ACTS 17

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1Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

NOTE Paul's custom was to "go to church" (synagogue). He doesn't criticize it, yet goes to look for the God-fearing who might be attracted to JESUS PLUS NOTHING, for those whose hearts are leaning in and are attracted to Jesus as God's Messiah. And the Jewish leadership stirred up the people and threw them out of the city! Then, there is an interesting comparison here. Look at verse 10.

10The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Thessalonica and Berea. Each had a synagogue where Paul and Silas went in to speak. In Thessalonica "some were persuaded and a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and leading women." But Luke goes on to say that in Berea they found the people more noble-minded than in Thessalonica, real eager students of the word, testing out all that was said. What's most interesting to me is the apparent "noble-minded" reception of the Gospel by the Bereans didn't prove to be nearly the impact that it was to the Thessalonians. After only 3 Sabbaths the believers at Thessalonica really "got it." Once they received the Gospel, they spread the message of the Good News throughout most all of Asia Minor. The Bereans church didn't experience such impact! YOU CAN'T JUDGE WHAT WILL COME FROM PEOPLE'S INITIAL RESPONSE TO JESUS. REAL FRUIT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GROW.

16Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. 18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20"For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." 21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

While Paul is waiting in Athens, he has a divine appointment. This is the first totally non-synagogued (non-churched) audience he has spoken to and therefore handles his message of Jesus differently.

22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23"For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD ' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

29"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." 32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." 33So Paul went out of their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

NOTE that Paul is speaking to a non-synagogued group of people who were not familiar with the Scriptures. So he does the following:

FIRST-Paul affirms their religious zeal as he observes all of the idols of worship. How many ministers would berate the idols and criticize their worship?

SECOND-Paul picks up on an inscription on one of the altars to an unknown God and uses this as a stepping-stone for his message.

THIRD-He appeals to their common-sense belief that there is a HIGHER POWER Who has created everything gives us life and breath.

FOURTH-He doesn't quote Scripture, but quotes one of their famous poets. This is because his audience wouldn't have been familiar with the Scripture. Since all truth is God's truth, then even truth from a local poet can move a person's heart toward God.

FIFTH-He doesn't mention Jesus' name, but only speaks of this one Man whom God appointed to die and be resurrected.

And, some joined up with him and believed. Others decided to hear more later.

Christians spend too much time talking to themselves like "preaching to the choir". Paul is demonstrating how to relate to a non-churched audience and he does it without all the "normal" things we think might be important to say. When we use Christianese and do not relate to our world, our world cannot relate to our God. We just keep talking to ourselves!

Instead of judging the world and talking to ourselves, we must be about judging ourselves and talking to the world!