17:1 Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. This is the first city Paul visited where his teachings attracted a large group of socially prominent citizens. The church he planted grew quickly, but from A.D. 50 to 51, Paul was forced out of the city by a mob (17:5, 6, 10). He later sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the Christians were doing. Soon afterward, Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonian believers (1 and 2 Thessalonians), encouraging them to remain faithful and to refuse to listen to false teachers who tried to refute their beliefs.
17:1, 2 A synagogue, a group of Jews who gathered for teaching and prayer, could be established wherever 10 Jewish males lived. Paul’s regular practice was to preach in synagogues as long as the Jews allowed it. Often those who weren’t Jews would come to these services and hear Paul’s preaching. For a description of a synagogue service, see the note on 13:14, 15.
17:2, 3 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. This is a good strategy for us. When we witness for Christ, we should begin where people are, affirming the truth they do know, and then we can present Christ, the one who is truth.
17:5 The Jewish leaders didn’t try to refute the theology of Paul and Silas, but they were jealous of the popularity of these itinerant preachers. Their motives for causing the riot were rooted in personal jealousy, not doctrinal purity.
17:6 We don’t know much about Jason except that he evidently was the local host and sponsor of Paul and Silas; thus, he took the heat for all the problems. Jason is just one of many “unsung heroes” who faithfully played their part to help spread the gospel. Because of Jason’s courage, Paul and Silas were able to minister more effectively. You may not receive much attention (in fact, you may receive only grief) for your service for Christ. But God wants to use you. Lives will be changed because of your courage and faithfulness.
17:6 What a reputation these early Christians had! The power of the gospel revolutionized lives, broke down all social barriers, threw open prison doors, caused people to care deeply for one another, and stirred them to worship God. Our world needs to be turned upside down, to be transformed. The good news doesn’t merely improve programs and encourage good conduct; it dynamically transforms lives. Take courage and ask God how you can help spread his good news throughout your world.
17:7 The Jewish leaders had to concoct charges against Paul and Silas that would be heard by the city government. The Romans did not care about theological disagreements between the Jews and these preachers. Treason, however, was a serious offense in the Roman Empire. Paul and Silas were not advocating rebellion against Roman law, but their loyalty to another king sounded suspicious.
17:8, 9 Jason posted bond—putting up cash for freedom. By doing so, he promised that the trouble would cease or his own property and possibly his own life would be taken.
17:11 How do you evaluate sermons and teachings? The people in Berea searched the Scriptures for themselves to verify the message they heard. Always compare what you hear with what the Bible says. A preacher or teacher who gives God’s true message will never contradict or explain away anything that is found in God’s Word.
17:16 Paul was troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. The word translated “stirred” is the Greek word “paroxysm,” meaning “sudden, violent emotion.” Paul was filled with a combination of anger and grief. Seeing people spiritually lost, blinded by Satan, and trapped in a pagan culture caused Paul to be in a state of emotional upheaval. Though highly educated, the Athenians were ignorant of the one true God. It’s interesting to note that Paul turned his internal turmoil into positive action: he looked for opportunities to share the truth about Jesus. Does the lostness of people move you to action? And if so, do you seek opportunities to share the gospel?
17:18 The Epicureans and Stoics were the dominant philosophers in Greek culture. The Epicureans believed that seeking happiness or pleasure was the primary goal of life. By contrast, the Stoics placed thinking above feeling and tried to live in harmony with nature and reason, suppressing their desire for pleasure. Thus, they were very disciplined.
17:19 For a time the council met on a low hill in Athens near the Acropolis. As Paul stood there and spoke about the one true God, his audience could look down on the city and see the many idols representing gods that Paul knew were worthless.
17:22 Paul was well prepared to speak to this group. He came from Tarsus, an educational center, and had the training and knowledge to present his beliefs clearly and persuasively. Paul was a rabbi, taught by the finest scholar of his day, Gamaliel, and he had spent much of his life thinking and reasoning through the Scriptures.
It is not enough to teach or preach with conviction. Like Paul, we must be prepared. The more we know about the Bible, what it means, and how to apply it to life, the more convincing our words will be. This does not mean that we should avoid presenting the gospel until we feel adequately prepared. We should use what we have learned but always seek to know more in order to be an effective witness and be able to respond to people’s questions and arguments.
17:22ff Paul’s address is a good example of how to communicate the gospel. Paul did not begin by reciting Jewish history, as he usually did, for this would have been meaningless to his Greek audience. He began by building a case for the one true God, using examples they understood (17:22, 23). The Athenians had built an idol to the unknown god for fear of missing blessings or receiving punishment. Paul’s opening statement to the men of Athens was about their unknown god. Paul was not endorsing this god but using the inscription as a point of entry for his witness to the one true God. Then he established common ground by emphasizing what they agreed on about God (17:24-29). Finally he moved his message to the person of Christ, centering on the Resurrection (17:30, 31). When you witness to others, you can follow Paul’s approach: Use examples, establish common ground, and then move people toward a decision about Jesus Christ.
17:23 Paul explained the one true God to these educated men of Athens; although these men were, in general, very religious, they did not know God. Today we have a “Christian” society, but to most people, God is still unknown. We need to proclaim who he is and make clear what he did for everyone through his Son, Jesus Christ. We cannot assume that even religious people around us truly know Jesus or understand the importance of faith in him.
17:27, 28 God is in his creation and close to every one of us. But he is not trapped in his creation—he is transcendent. God is the Creator, not the creation. This means that God is sovereign and in control, while at the same time he is close and personal. Let the Creator of the universe rule your life.
17:30, 31 Paul did not leave his message unfinished. He confronted his listeners with Jesus’ resurrection and its meaning to all people—either blessing or punishment. The Greeks had no concept of judgment. Most of them preferred worshiping many gods instead of just one, and the concept of resurrection was unbelievable and offensive to them. Paul did not hold back the truth, however, no matter what they might think of it. Paul often changed his approach to fit his audience, but he never changed his basic message.
17:32-34 Paul’s speech received a mixed reaction: Some laughed, some wanted more information, and a few believed. Don’t hesitate to tell others about Christ because you fear that some will not believe you. Don’t expect a unanimously positive response to your witnessing. Even if only a few believe, it’s worth the effort.