February 6, 2022
Acts 17:1-15
“Trouble-maker or Truth-seeker”
Service Overview: In this section, Luke again holds out to us as examples two wildly different reactions when various groups of people hear the gospel; riotous anger, and exemplary virtue. And in this section, we’re commended with the virtue of the Bereans; who diligently searched the scriptures to confirm what was being preached by the apostles.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV)
Background Information:
- Thessalonica was the capital city of the province of Macedonia. A key center of travel and trade, the city was located about one hundred miles west of Philippi on the main highway across the peninsula. Berea (17:10) was a smaller town, approximately fifty miles further to the southwest. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition, Location, 3422)
- The most important Roman highway (the Egnatian Way)—extending from Rome all the way to the Orient—went through Thessalonica. This highway, along with the city’s thriving seaport, made Thessalonica one of the wealthiest and most flourishing trade centers in the Roman Empire. (Grant R. Osborne, Acts, 291)
- Still important today, Thessalonica was the most important city of ancient Macedonia. It was founded in 315 B.C. and named by Cassander, its founder, for his wife, who was a stepsister of Alexander the Great. Made a free city in 42 B.C., it became the capital of the second district of Macedonia. The Roman proconsul resided there. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Location 6585-6588)
- Paul and Silas followed the Via Egnatia, or Egnatian Way, a road built by the Romans two centuries earlier. Because it was made from precision—fitted stones, the road Still looked new in Paul’s day, and parts of it are still in good condition today. The Via Egnatia connected several Roman provinces in what we now know as Greece, Macedonia, Albania, and European Turkey. The cities Luke mentions—Amphipolis, Apollonia, and Thessalonica – were all points along that road. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 219)
- The bold and serious charge of treason could not be ignored by the politarchs. There was a slight plausibility to it. Paul did preach Jesus as Lord of all. We know that he taught at Thessalonica the doctrine of Christ’s second coming in power and glory (cf. 2 Thess. 2:5). He seemed careful, however, to avoid using the term king, probably because it would be easily misunderstood in the Roman world. Among the Jews, he might have spoken of the kingdom of heaven. But the charge of treason against Caesar was knowingly trumped up. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 194)
The question to be answered is…
Why would Paul even think of returning to places that only proved hostile to him in the past?
Answer…
For Paul, Jesus’ mission for him surpassed his concern for personal safety and comfort.
The word of the day is… Noble
What aspects of this text should stand out to us?
- Paul’s courage; pursuing the mission despite risk.
(vv. 2, 10 | Deut. 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 28:1; 1 Cor. 16:13; Gal. 2:20; 2 Timothy 1:7)
Note the persistence of Paul and his team. Despite being pushed out of Philippi and Thessalonica, the group went right on to the next town, preaching again the gospel which had had them railroaded out of the last two cities. (Bence, Acts, Kindle Location 3459)
- Paul’s method; persuasion through reason.
(vv. 2-3 | Acts 17:17; 18:4, 19; 2 Cor. 5:11; Col. 1:9; James 3:17; 1 Peter 3:15)
When Paul spoke in the synagogues, he wisely began by talking about Old Testament writings and explaining how the Messiah fulfilled them, moving from the known to the unknown (17:2-3). This was a good strategy. When we witness for Christ, we should begin where people are, affirming the truth they do know, and ultimately move toward presenting Christ, the one who is truth. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 292)
- The charge; turning the world upside down.
(vv. 6-7 | Mat. 5:14-16 6:33; Romans 1:16; 12:2; 13:12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 5:8)
These Christians had indeed turned the world upside down. But the fact is that the world was already upside down, a wretched jumble of misery and sin. When you turn something upside down that is already upside down, you are turning it right-side up. The world has been upside down since the Fall, so wherever the gospel penetrates, a little corner of the world is set aright. As men and women respond to the gospel, God’s original plan for humanity begins to be worked out in their lives, and they experience healed relationships, forgiveness of sin, and freedom from shame. The world desperately needs to be turned upside down by the grace of God. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 222)
Jason was charged with harboring Paul and Silas, these that have turned the world upside down, troublemakers, political agitators, revolutionaries. It was indirectly an immense tribute to the effectiveness of the Christian message in the world. Wherever the gospel went, it made a powerful difference; it could never be simply ignored as could other religious fads. (Airhart, Acts, 194)
- The contrast; the virtue of the Bereans over others.
(vv. 5, 11 | Proverbs 9:9; 18:15; John 5:39; Philippians 4:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:5-8)
Because of their attitude and their searching of the Scriptures, which obviously they loved, the Bible says they were “of more noble character” than the Jews in Thessalonica. Because they searched the Scriptures these Bereans not only set an example for us all, but Paul did not have to correct them later, as he did so many other churches. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Location 6660)
Conclusion… How does this text serve to challenge and shape our faith?
