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October 7, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Acts? Here’s today’s reading:

Acts 17 (NIV)

In Thessalonica
1 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............Continue Reading

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This Post Has 9 Comments
  1. Athens is a pretty accurate picture of many people today. They like to have the idea of “a god” but don’t want to acknowledge the one true God. We like to talk about doing what’s right and being kind with no real origin of where those notions come from some somehow they end up giving themselves credit for being “good” We may not fashion idols out of gold or silver but we certainly have plenty of material things that come before God or that we worship like a god. Paul wanted them to acknowledge that there is one God the God who made it all and sent His son to die for us.

  2. It was so appropriate for Paul to speak to the Athenians using logic since that was how they discussed philosophical matters.

  3. The pattern for Paul remains fairly consistent. He goes to a new city, he preaches in the synagogue, some Jews and God fearing Greeks believe and the other Jews get upset to varying degrees and cause trouble (also of varying degrees). It is just amazing here in Thessalonica that the Jews actually associate with people that they would disagree with so as to cause trouble for Paul. It just goes to show how desperate people can be to oppose the things of God, quite possibly because their own conscience is pricked. And sometimes we can be persecuted because of our association with someone and it is important for us to stay committed to the truth and the godly person we are associated with.

    And we would all be wise to be like the Bereans, continually searching the Scriptures to make sure what we are being taught is true. Although there is a place to value the teaching of others, we are ultimately responsible for our own faith. And we would be wise not to be like the Athenians. They are always leaning but never being convinced, convicted or transformed by what they hear. Learning is never intended to be an end in itself, but is to make us better people for the sake of others and in the case of the believer, to draw us closer to God and His influence and power. But notice once again that Paul gives a message that is definitely oriented to this audience of Athenians. He mentions their gods, calling them religious and speaks first of God as creator and the God who is radically different from their gods. And yet the resurrection of Jesus is often the stumbling block, because if he is raised, then all He is and does is validated and He shows that He is the way, the truth and the life…..

  4. The Bereans looks to scripture:
    “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”

    This reminded me of Jesus’ words to the Jews:
    “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

    Two responses to the same scriptures.

    Paul used the spiritual openness of the Athenians to share the truth with them about Jesus.
    It appears that some mocked at the news that Jesus rose from the dead. It does seem quite unbelievable, but others were willing to hear more.

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