Chap 17_Acts

OOOOOOO Acts 17:1–4 (HCSB) A Short Ministry in Thessalonica 17 Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.

Asked or begged them to leave Philippi by the magistrates who had jailed and beaten these two Roman citizens. The now walked about 100 miles to Thessalonica and went thru two smaller cities of. This was about 30 miles from Philippi Amphipolis and Apollonia which was another . This would have taken 4-5 days of walking or 2-3 days on horseback or donkey back. It seems that there were no synagogues in either of these towns

Thessalonica was a free city. Was more self- governing even though still under Rome. It had a local assembly and was on the Via Ignatia or Egnation Road which was the highway to the east. This also became a highway to spread the gospel Many of these primary roads were wide but not over 20 feet suitable for foot traffic and carts, etc. But even so, this is a long walk especially after being beaten with rods.

Acts (a. Proclamation (17:1–4)) For its support of Mark Antony and Octavian (later known as Augustus), the Romans gave Thessalonica the status of a free city in 42 B.C. When Paul and his companions stayed there, about two hundred thousand people, among them numerous Jews, lived in Thessalonica

This paragraph is titled “A short ministry in Thessalonica” , but it is more likely that Paul stayed there for some time.He stayed in Thessalonica for some time reference 1 Thessalonians 2:8–9 (ESV)8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. And also referred to in Philippians 4:15–16 (ESV)15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Per their usual practise they went to a synagogue and preached 3 Sabbaths there. He preached longer than that so at some point Paul went to the Gentiles. In the synagogues he reasoned with them and pointed them to the scripture [ probably Isaiah 53 and others]. He explained why the Messiah had to die

Isaiah 53:10–12 (ESV) 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; hen his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 16:10–11 (ESV) 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 26:19 (ESV) 19 Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.y, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

Many Hellenistic Jews became Christians as well as some Jews.

It mentions here and later at Athens that “a number” of leading women from the community also joined. In the Roman culture, the woman had a bit more latitude or potential to work outside of the home. Also the woman seem, as today, more drawn to spiritual things. Men tend to focus so hard on self pride, getting things done. Woman think more socially and in a way are more dependent. Dependency can better accommodate Christianity which involves surrender and trusting God’s provision. The over abundance of women in church is still noticed today.

OOOOOOO Acts 17:5–9 (HCSB) Riot in the City 5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels 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 received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus!” 8 The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 9 So taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them. Here we go again. The Jews will not accept Paul’s teaching. There may have been some jealousy that this new religion was so effective and growing and taking even the proselytes from their synagogues. Christianity was not dying out, it was growing exponentially. It must be stopped by any means.

This might have been a hired mob. Ref MWK;s action in Nigeria. The mob went after Jason, Roman or Greek name, who was hosting Paul at his house. The mob hauled Jason as his brothers before the assembly

....These men who have turned the world upside down .... They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus!” So the mob increase the threat- Just as they have been kicked out of othner towns- theire teaching is so disruptive. And you know that one thing the Romans didn’t want was disrutption. Then Paul was likely teaching about the kingdom and didn’t the notice for Jesus crucificxion say that he claimed to be king of the Jews The same accusations as before in Jerusalem. This is not just a new interpretation or sect , but is treason!

So Jason had to put up a security bond to ensure that there would be no more demonstrations. But if Paul stayed there thee mob could be stoked regardless if Paul was teaching

This may have been the reason that they never returned to this city.

OOOOOOO Acts 17:10–15 (HCSB) The Bereans Search the Scriptures 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea. On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message 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 God’s message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, 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.

Berea wa comprised of a different type of people. These people were open to new information or insdight. But they were also critical thinkers. Whatever was new in the gospel, they checked it against scripture.They did this daily. So they were protected against false gospels because they studied scripture. They were not defiant, nor hesitant because they tested things against scripture. They were confident about the effectiveness and truth in scripture and so they could be confident about the what they were learning was from God compared to his scripture.

So many believed and were assured in their accepetance of the new way. Including important Greeks, and men and women.

But again, undercover of night, Paul must be smuggled out to Berea. But the same thing happens there as they are pursued by the Jews. This time Paul was sent to Athens, but Silas and Timothy stay in Berea. They catch up with him in Corinth. Acts 18:5 (ESV)5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

OOOOOOO Acts 17:16–21 (HCSB) Paul in Athens 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?”

Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.

19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of? 20 For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

Paul was deeply disturbed by the number of idols. Athens was known for its amazing architecture and exquisite statures. Much of this was dedicated or resembled Greek gods. The Acropolis, the agora [ open marketplace with open roofed colonnades, Temple of Hephaestus, many about Hermes whose visage was mounted on numerous columns throughout the city,, Temple of Athena Nike [the Parthenon]. Statues were everywhere. Much of this was built at the pinnacle of Athens regard in mid-400’s b.c.

The Greeks had a history of complex theology of warring gods and goddesses. here was a saying in those days that, “in Athens, there are more gods than men.”Our formal knowledge of the ancient Greek gods can be traced back to the writings of Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey (8th century BC).

