Acts 17: Proclaiming Christ at Thessalonica and Berea

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Overview of Acts Chapter 17

Acts chapter 17 presents the account of Paul's ministry in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens.

It details Paul's preaching in synagogues, the Bereans' examination of the Scriptures, and Paul's engagement with the Athenian philosophers at the Areopagus.

In this chapter Paul proclaims the gospel to diverse audiences. It also shows the various responses he receives.

Verses 1-9: Paul in Thessalonica and Berea!

Paul and his companions journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia before reaching Thessalonica, where they found a synagogue.

Paul, as his custom was, entered the synagogue and engaged in discussions on three consecutive Sabbaths.

He presented truth from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was essential for the Messiah to undergo suffering and resurrection.

Paul declared Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Some individuals were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, including many devout Greeks and several prominent women.

However, jealousy arose among some Jews, leading them to incite a mob.

This mob caused chaos, attacking the house of Jason, in an attempt to bring Paul and Silas out to the crowd.

Failing to find them, the mob dragged Jason and some fellow believers before the city authorities, accusing them of disrupting the city.

They claimed that Paul and Silas were acting against Caesar's decrees, by proclaiming Jesus as another king.

These accusations disturbed the people and the city authorities.

Eventually, Jason and the others were released after providing a monetary security deposit.

Verses 10-15: The Bereans' Response, & Paul in Athens!

The brothers quickly sent Paul and Silas to Berea, where they entered the Jewish synagogue.

The Jews in Berea were more noble-minded, eagerly receiving the message, and examining the Scriptures daily, to verify Paul's message.

As a result, many Jews and Greek individuals, including prominent women and men, believed in the message.

However, when the Thessalonian Jews heard that Paul was preaching in Berea, they arrived, stirring up trouble and causing unrest.

In response, the brothers immediately sent Paul towards the sea, while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

Those accompanying Paul took him to Athens, where he instructed Silas and Timothy to join him at the earliest opportunity.

Verses 16-21: Paul in Athens!

While Paul waited for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he became disturbed, by the multitude of idols in the city.

To address this, he engaged in discussions in the synagogue with Jews and devout individuals, as well as daily interactions in the marketplace.

Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him, curious about his teachings.

However, some dismissed Paul, calling him a "babbler," while others thought he was introducing foreign deities, because he preached about Jesus, and the resurrection.

Eventually, they brought Paul to the Areopagus, seeking to understand his new teachings.

The Athenians and foreigners in the city were known for their interest in novel ideas, spending their time sharing and listening to new information.

Verses 22-34: Paul Addresses the Areopagus!

Standing in the Areopagus, Paul addressed the men of Athens, acknowledging their strong religious inclination.

He noted an altar, dedicated to an "unknown god," and used it to proclaim to them, the true God.

Paul emphasized that this God, the creator of the world, doesn't dwell in man-made temples, and does not depend on human service.

Instead, God Himself, gives to all people life, breath and everything.

Paul explained that God created all nations from one man, determining their times and boundaries, desiring that people would seek and find Him.

He quoted their own poets to highlight that man is God's offspring, emphasizing that God is not like statues made of gold, silver, or stone crafted by human imagination.

While God overlooked past times of ignorance, he now commands all men, everywhere, to repent, because a day of judgment, appointed by a man raised from the dead, is coming.

Upon hearing about the resurrection, some mocked, while others expressed interest in hearing more.

Paul left, but some individuals, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, joined him and believed his message.

Summary!

Acts 17 captures Paul's strategic approach to preaching the gospel in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens.

In Thessalonica and Berea, he uses the synagogues, and teaches the Scriptures.

The Bereans' reception of the Gospel is commended, which is contrasted to many of the Thessalonians who opposed Paul.

In Athens, Paul's engagement at the Areopagus shows his willingness to proclaim Jesus to everyone.

Paul draws on Greek philosophy and literature, to present Christ as the fulfillment of the human longing.

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

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

Paul and Silas in Berea

¹⁰The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹Now 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. ¹²Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. ¹³But 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. ¹⁴Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. ¹⁵Those 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.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷So 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. ¹⁸Some 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. ¹⁹And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” ²¹Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

²²So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. ²³For 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. ²⁴The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, ²⁵nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ²⁶And 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, ²⁷that 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, ²⁸for

“‘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.’

²⁹Being 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. ³⁰The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹because 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.”

³²Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” ³³So Paul went out from their midst. ³⁴But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Q&A

Acts 17:1-3
Q1: Where did Paul and Silas go after leaving Philippi, and what did they do in Thessalonica, as mentioned in Acts 17:1-3?
A1: Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica, where Paul reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead.

Acts 17:4-5
Q2: How did some respond to Paul's preaching in Thessalonica, and what did they do to address the situation, as mentioned in Acts 17:4-5?
A2: Some of the Jews were persuaded, along with a great many devout Greeks and leading women. However, the Jews who were jealous formed a mob and set the city in an uproar.

Acts 17:6-9
Q3: What accusation did the crowd make against Paul and Silas, and how did the authorities respond, as mentioned in Acts 17:6-9?
A3: The crowd accused Paul and Silas of turning the world upside down and acting against Caesar's decrees. The authorities took security from Jason and the other believers and then released them.

Acts 17:10-12
Q4: What happened in Berea when Paul and Silas arrived, and how did the Bereans respond to the message, as mentioned in Acts 17:10-12?
A4: The Bereans received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many believed, including not a few Greek women of high standing and men.

Acts 17:13-15
Q5: How did the Jews in Thessalonica react to the news of Paul's preaching in Berea, and what did Paul do, as mentioned in Acts 17:13-15?
A5: When the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they came there and agitated the crowds. Paul was brought to Athens, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

Acts 17:16-17
Q6: How did Paul respond to the idols in Athens, and what did he do in the synagogue and in the marketplace, as mentioned in Acts 17:16-17?
A6: Paul was provoked in his spirit by the idols in Athens. He reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue and also in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.

Acts 17:18-21
Q7: Who engaged with Paul in the Areopagus in Athens, and what were they interested in hearing, as mentioned in Acts 17:18-21?
A7: Epicurean and Stoic philosophers engaged with Paul in the Areopagus. They were interested in hearing what this new teaching was that Paul was proclaiming.

Acts 17:22-23
Q8: How did Paul begin his address to the men of Athens, as mentioned in Acts 17:22-23?
A8: Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, addressed the men of Athens, acknowledging their religiosity and the altar to the unknown god.

Acts 17:24-29
Q9: What points did Paul make about God in his address, as mentioned in Acts 17:24-29?
A9: Paul spoke about the God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth. He emphasized that God is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything, and that all are God's offspring.

Acts 17:30-31
Q10: What message did Paul convey about repentance and judgment, as mentioned in Acts 17:30-31?
A10: Paul proclaimed that God commands all people everywhere to repent because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.

Acts 17:32-34
Q11: How did the people respond to Paul's message in Athens, as mentioned in Acts 17:32-34?
A11: Some mocked, while others said they would hear Paul again. Some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.