Acts 17:1-12

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Acts

Rusty's Notes

• We left off last week with… Paul & Silas leaving Philippi and Luke & Timothy most likely staying behind.
• The Church in Philippi is mostly populated by God-fearing women. Paul mentions Euodia and Syntyche in his letter to the Philippians later on in the story.

A SHORT MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA
Acts 17
51 AD
1 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

• Paul & Silas head west on the Egnatian Way. After passing through the towns of Amphipolis (about 30 miles southwest of Philippi) and Apollonia, they come to the port city of Thessalonica. Thessalonica is about 90 miles southwest of Philippi.
• Show the Maps
• Each of these cities was about a day’s journey apart when traveling by horseback.
• Luke gave no time frame; and if the company traveled by foot, one would have to assume the 100-mile journey took more than three days and that there were other stopping places than the two major towns Luke designated on their itinerary.[1]

2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue,

• A good number of Jews lived in this city if there was a synagogue.

and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”

• Four key words in Acts 17:2–3 describe Paul’s approach to the synagogue congregation.
• First, he “reasoned”, which means he dialogued with them through questions and answers.
• He “explained” (“opening”) the Scriptures to them and “proved” that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.
• The word translated “alleging” means “to lay down alongside, to prove by presenting the evidence.”
• The apostle set before them one Old Testament proof after another that Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah God.

4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.

• Timothy not mentioned.
• This witness went on for only three Sabbaths; then he had to minister outside the synagogue.
• We do not know exactly how long Paul remained in Thessalonica, but it was long enough to receive financial help twice from the church in Philippi (Phil. 4:15–16).[2]

 
RIOT IN THE CITY
5 But the Jews became jealous,

• They were losing their numbers in the synagogue.
• The Jews began listening and following Paul.
• Pirating “church members”.

and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city.

• Easily described as men from Philippi where Paul & Silas were run out of town.

Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.

• Jason was the host of Paul, Silas & Timothy.

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 welcomed them.

• Iconium, Derbe, Lystra, Philippi had all experienced similar stories of Paul telling people about the resurrection of Jesus.

They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.”

• In A.D. 16, Emperor Tiberius issued an imperial decree banning the prediction of a new king and kingdom in the cities of the empire.

8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

• The mob was agitated because they could not find Paul and Silas, so they settled for second best and obtained a peace bond against them.
• Jason had to put up the money and guarantee that Paul and Silas would leave the city and not return.
• Paul saw this prohibition as a device of Satan to hinder the work (1 Thes. 2:18), but it certainly did not hinder the Thessalonian church from “sounding out the word” and winning the lost (1 Thes. 1:6–9).[3]
• Bad publicity is publicity.
• When faith is challenged, the faithful will rise up… even against the government.
• Is the Church essential or not?

 
THE BEREANS SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
10 As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.

• About fifty miles from Thessalonica, Berea lay on the eastern slopes of Mt. Vermion in the Olympian mountain range.
• In a somewhat remote region, Berea was the most significant city of the area, having been capital of one of the four divisions of Macedonia from 167–148 b.c.
• It evidently had a sizable population in Paul’s day.
• The journey from Thessalonica began in the nighttime because of the hasty departure.
• By foot it would have taken about three days.[4]

Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

• Paul went into the synagogue and there discovered a group of people keenly interested in the study of the Old Testament Scriptures.
• In fact, they met daily to search the Scriptures to determine whether or not what Paul was saying was true.
• Paul had been overjoyed at the way the people in Thessalonica had received the Word (1 Thes. 2:13), so these “noble Bereans” must have really encouraged his heart.[5]
• When it comes to the Word of God, it is always best to listen, hear and go check it out for yourself rather than just assume what they are telling you is true.
• It took me a long time to learn this.
• Now I filter all the time.
• People ask me who I read or listen to… very few.
• I have over 3,000 books in my digital library.
• That’s a lot of opinions.
• I look for facts and things that make sense with other Scripture so all 66 books line up together.

 
Promised through the Seed of a line of Jewish Patriarchs
Genesis 21:12 – Line of Isaac
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be concerned about the boy and your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac[6][7]
 
Jeremiah 23:5-6 – Line of David
5 “The days are coming” —this is the Lord’s declaration--
“when I will raise up a Righteous Branch of David.
He will reign wisely as king
and administer justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely.
This is what He will be named:
Yahweh Our Righteousness. [8]
 
Isaiah 11:1-2 – Line of Jesse
1 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him --
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. [9]
 
Numbers 24:17 – Line of Jacob
17 I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel. [10]
 
Micah 5:2 – Line of Judah
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
One will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for Me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from eternity.[11]
 
Luke 3:31-34
31 son of Nathan, son of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6),
32 son of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-2), son of Obed,
son of Boaz, son of Salmon,
son of Nahshon, 33 son of Amminadab,
son of Ram, son of Hezron,
son of Perez, son of Judah, (Micah 5:2)
34 son of Jacob (Number 24:17), son of Isaac (Genesis 21:12), [12]
 
Born in Bethlehem
Micah 5:2
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
One will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for Me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from eternity.[13]
Matthew 2:1
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, [14]
 - 2 Bethlehem’s – Sea of Galilee & near Jerusalem.
 
Born of a Virgin
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[15]
Matthew 1:18
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.[16]
 
Shall Be Immanuel (God With Us)
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.[17]
Matthew 1:23
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name Him Immanuel, [18]

• These cannot all come to pass by chance.
• In 1969, Professor Peter Stoner took eight of those prophecies, eight of them...born in Bethlehem, preceded by a messenger, riding on a donkey, betrayed by a friend, sold for 30 pieces of silver, money used to buy a potter's field, silent as a lamb, hands and feet pieced.
• Had his math students do a study of the science of probability. They came up with one chance in ten to the seventeenth power...that's one chance in ten with seventeen zeroes after it.
• And interestingly enough, some years later his grandson went back to the problem and decided it was actually ten to the eighteenth power.
• Cover Texas with silver dollars… have a blind man pick 1 pre-marked silver dollar out of the whole bunch.

 
But here is the “proof in the pudding.” (You have to eat the pudding to know what is in it.)

• Colossians 1:27
  27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[19]

 
12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. [20]

[1] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, pp. 359–360). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 470). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 471). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Polhill, J. B. (1992). Acts (Vol. 26, p. 363). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 471). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 21:12). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ge 22:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Je 23:5–6). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 11:1–2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Nu 24:17). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 3:31–34). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mic 5:2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 2:1). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:18). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[17] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[18] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 1:23). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[19] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Col 1:27–28). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[20] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 17:1–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.