There were 20 main Primordial Greek Gods: 20 primary gods·

Achlys: the goddess of the eternal night. The first creature that some say existed even before Chaos himself. According to Hesiod, she is the demon of death. Αether: the god of light. The spark of life for every creature. Etymologically, Aether means the highest and purest layer of air. Αion: the god of eternity. He was a ghostly primordial deity who personified the meaning of time (sometimes he is confused with god Chronos). In Greek, Aion means “century”. Although incorporeal, he was also portrayed as a monster with a snake body and three heads: one human (male), one bull and one lion. According to a myth, Aion and his companion, Ananke (also with a snake body), wrapped themselves around the cosmic egg and broke it to form the "sorted" Universe (earth - sky - sea). Ananke: the goddess of inevitability, compulsion, and necessity. She was an inevitable divine force. Chaos: the god of the void. He was the beginning of all life. According to most versions of Greek myths, Chaos pre-existed all. Chronos: the god of time. Not to be confused with Aion (god of eternity) or Cronus (the Titan that we will meet later). Erebus: the god of darkness and shadow. He symbolizes the silence and the depth of the night together with his sister, the goddess Nyx. He is usually represented as a winged, dark and huge being, a duo with Nyx. Eros: the god of love and procreation. Not to be confused with Eros, the winged god of desire that we will meet later. Gaia: the goddess of the earth (Mother Earth). She is the mother of all - the primeval mother. At a cosmogenic level, she symbolizes the material side of the Universe whereas Chaos symbolizes the space of the Universe. Eros symbolizes the driving force that unites everything, giving birth to the rest. Hemera: the goddess of day. Hypnos: the god of sleep and father of Morpheus. Nemesis: the goddess of retribution. Nesoi: the goddesses of islands. Nyx: the goddess of night. She was a sovereign, primordial and cosmogenic entity, respected and feared by most gods. She is the sister of Erebus, the god of darkness and shadow. Ourea: the gods of mountains. Pontus: the god of the sea and father of the sea creatures. Tartarus: the god of the darkest and deepest part of the Underworld - the original god of the Underworld. The Underworld was the place where the wicked are imprisoned and tortured eternally after their death. Thalassa: the goddess of the sea and consort of god Pontus. Thanatos: the god of death. He is the twin brother of Hypnos (god of sleep) and lives in the dark Tartarus. Uranus: the god of the heavens. He soon became ruler of the world and father of the Titans.

Titans become rulers of the world , The first Titans were twelve; six male and six female. In additon there were the Furies [ spriits of vengence that would hunt you down forever for breaking an oath or harming someone,] the Meliai [nymphs of trees, forests, beautiful], the Giants [aggressive and very strong]

The Olympian Gods

The Gods of Olympus were the main Greek gods who lived on the top of mount Olympus. Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia and Demeter, Hades, and later on Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Athena, Hephaestus, Aphrodite and Ares. There were many more and were major and minor deities.

The Greeks had an entrenched and dedicated belief in the gods. The had festivals, sacrifices, and spent huge expenses in temples and statues.

Battler of Marathon [480 b.c] withstood Persian invasion of Darius and 10 years later Xerxes, but city devastated. Over next 30 years rebuilt the city and entered into here period of glory. Then Peloponnesean wars of Sparta and Athens. Finally Athens surrendered. Sparta treated Athens with respect then about late 300’s, great intellectual movements began- Socrates in 399 b.c., with his approach to philosophical methods. Asking questions, this method was used by Paul. He was followed by Plato who established intellecutal schools. Then Aristotle who set the basis for the scientific method, and categorizing living things. His approach to astronomy and heliocentric model [ earth the center] was the one of the primary causes of the fight against Galileo [ around the same time as the Reformation o f Martin Luther] the church took a beating.

Also is was Aristotle who posited the eternal existence of the universes. This was the primary scientific belief until the 1950’s. Remember Carl Sagan and the PBR special on the universe “The Cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be. Our feeblest contemplations of the Cosmos stir us -- there is a tingling in the spine, a catch in the voice, a faint sensation, as if a distant memory, of falling from a height. We know we are approaching the greatest of mysteries.” ― Carl Sagan,

The Greeks were a tremendous worldwide influence on philosophy and the importance of the human mind. The The wealthy Romans long after the intellectual peaks still sent their children to the unparalled education found in the Greek schools. Aristotle was the person teacher of Alexander the great [conquests in 330 b.c.

About 100 years later two philosophical movements began: the Stoics and Epicureans. The Epi’s lived for the moment, get pleasure out of life as well as practise virtue. They only velieved in matter and there was no afterlife. So enjoy while you can.

