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17
Thessalonica
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 So Paul, as was his custom, went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of devout Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
5 But the disobedient Jews* They were fundamentally disobedient to God, and so fell in with Satan's agenda. (Some 20% of the Greek manuscripts add ‘becoming envious’, but they do so in a variety of ways—the confusion is reflected in the versions.) rounded up some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob they created an uproar in the city; and attacking the house of Jason, they wanted to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But not finding them they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials vociferating: “These who have upset the whole world† Of course this was not intended as a compliment, but I personally wouldn't mind having this epithet/epitaph on my tombstone (if I ever have one). have come here too, 7 to whom Jason has given lodging. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 Well they agitated the crowd and the city officials when they heard these things. 9 Then they took a security bond from Jason and the rest and let them go.
Berea
10 Immediately, during the night, the brothers sent both Paul and Silas away to Berea; on arriving they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all goodwill, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things might be so.‡ So I wonder why Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and not to the Bereans. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the Word of God was also being proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came too, agitating the crowds. 14 So then, without delay, the brothers sent Paul away, as if to go by sea, while both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 But those who were conducting Paul actually took him all the way to Athens;§ They started toward the sea, to mislead any pursuers, but actually went overland to Athens; his escort stayed with him all the way. and receiving a command to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they started back.
Athens
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was increasingly aroused within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned both in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 Then certain philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoics, encountered him. Some said, “What might this idea-scavenger* They were not trying to be nice. want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 So taking him in tow they led him to the Areopagus and said: “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 Because you are bringing some strange things to our ears, and we would like to know what they might mean.”† Here they are reasonably polite. 21 (Now all Athenians and resident foreigners spent their time in nothing else but to tell, or else to hear, some novelty.)
Paul's Areopagus address
22 So standing in the middle of the Areopagus Paul said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 because as I went along and scrutinized the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO UNKNOWN GOD. Now then, the one you worship as ‘unknown’, this is the One I proclaim to you: 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples built by hands, 25 neither is He cared for by men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself has always given life and breath to all.‡ I would say that Paul illustrates the best strategy to use with an audience that has no biblical background—start with the Sovereign Creator. Note that Paul affirms that everyone owes his life to Him. 26 And from one blood§ Modern medicine has discovered this to be true; blood transfusions across racial boundaries are perfectly possible. Some 4.5% of the Greek manuscripts omit ‘blood’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). He made every ethnic nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,* God is involved in human history. Paul may have been thinking of Deuteronomy 32:8. 27 so that they should seek the Lord,† Instead of ‘the Lord’, some 45% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘God’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 because in Him we live and move and have our being.‡ Here is a fundamental truth, whether people recognize it or not. All God has to do is deprive you of oxygen for a few minutes and you die. As also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’§ Paul demonstrated a knowledge of their literature. 29 Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divinity is like gold or silver or stone—something shaped by human skill and imagination.* If we are God's offspring He must have all the capabilities we have, only bigger and better; and we are not metal or stone. 30 Such times of ignorance God did indeed overlook, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained; He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”† The resurrection of Jesus is central to our Faith for several reasons. Here Paul says it guarantees that we will be judged, righteously.
32 Well when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some started scoffing,‡ Satan hates the resurrection, and people controlled by him almost always react adversely to it (as Festus will do in chapter 26). while others said, “We will hear you again about this.”§ Evidently they never got another chance. People who try to impose their agenda on God usually do not do very well. 33 And with that Paul went out from among them.* Corinth became the hub of the Church for Greece, not Athens (see 18:11 below). 34 However some men believed and joined him, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, also a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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*17:5 They were fundamentally disobedient to God, and so fell in with Satan's agenda. (Some 20% of the Greek manuscripts add ‘becoming envious’, but they do so in a variety of ways—the confusion is reflected in the versions.)

†17:6 Of course this was not intended as a compliment, but I personally wouldn't mind having this epithet/epitaph on my tombstone (if I ever have one).

‡17:11 So I wonder why Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and not to the Bereans.

§17:15 They started toward the sea, to mislead any pursuers, but actually went overland to Athens; his escort stayed with him all the way.

*17:18 They were not trying to be nice.

†17:20 Here they are reasonably polite.

‡17:25 I would say that Paul illustrates the best strategy to use with an audience that has no biblical background—start with the Sovereign Creator. Note that Paul affirms that everyone owes his life to Him.

§17:26 Modern medicine has discovered this to be true; blood transfusions across racial boundaries are perfectly possible. Some 4.5% of the Greek manuscripts omit ‘blood’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

*17:26 God is involved in human history. Paul may have been thinking of Deuteronomy 32:8.

†17:27 Instead of ‘the Lord’, some 45% of the Greek manuscripts read ‘God’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

‡17:28 Here is a fundamental truth, whether people recognize it or not. All God has to do is deprive you of oxygen for a few minutes and you die.

§17:28 Paul demonstrated a knowledge of their literature.

*17:29 If we are God's offspring He must have all the capabilities we have, only bigger and better; and we are not metal or stone.

†17:31 The resurrection of Jesus is central to our Faith for several reasons. Here Paul says it guarantees that we will be judged, righteously.

‡17:32 Satan hates the resurrection, and people controlled by him almost always react adversely to it (as Festus will do in chapter 26).

§17:32 Evidently they never got another chance. People who try to impose their agenda on God usually do not do very well.

*17:33 Corinth became the hub of the Church for Greece, not Athens (see 18:11 below).

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD