Coachlight Bible Study - Acts
Chapter 17
Paul's Second Missionary Journey
Part Two
Phillipi to
Thesalonica - Thessalonica to Berea - Berea to Athens
We will continue with the travels of
Paul and his services and sufferings for Christ. He was called into Macedonia
in Acts 16:9 and began the Macedonian
ministry in Philippi.
In the first part of this chapter,
we read of his ministry in
Thessalonica. Paul’s first two epistles written by inspiration were to the
Thessalonians. They give such a shining character of that
church, that it is great to read the
account of the planting of that church in Acts.
We will also read in this chapter of his
preaching and persecution in Berea, and his famous sermon on Mars Hill to the
philosophers in Athens.
We have an important lesson in
evangelism in this chapter. To the Jews in Thessalonica, Paul preached Jesus
suffering, died, and ressurected. But to the Philosophers and idoloters, (much
like today's evolutionists), Paul preached Creation.
I. A Church Planted at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4)
A. Paul went on
with his work even after the beating and jail in Philippi
1 Thessalonians
2:2 But even after that we had suffered
before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in
our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
B. Paul's preaching was to the Jews first - in their
synagogue.
1. He reasoned
with them in the Scriptures
1256 dialegomai dialegomai dee-al-eg’-om-ahee
AV-dispute 6, reason with 2, reason 2,
preach unto 1, preach 1, speak 1; 13
1) to think different things with one’s
self, mingle thought with thought
1a) to ponder, revolve in mind
2) to converse, discourse with one,
argue, discuss
2. He continued
to do this three sabbath days in a row
3. His preaching
and arguing was to prove that Jesus is the Christ to the Jews
a. He suffered
b. He died
c. He rose again
from the dead
d. This Jesus is
Christ or Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament
4. Some of the
Jews believed
a. Devout Greeks
- a great multitude
b. Chief women -
not a few
5. Paul writes
to the Christians there
1 Thessalonians
1:9 For they themselves shew of us what
manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God;
II. Non Believing Jews Persecute Paul out of Envy (Acts
17:5-9)
1 Thessalonians
2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus,
and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and
are contrary to all men: {persecuted us: or, chased us out}
1 Thessalonians
2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the
Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath
is come upon them to the uttermost.
A. The Enemies
of the Gospel are the worst of Men (tertullien)
1.They had the
city in an uproar
2. Assalted
Jason's house
a. The house in
which the apostles were staying
b. Took Jason
and other brethern to the rulers
B. Accuse Jason
and the rest
1. They do
contrary to the decrees of Ceaser
2. They preach
another King, One Jesus
C. {When they
had taken security} (labontev to ikanon). A Greek idiom
- to receive the sufficient (bond), usually money for the fulfilment of the
judgment.
2983 lambanw lambano lam-ban’-o
a prolonged form of a primary verb,
which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses; TDNT-4:5,495; v
AV-receive 133, take 106, have 3, catch
3, not tr 1, misc 17; 263
2425 ikanov hikanos hik-an-os’
from hiko [hikano or hikneomai, akin to 2240] (to arrive);
TDNT-3:293,361; adj
AV-many 11, much 6, worthy 5, long 4,
sufficient 3, misc 12; 41
D. Probably the
demand was made of Jason that he see to it that Paul and Silas leave the city
not to return.
E. Paul writes
of when he was taken from them
1 Thessalonians
2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from
you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly
to see your face with great desire.
F. They Let
Jason go after taking the bail
III. Paul Preaches in Berea - (Acts 17:10-12)
A. Brethern take
care of Paul and Silas
1. Sent them
away by night to Berea
2. Paul wrote
that this would not be a surprise to new converts
1 Thessalonians
3:4 For verily, when we were with you,
we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass,
and ye know.