The Stoics are especially known for teaching that "virtue is the only good" for human beings, and those external things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good nor bad in themselves (adiaphora) but have value as "material for virtue to act upon." Alongside Aristotelian ethics, the Stoic tradition forms one of the major founding approaches to virtue ethics.[1] The Stoics also held that certain destructive emotions resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a will (called prohairesis) that is "in accordance with nature". The Stoics provided a unified account of the world, constructed from ideals of logic, monistic physics, and naturalistic ethics. Of these, they emphasized ethics as the main focus of human knowledge, though their logical theories were of more interest for later philosophers.

Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the philosophy holds that becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand the universal reason (logos). This belief was still prominent during the beginning of Christiatity = John used the concept of the “logos” the structure of reason that held everything together. . Stoicism's primary aspect involves improving the individual's ethical and moral well-being: "Virtue consists in a will that is in agreement with Nature".[11] This principle also applies to the realm of interpersonal relationships; "to be free from anger, envy, and jealousy. Almost all the leaders after Alexander both Roman and Greek professed stoicism. It alluded to a “brother hood of man” - a tilling the soil for the seed of God. All men are created in a sole image - all men are created with a proclivity or bent towards the equality of all mankind. Stoicism was overcome with the growth of Christianity. It was displaced with something far better.

The mental achievements of 2500 years ago still are taught and provide insight into today’s thinking.

So why are we on this excursion [new name for rabbit trail] of Greek theology and philosophy. The same thing that disturbed Paul, is the same thing that dispenses chaos in our current Western society.

The visible symbols of the temples and marble gods that oversaw the Athenian worlds, were replaced by the new idols of the intellect. The idolotry was was not about what was created by the hands of man, but what was worshipped was the mind of man. The excellence and production of the mind was implanted in the Catholic church. The scritpure was embedded with the Greek philosophies and philosophy became the bedrock for many of the actions and writings of the church- almost became more influential with men than scripture.

These teachings became mental idols. Man worships himsefl through his great inventions, his science, his art, his laws, In the early days of the US, scripture was the bedrock that supported our laws, and our decisions. We see this in the writings of our early laws, our traditions, our politicians, the scientists. These achievements do not credit a God of provision, of imagination, of creativity, of justice, of love, but our based on our acumen. Though earlier scientists gave glory to God [ music, art, poetry, law, etc], now what receives credit is our own abilities. Our abilities might become greater with training and our use of technology, but the results could be stronger evil. With computers, we can do things faster and more completle with the advent of compounded information from the entire world, but this can mean making harmful decisions greater. And as we depend on the expert or the machine, we ability to discern God’s will, and weaken our wisdom from God.

....7 So he reasoned in the synagogue with … Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Paul reasoned according to scripture in the synagogue and got arguments from the philosophers. Also along with the two main philosophies, there also existed schools of rhetoric. How to be an influential speaker. It made no difference about virtue, but more about the skill of persuasion.

In Athens rhetoric and philosophical debates were the major entertainmen. even the plays were mostly morality about a god or a philosophy. Paul is by himself against many people trained in speaking and philosophy. They take him to Areopagus This was an area up on Mars Hill [400 ft elev] it where the chief court once met.. Or most likely an area near the agora. The Council of the Areopagus met now the only trials used to take place but now only murder trials,commercial functions, discussions,

; and some morality issues. During the trial the accused would stand on the Rock of Insolence, and the accuser stood on the Rock of No-Mercy. This had stairs carved into the rock of the hill, but now greatly eroded by all the foot traffic.

But this was not a trial, they were intellectually curious. this was on of their main hobbies. There was an attitude about what is new thinking. So they were asking Paul to explain.

OOOOOOO Acts 17:22–34 (HCSB) Areopagus Address 22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it —He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.

30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 Then Paul left their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul begins with a current observation and a bit of flattery- this is the approach also used by Billy Graham crusades. He says they are very religious, he doens’t berated them. But he provides an answer which had probably been posed often. A n altar TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. The Unknown God or Agnostos Theos is a God mentioned by the Christian Apostle Paul Areopagus speech in Acts 17:23, that in addition to the twelve main gods and the innumerable lesser deities, ancient Greeks worshipped a deity they called "Agnostos Theos"; that is: "Unknown God", In 2nd century a.d, a Greek geographer recorded “altars of the gods named Unknow” about Atherns, Plymia, and at Pegamum. Don’t know if we get our word for agnostic.

28 For in Him we live and move and exist, Epimenides (c. 600 B.C.] “Hence, when the Athenians were attacked by pestilence, and the Pythian priestess bade them purify the city, they sent a ship commanded by Nicias, son of Niceratus, to Crete to ask the help of Epimenides. And he came in the 46th Olympiad,1 purified their city, and stopped the pestilence in the following way. He took sheep, some black and others white, and brought them to the Areopagus; and there he let them go whither they pleased, instructing those who followed them to mark the spot where each sheep lay down and offer a sacrifice to the local divinity. And thus, it is said, the plague was stayed. Hence even to this day altars may be found in different parts of Athens with no name inscribed upon them, which are memorials of this atonement” (BOOK I p115,117 CHAPTER 10).

as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.[[Aratus -270’s b.c.] ,- very popular]