A. Be like the Bereans…
- Study to discover.
- Discuss to deepen.
- Test to discern.
(Proverbs 27:17; Acts 5:42; Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 4:1)
Those who are too lazy to search out the truth are lost in a sea of relativism and confusion. They let others do their thinking for them and are easily manipulated, like the rabble in Thessalonica. If you don’t want to end up as a tool of manipulative leaders, you must have the nobility of mind to check out the truth according to Scripture. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 224)
All of us should imitate these Bereans by faithfully studying God’s Word daily, discussing it, and testing the messages that we hear. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 376)
There are preachers who want people to accept what they say just because they say it. They do not want to be challenged. Good preachers want a congregation that hears the Word, receives it eagerly, and then goes to the Scriptures daily to see if what is being taught is really true. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 292)
B. Live your faith such that you too could be accused of turning the world upside down.
(Matthew 5:14-16; John 15:1-27; Galatians 2:20; 5:22-25; Ephesians 2:10; James 2:14, 17)
Paul and Silas were accused of turning the world upside down. What a reputation the early Christians had! The power of the gospel revolutionized lives, broke down social barriers, threw open prison doors, caused people to care deeply for one another, and stirred them to worship God. Our world needs similarly to be turned upside down. At its core, the gospel is not about establishing new programs or encouraging good conduct; it is about dynamically transforming lives. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 295)
When Christianity really goes into action it must cause a revolution both in the life of the individual and in the life of society. (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 128)
Gospel Application…
Jesus came to save by conquering hearts and lives and to indeed turn the world upside down.
(Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:6)
The kingship of Jesus Christ is unlike that of the rulers of this world. He conquers with ambassadors, not armies, and His weapons are truth and love. He brings men peace by upsetting the peace and turning things upside down! He conquers through His cross, where He died for a world of lost sinners. He even died for His enemies (Rom. 5:6–10)! (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 376)
As Paul showed the people at Thessalonica, the message is Jesus in all His fullness. When the Word is rightly preached, people will learn about Jesus, whether from the Old Testament or the New Testament. All of it is about Jesus. If we do this faithfully, maybe the next generation will look back at us and say, “They were the ones who turned the world upside down,” because that is what the Word of God can do. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 267)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Read Acts 17:1-15. What verbs describe Paul’s approach to the Thessalonians and their response (vv. 1-10)? What verbs describe the response of the Bereans to Paul’s teaching (vv. 11-12)?
- Compare and contrast the response of the Thessalonians and the Bereans to the gospel.
- What risk is there in openly sharing the gospel these days? What often prevents Christians from doing it?
- In what ways is the church actively “turning the world upside down”? How do you see that happening in your church? How do you play a part in that effort?
Quotes to note…
Their preaching and ministry were very effective. Even though they were treated outrageously at Philippi, this did not cause them to be timid or fearful. At Thessalonica they preached openly and boldly with pure motives as servants of Jesus Christ. They were gentle to the new converts also, giving them all kinds of loving, tender care. Yet they were firm in their stand for righteousness and encouraged every one of them to live in a manner worthy of the God who called them to His own kingdom and glory. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Location Kindle Locations 6604-6607)
The gospel always bears fruit when faithfully presented. The response varies, but the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom . 1:16). (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 192)
Nothing is more frustrating than trying to grow in a life one has not really begun. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 251)
It can be a terrible thing when a man identifies his aims with the will of God instead of submitting his aims to that will, (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 129)
Luke emphasizes the conversion of women in several places in Acts. The gospel had a particular appeal to women, especially to prominent women of the upper classes. Why? It’s likely that these women had an understanding of the philosophies of Greek culture and had found these philosophies to be empty and unsatisfying to the soul. Moreover, the Greek culture was permeated with degrading sexual practices that devastated women and left them full of shame and self-loathing. Many of these women turned toward the enlightened morality of Judaism, only to find themselves burdened with oppressive rules and rituals that again left them empty. Finally, Paul came, bringing the glad news that, in Jesus Christ, there is neither male nor female, bond nor free, Jew nor Gentile, black nor white, nor any other distinction. All the walls that separate people from each other and from God had been torn down. These women responded joyously to the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 221)
Note also the great contrast between the response of the Jews in the two cities. One group rejected the new teaching because it was new and popular. The second group wanted time to evaluate the new teaching by means of the Scriptures’ standard. When today’s church encounters new ideas or practices, we should all be “Bereans.” Consulting the Scriptures (as both our “textbook” and our “court of appeal”) enables us to overcome the opposite dangers of gullibility and unnecessary resistance. Through His book, God can help His people to discover and follow the truth. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition, Location, 3459)
[Paul] reached the deepest needs of people in Thessalonica with the preaching of Jesus Christ as the only basis of abundant life now and eternal life forever. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 251)
