountered diverse cultures and opposition. Paul’s experiences reflect the challenges of evangelism in unfamiliar territories, emphasizing both the power of spreading the Gospel and the difficulties that accompany it, and the need for a strong team to labor in it.

1. Berea: Biblical Discernment

Acts 17:10–15 “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.”

Went to synagogue (those most familiar with truth of OT scriptures).

Bereans werew noble and fair-minded. They were skeptical at first, but tested the spirit. Then they believed.

The Bereans went to the Scriptures at home after hearing a new doctrine. They had to answer certain questions; was Paul accurately quoting Scripture, did he apply the word of God correctly, was it logical and agree with the cannon of Scripture as a whole? It was not a discussion or a “what do you think. They didn’t go to outside sources. They didn’t argue with traditions. They used good hermeneutics. And then they believed

Paul preached daily.

It was his mission and he was consistent. He found people and spoke to them words of life.

Again - conspiratorial evil follows Paul.

Were the word of God is proclaimed with authority there will be opposition. Be concerned if Satan is leaving you alone.

Paul temporarily left Silas and Timothy in Philippi, but soon realized he needed them badly. He sent for them. There is certain power in a team.

2. Athens: Addressing the Unseen

Acts 17:16–21 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.”

Paul was provoked - this word comes from the Greek word for sour wine. There was an inward pressure building inside Paul to speak.

Epicurean - Luke 12:19 “And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” The greatest purpose to life is pleasure.

Stoic - the philosophical system of the Greek philosopher Zeno, who taught that people should be free from excessive joy or grief and submit without complaint to necessity. Mastery of emotions and indifference the highest virtue. Saw the logos as a universal force.

Paul would use their philosophies to point them to the true God. Understanding and using cultural anthropology is vital in cross-cultural missions. Paul was using peoples’ world-view as the base for building a winning message for salvation.

Philosophies - φιλοσοφία philosophia human understanding or wisdom and, by implication, in contrast with divinely revealed knowledge (Louw-Nida) One time in Scripture, a pejorative.

Biblical view and in Orthodox church. Warning Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

3. Mars Hill: Meaningful Messages

Acts 17:22–31 “Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by

The Unknown God - Paul went there and used local legends to lead them to the true God.

Don Richardson wrote a book in 1984, Eternity in their hearts. It explores how various cultures around the world have shown evidence of belief in the one true God through legends, folklore, and prophesies, suggesting that God has prepared people groups for the gospel. The book provides real-life examples of how these cultures have concepts that align with Christian teachings and prepare them to receive the gospel (Acts 10:35). Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” Does this speak of general revelation or some type of special revelation.

:27 groping in the dark - dead people don’t grope. Ro 1:18-22 but they are without excuse because of General Revelation.

4. Responses: Reactions and Growth

Acts 17:32–34 “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”

The mention of the concept of the resurrection was their tipping point. Some mocked, some wanted more. It was an uphill effort to build a church in Athens. There was not letter to the Athenians. However some did get saved and there was movement.

5. Corinth: Continuing the Call

Acts 18:1–22 “After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Corinth - Capital of Achaia province of Rome. In Corinth met Aquila and Priscilla. more on this duo later (Acts18:18, 26; Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 16:19; 2 Tim 4:19). The team was reunited and it was like a shot in the arm, there was a excitement and renewed vision for the lost.

Tentmaking - sometimes it’s good to have a skill. Those who don’t work shall not eat 2 Thes 3:10. Stayed there 1 1/2 years teaching.

Reasoned 10 x’s in Acts - Persuaded 17 x’s in Acts

9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things. 18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. 19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 21 but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus. 22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.”

The Lord continues to speak to Paul in visions, encouraging, giving assurance of safety, and giving special knowledge. He had many souls in that city.

There was great success in Corinth. After the allotted time Paul made his way back to Antioch and gave a full report.