B. Paul &
Silas go right to work - to the synagogue
C. Bereans were
more noble than the Thessalonians
1. Received the
Word with all readiness of mind
2. Searched the
Scriptures daily for proof
D. Many of them
Believed
1. Also of
honourable Greek women
2. Greek men -
not a few
III. Paul is Persecuted in Berea - (Acts 17:13-15)
A. Jews of
Thessalonica find out Paul preaching in Berea
1. They stirred
up the people of Berea
2. The brethren
send Paul to Athens
3. Silas and
Timothy remained for a while - to continue the work
1 Thessalonians
3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer
forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
1 Thessalonians
3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother,
and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to
establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
B. Paul told
them to meet him in Athens as soon as possible
IV. Disputation with Greek Philosophers (Acts 17:16-21)
A. Paul waited
at Athens
1. Areopagus -
same word that is translated Mars’ Hill in
verse 22
a. The town
house of their city
b. It was where
the magistrates met upon public business
c. It was where
the courts of justice were kept
d. It was as the
theatre in the university where philosophers met
2. Paul noticed
that the city was wholly given to idolatry
This agrees with the account which the
heathen writers give of it, that there
were more idols in Athens than there were in all Greece besides put
together, and that they had twice as
many sacred feasts as others had.
Whatever strange gods were recommended to them, they admitted them, and allowed them a temple and an altar, so that they had almost as many gods as men.
And this city, after the empire became Christian, continued incurably addicted to idolatry, and all the pious edicts of the Christian emperors
could not root it out, till, by the irruption of the Goths, that city was in so particular a manner laid
waste that there are now scarcely any remains of it. It is observable that
there, where human learning most
flourished, idolatry most
abounded, and the most absurd and
ridiculous idolatry
3. The famous
court of justice drew from all over
a. If any denied
a god, he was liable to the censure of
this court.
b. No new god be
admitted without their OK.
c. Here Paul was
tried - but not as a criminal - as a candidate.
B. Two Schools
of Philosophy at Athens - Much like today's Evolutionists
1. Epicurians
a. Believed god
was an inactive being
b. Believed God
didn't make or govern the world
c. Believed
pleasure of the senses was most important
d. Did not
believe in life after death
2. Stoicks
a. Pantheists -
thought themselves as good as god
b. Indulged in
pride of life as much as Epicurians did pleasures
c. Believed men
need to abstain from pleasures
d. Did not
believe in life after death
C. Philosophers
were interested in conversation with Paul
1. They were
there for conversation
2. They were for
telling and hearing some new thing
3. They
preferred learning by conversation rather than study
4. They spent
their time in nothing else
5. They were busybodies
1 Timothy
5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house
to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things
which they ought not.
D. Philosophers
took Paul to Mars Hill
1. Thought he
preached strange gods
a. He preached
Jesus
b. He preached
the resurrection
2. Wanted to
know what the new teaching was
V. Paul's Sermon at Mars Hill - Creation (Acts 17:22-31)
A. Told them he
knew the God they called the unknown God
1. He made the
world and all things in it.
2. He does not
live in buildings
3. He is not
worshiped with men's hands as if he needed anything
1 Kings
8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the
earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much
less this house that I have builded?
Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and
where is the place of my rest?
Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word.
4. He maintains
all and does not benefit by any of our services
5. God made all
men of one kind
a. That they
should seek the Lord
b. He is not far
- you can know Him
6. The Godhead is not gold or silver or
graven images
2304 yeiov theios thi’-os
from 2316; TDNT-3:122,322; adj
AV-divine 2, Godhead 1; 3
1) a general name of deities or
divinities as used by the Greeks
2) spoken of the only and true God,
trinity
2a) of Christ
2b) Holy Spirit
2c) the Father
7. God winked at
ignorance before the gospel was preached - Paul said of himself
1 Timothy
1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
8. God calls all
to repentance - come out of ignorance
9. He has
appointed a Day of judgment
a. By the One He
hath ordained
b. He assured
everyone by raising Him from the dead
VI. Result of Paul's Sermon at Mars Hill(Acts 17:22-31)
1. Some
ridiculed Paul and his preaching -
a. did not
believe in the resurection of the dead
b. They deified
their heroes after their death, but
never thought of them being raised from the dead
2. Others were
willing to take time to consider of it - "We will hear thee again of this
matter"
3. Paul left them to consider it -
"He departed from amongst them"
4.There were
certain men that adhered to him, and
believed.
a. Dionysius the
Areopagite, one of that high court or
great council that sat in Areopagus
The account of Eusebius of this Dionysius is that he was bred at
Athens, had studied astrology in
Egypt, where he took notice of the
miraculous eclipse at our Saviour’s passion, -that, returning to Athens, he
became a senator, disputed with
Paul, and was by him converted from his
error and idolatry; and, being by him
thoroughly instructed, was made the
first bishop of Athens.
b. The woman
named Damaris
c. And others
with them