🙏🏽 Dear Heavenly Father – Speak to us; Your servants are listening. Our Lord, Jesus, said He would build His Church. Today we continue to study the history of how this started. Let us hear from You today – open our hearts and open our minds to hear what You have to say to us. Amen.
In Thessalonica
17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
Points to Ponder: As I get older, I marvel at the human condition. What stands in the way of people rejecting the message of hope found in the Gospel? Doubt… fear… pride?
Paul always speaks first to his fellow Jews to invite them to understand the fulfillment of the scriptures that they already know. Here we see that Paul spoke in the synagogue for three successive Saturdays. Some believed but others were jealous enough to start a riot. What was it in the Gospel message that they found most frightening?
When Christianity is embraced, the culture changes. We see favorable responses from a large number of Greeks and women – neither of which were favored at the synagogue.
In Berea
10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Points to Ponder: Here we see Paul, again, starting at the synagogue. The Jews were his family, he could not help but want to share good news with them. Scripture records this audience as people of noble character… not because they believed right away… but they received the message eagerly AND examined to see if it was true. I am reminded of Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4:23 – true worshippers involve both their heart and emotions (Spirit) with the minds (truth). We can’t just believe what we feel (Jeremiah 17:9-10, Proverbs 3:5, Romans 12:2.) We pray for a pure heart. (Psalm 51:10) And when we feel doubts arise… we can be like the Bereans and search the Scriptures.
It is fascinating that even after Paul has left Thessalonica, some felt compelled to follow him to Berea simply to cause trouble for him and the new believers. (Surely, we must see the evil in this.) But Paul is not deterred, he moves on – steadfast in his mission.
In Athens
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Points to Ponder: Some of the greatest philosophers arose out of Greece – thinking was considered a great virtue. Paul knew this and used this cultural practice to introduce the audience to the Gospel.
22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Points to Ponder: Paul was well educated. His audience could not dismiss him as he offers quotes from their own philosophers: Epimendes and Aratus. Scripture does not introduce ideas that have not been revealed to men… Scripture confirms and clarifies the truth behind all great ideas. (Romans 1:20) Paul’s use of what they have already heard and understood is a lesson for all of us. Start where they are at!
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
Points to Ponder: What Paul adds to these quotes is a call to respond to the God who created them. While a person may feel comfortable dismissing the words of a philosopher or a teacher, their conscience should make them think twice about dismissing a revelation from God. And we see again how people respond. ☹ Some sneered, but others followed.
In Corinth
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Points to Ponder: Regardless of how people respond, Paul knows that he must keep on teaching the truth. At this time Jews were not welcomed in Rome and many were in Corinth… including, Aquila and his wife Priscilla. (We will see them as faithful followers more in this book.) Once again, Paul starts his teaching in the synagogue.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Points to Ponder: Paul knows that he cannot save these people, they must make that choice themselves to believe the truth he shares. And he will not be stopped – when the Jews reject him, he moves on. We see that some Jews and some gentiles become followers… but not all. 💔
While the rejection is difficult, it is not surprising. Jesus told us that. (John 15:18,19) Paul, who was not an original disciple nor did he have the written New Testament as we do, gets that exact message of comfort in a vision.
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
Points to Ponder: This is wild. Gallio will not be drawn into religious matters brought up by the Jews. But apparently, the crowd physically beating the synagogue leader was beneath his attention as well. 😲
Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos
18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. 19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.
Points to Ponder: After this extended time in Corinth, Luke apparently feels like the husband and wife team, Aquilla and Priscilla, that Paul met at the beginning of the chapter should now be referred to as Priscilla and Aquilla. (Interesting.)
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Points to Ponder: Apollos – a great mystery and a great marvel for me. A native of Alexandria… that’s Egypt! Somehow… outside of the region where all the apostolic ministry was focused, this contemporary of Paul is now a very welcome colleague in the building of the early Church. Thorough knowledge of the Scriptures… instructed in the ways of the Lord… another bold speaker about Jesus in the Jewish synagogues. It is Priscilla and Aquila who invite him to their home to fine tune his knowledge. And it is the church in Ephesus that strengthens and encourages Apollos in his quest to go to Achaia – the area that Paul had just left, including Corinth, Athens, & Cenchreae. Apollos was a great help to those believers as he vigorously debated his Jewish opponents in public.
Look at all the people doing what they can with the gifts that God gives to them.
Summary: These chapters are a great reminder that only Jesus is our Lord. There are men and women – Jews and Gentiles – that step up to do their part in supporting the ministry of the Gospel. Let us all be encouraged to do what we can and support those who need it. And let us be like the Bereans to listen eagerly but investigate the truth of what we hear by reading the Scriptures.
🙏🏼 Heavenly Father – We thank You that Your redemption plan was for all mankind. All people groups… all geographical locations… You offer salvation to all who will submit to the truth of the work that was fulfilled by Jesus. Let us never look to ourselves to please you, but to glorify You by accepting this Good News of Grace extended to us. Let us always remember and marvel at all that was completed on the cross at Calvary. It is in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus that we lift our prayer of thanks to You. Amen.