The Provocative Nature of the Gospel

Please take your Bible and turn to Acts 17:1-15 as we consider The Provocative Nature of the Gospel.

Those who encounter the gospel of Jesus Christ will find it to be provocative: they may be provoked negatively causing reactions such as anger or jealousy; or they may be provoked positively to study the Bible or to embrace the message of the gospel, or even motivation to further spread the gospel message.

In our passage for this morning we see two contrasting reactions to the message of the gospel as presented by Paul and Silas. The gospel provoked jealousy and turmoil in Thessalonica, and it provoked eager Bible study in Berea.

Look at the map for a moment as we seek to trace the spread of the gospel.

Let’s consider first how

The Gospel Provoked Jealousy and Turmoil

Let’s read Acts 17:1-9.

Luke was not with them

Since Timothy is not mentioned until verse 14 some believe that he remained in Philippi with Luke for a short time

Show picture of path

Paul & Silas would have traveled along the Egnatian Way — A Roman road which ran which was used to aid travel through the Roman empire

Paul did not minster in either Amphipolis or Apollonia

Amphipolis was about 30 miles SW of Philippi

Apollonia was about 30 miles beyond Amphipolis

It is conceivable that Paul and company traveled as much as 30 miles on foot in a single day — sounds really exhausting to me!

It would have been another 40 miles to Thessalonica (100 miles from Philippi)

Thessalonica was:

The second largest city in Greece — 200,000 people

A free city — self-governing or local autonomy

Its government followed more the Greek than the Roman pattern of administration

The Ministry

Paul’s custom was to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the synagogue of the Jews first. Writing to the Romans Paul stated:

Romans 1:16 NASB95PARA

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

And that was his primary custom as he brought the message of the gospel to a new area (assuming there was a synagogue in the city). Let’s consider how much time he spent with the Jews in Thessalonica as well as the content of his message.

Paul’s Length of Stay

Three Sabbaths (vs. 2)

This does not mean that he was only in Thessalonica for three weeks

After reasoning with the Jews for three weeks, he then turned to the Gentiles

Some have estimated his total stay in this city to be as long as 4 to 6 months

Paul’s Dealings with the Jews

Four words which describe Paul’s work in the synagogue during these three Sabbaths

He reasoned with the Jews

He used the Scriptures to do so — it was to demonstrate that what he was teaching was in keeping with the promise of God

He explained the Scriptures

This has to do with interpreting the Scriptures in light of the coming of Jesus

He gave evidence — proved

He demonstrated from the biblical evidence that his message was true

He proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ

He announced the good news as a herald of the gospel

Paul’s Reception

Look at verse 4 as we consider

The Positive Reception

Some were persuaded and joined with Paul and Silas

The Greek term for joined is in the passive voice which might be better translated as were joined

Once commentator noted that in the light of Acts 16:14, this appears to be a reference to God’s action in their lives.

Some of those who joined were Jews

Some were God-fearing Greeks

Some were from the leading women of the city

Luke has a strong penchant for highlighting the prominence of women in the life of the early church

Paul referred to this positive reception in his first epistle (which we will begin looking at very soon) 1 Thess 1.8-9

1 Thessalonians 1:8–9 ESV

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,

Look again at verse 5 as we consider

The Negative Reception

The Jews became jealous

Presumably of the amount of God-fearing Gentiles Paul was taking from the synagogue and into the Christian community

The Jews made use of men who may have been unemployed day laborers to form a mob and start a riot

In other words they got the Gentiles to do their dirty work

As a free city they did not fear Roman reprisal for riots

The mob attacked the house of Jason

The missionaries probably stayed in his home

He was probably a Jew of the Dispersion

His name is the equivalent to Joshua or Jesus

It is most probable that the new found church was meeting in his home

Look at verses 6-7.

There’s an irony to the fact that the Jewish leaders formed a mob and started a riot in the city, but then accused the missionaries of being trouble makers

Paul & Silas were no where to be found so they took their wrath out on Jason

To attack Jason was to attack this new church — this gives light to Paul’s statement in

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

The city officials took what might be considered as bail money from Jason to release he and whomever else had been arrested

It’s possible that this was a verbal pledge that Paul and Silas would not return to the city — This would shed light on Paul’s statement in

1 Thessalonians 2:18 NASB95PARA

For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.

We’ve been looking at how the gospel can provoke some to jealousy which created turmoil for the missionaries and the newly founded church. Let’s turn out attention to how

The Gospel Provoked Bible Study

Look with me at verse 10-15.

Berea was about 45 miles from Thessalonica. It was not on the Egnatian Way, which had traveled since entering Macedonia. So they had to depart from this major route. Notice on the map…

The Ministry

To the Jew first …

These Jews were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica

They were keenly interested in studying the Bible

They met with Paul daily to further their studies

As opposed to only meeting on the Sabbath virtually everywhere else Paul had a synagogue ministry

Just as these folks verified Paul’s message by studying the Bible, so you should do the same for my message!

The Reception

As is always the case there was both a positive reception and a negative reception to the message of the gospel. Look at verse 12 as we consider the

The Positive Reception

Many Jews believed

Many prominent Greek women and men believed

Look at verses 13-15 as we consider

The Negative Reception

Jews from Thessalonica stirred up the crowds — sounds familiar…

The newly founded church took immediate action to protect Paul

Apparently the Jews singled out Paul, since it was deemed safe for Silas and Timothy to remain in Berea

Paul was escorted to Athens, where he awaited the arrival of Silas and Timothy

Paul left instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible

The message of the gospel is provocative — especially for those who have never heard it before. We have seen instances in which the message provoked jealousy, anger, and turmoil. And we have also seen an extraordinary instance in which it provoked diligent study of the Scriptures. It seems that Luke highlighted this as being an example of how the message of Christ should be received.

Why does the same message evoke such a different response among individuals? Paul summed it up well in

1 Corinthians 1:18 NASB95PARA

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

John MacArthur wrote:

“Every person is either in the process of salvation (though not completed until the redemption of the body) or the process of destruction. One’s response to the cross of Christ determines which. To the Christ-rejectors who are in the process of being destroyed the gospel is nonsense. To those who are believers it is powerful wisdom.”

Certainly there are others possible negative reactions to the gospel. A person might react to it in a dismissive way. Or they might react to it in an apathetic way. Or many other ways. But all of these reactions lead to destruction.

And for those who are believers we can have a negative reaction to a new presentation of the gospel as well since familiarity breeds contempt. But our attitude should be like that of Catherine Hankey who wrote:

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love. Tell me the story simply, as to a little child; for I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in — that wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin. Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon; the early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear that this world’s empty glory is costing me too dear. Tell me the story always, if you would really be, in any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Tell me the old, old story; tell me the old, old story. Tell me the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

Let’s pray.

Closing Song #621

Tell Me the Old, Old Story