Acts 17: The Bold Sharing of the Gospel

The Introductory Events of the Christian Mission (Acts 1:1–2:41)

Part I: The Christian Mission to the Jewish World (Acts 2:42–12:24)

Panel 1—The Earliest Days of the Church at Jerusalem (Acts 2:42–6:7)

Summary Statement: “So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7)

Panel 2—Critical Events in the Lives of Three Pivotal Figures (Acts 6:8–9:31)

Summary Statement: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).

Panel 3—Advances of the Gospel in Palestine-Syria (Acts 9:32–12:24)

Summary Statement: “But the word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:24)

Part II: The Christian Mission to the Gentile World (Acts 12:25–28:31)

Panel 4—The First Missionary Journey and the Jerusalem Council (Acts 12:25–16:5)

Summary Statement: “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” (Acts 16:5)

Panel 5—Wide Outreach Through Two Missionary Journeys (Acts 16:6–19:20)

Summary Statement: “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Acts 19:20)

Panel 6—To Jerusalem and Thence to Rome (Acts 19:21–28:31)

Summary Statement: “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31)

The Philippian jail

The map

Philippi - no synagogue

Thessalonica - hostility by the unbelieving Jews

Berean - noble listeners -

Athens - curious listeners

(1) The Risen Jesus Suffered and So Might You (Acts 17:1-9)

Acts 17:1–9 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 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.” 4 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. 5 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. 6 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, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:5

17:5. Luke evidently included this incident to reemphasize the continued Jewish rejection. Jason probably had provided lodging for Paul and Silas. The Jews were intent on finding Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. Thessalonica was a free city which meant it was sovereign in its local affairs, and not subject to provincial administration in such matters. Besides local rulers, Thessalonica also had its own local assembly called the dēmos, the word translated “crowd” here (see the NIV marg.; cf. 19:30 [“crowd”], 33 [“people”] where the noun also occurs).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:6–7

17:6–7. Because the mob could not find Paul and Silas they grabbed Jason and some other believers and accused them before the city officials (politarchas, lit., “city rulers”). In Macedonian cities these magistrates formed the city council. The charge was specifically against Jason (possibly a relative of Paul; cf. Rom. 16:21) for harboring men who had caused trouble all over the world—obviously an exaggeration—and defied Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another King, One called Jesus. This latter accusation is significant for it shows Jews were behind the whole mob scene (cf. Acts 17:5); only they would have known enough about Paul’s theology to make such a charge. (Jews also accused Jesus of claiming to be “a king”; Luke 23:2.) Furthermore it reflects Paul’s proclamation. As the Thessalonian Epistles indicate, Paul proclaimed that the messianic kingdom will be established at the return of Christ (1 Thes. 3:13; 5:1–11; 2 Thes. 1:5–10; 2:14; cf. Luke 23:2; John 18:33–37).

17:8–9. The crowd and the politarchs were in turmoil (etaraxan, “agitated, disturbed, troubled”; cf. John 11:33; Acts 16:20) probably because they could not find Paul and Silas (17:6), the source of the city’s problem. Probably the bond-posting was to guarantee that Paul and Silas would leave town and not return. If more trouble arose, Jason and the others would lose their money. This may explain why Paul was prohibited from returning (1 Thes. 2:18). In spite of this, the Christians at Thessalonica kept on boldly proclaiming the gospel (1 Thes. 1:7–10; cf. 2:14–16).

Jason - a believer such as Lydia, possibly a relative of Paul

(2) Persecution Can Follow Fruitful Ministry (Acts 17:10-14)

Acts 17:10–14 ESV

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

The searching of the scriptures on a daily basis

(3) Fruitful Ministry Can Follow Scoffing (Acts 17:15-34)

Acts 17:15–34 ESV

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ 29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Philippi - no synagogue

Thessalonica - hostility by the unbelieving Jews

Berean - noble listeners -

Athens - curious listeners, v18, v32

Some believed