CHAPTER 17------ Paul Continues His Second Missionary Journey

CHAPTER 17 BEGINS AT 1:53:22

Introduction to Acts 17:1-15

AT THESSALONICA THE SUCCESS OF PAUL'S PREACHING ENDANGERING HIS LIFE, HE IS DISPATCHED BY NIGHT TO BEREA, WHERE HIS MESSAGE MEETS WITH ENLIGHTENED ACCEPTANCE--A HOSTILE MOVEMENT FROM THESSALONICA OCCASIONS HIS SUDDEN DEPARTURE FROM BEREA--HE ARRIVES AT ATHENS. [2]

1 Now when they had traveled  through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they  came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3  explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ” .

In keeping with first the Jew then the Gentile, Paul reasoned with them on three Sabbath days.  See also Acts 13:14 & Acts 13:46.

The word reasoning is used, because in a Synagogue scripture (Torah) is read first and then discussed (as we do in Sunday school).

The prophets of the old testament foretold of a Christ (Messiah, a deliverer).

These prophecies provided Paul with the platform to introduce Jesus as that Messiah foretold.

4  And some of them were  persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of leading women.

Even though the Jews in the mission field were given the gospel first, it was the Gentile who were converted in greater numbers.

  Many Gentile women of distinction were among those converts.

These women of distinction were undoubtedly influential either through their husbands or because they owned businesses (such as Lydia).

Paul labored in Thessalonica for considerable time; see 1 Thessalonians 2:9.

Before leaving Paul insured the newly formed church had faithful church leaders.  See also Thessalonians 5:12 .  

5-9.
sometimes used as a Greek form of they assaulted the house of Jason--with whom Paul and Silas abode ( Acts 17:7 ), one of Paul's kinsmen, apparently ( Romans 16:21 ), and from his name, which was see the word Joshua [GROTIUS], probably a Hellenistic Jew. sought to bring them--Jason's lodgers. [2]

5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and  taking along some wicked men from the  market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

It is apparent Paul was upsetting the leaders of the Jews in the community.

They must became jealous over the influence that Paul had over the Jews listening to his preaching.

The Romans had at law against unruly crowds. Knowing this, the Jewish leaders conspired to accuse Paul and Silas of making trouble with the people.

The Jewish leaders were trying to get the Roman rulers to imprison Paul and Silas for violating Roman law.

6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they  all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

Scripture does not tell us where Paul and Silas were at this time.

Jason and his brother were dragged out and given over to the local judges, accusing them of being accomplices to Paul and Silas, and thereby they were guilty of harboring criminals, breaking Roman law.

Work using Paul and Silas of preaching sedition. In this case sedition was the fact that Paul and Silas were saying another king had come Jesus. His kingdom as we know was not of this world, in fact, they neglected to state.

8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9  And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

The city authorities feared the Emperor and Roman rulers and felt as though they must take some action.This pledge from “Jason and the others” could easily be called a fine or bail; which would guarantee Jason and the others would no longer accommodate Paul and Silas.Paul and Simon was weak. Considering this, the authorities sought no further action against Paul and Silas, and released Jason and the others.

Paul at Berea Verses 10-15

10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Paul and Silas left not out of fear, but rather the relay station that any further attempts to preach would be futile, and so they left at night to avoid possible confrontation with the Local Jewish leaders.

Using the Egnatian Way they travel the 50 or 60 miles south from Thessalonica to Berea.

When they arrived at Berea their first stop was at the synagogue, which was their custom.

Berea was one of the 4 districts dividing Macedonia.

11 Now 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.

The phrase Noble-minded was translated from the Greek word eugenes yoog-en'-ace; meaning well born, i.e. (literally) high in rank, or (figuratively) generous:--more noble, nobleman.

As well born men they were wealthy having much time to study the Scriptures; and did so daily.

They heard the word eagerly with open minds and a good heart.

This must have been refreshing for Paul and Silas, unlike the reception they received an Thessalonica, where mostly Gentiles were saved here in Berea. It was the Jews who were eager to hear the word.

12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

It is my contention that these prominent Greek women were not just nonbelievers, but actually Greek women.

These women are described as prominent Greek women and men.

This indicates they were in the upper crust of society probably wealthy, perhaps even own their own businesses.

We can assume as with the Jewish elite, that these Greek men and women were highly educated and had time to research the Scriptures to ensure what they were hearing was in fact truth.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

These men clearly had an agenda.

Their persistence to undermine Paul’s ministry, and perhaps accusing Paul and Silas of crimes against Rome. Just as they did in Thessalonica.

Paul must have had great concern for his mission, and probably frustration.

Today we to also face similar frustrations in our missions for God.

Satan will make every effort to thwart any godly mission you begin. 

Therefore, be prepared by with the full armor of God.

14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

The term brethren refers to those people living in Berea, who had been converted as a direct result of Paul’s ministry.

Scripture does not tell us how long Paul remained in Berea.

Paul’s desire was to return confess him like a as we read in  1 Thessalonians 2:17&18.

Paul left Berea without any destination in mind.

He was trusting in God. 

Having faith that by the time he reached the coastline, God would direct him to a predestined boat and destination.

I believed Silas and Timothy remained behind to mentor the newly formed church.

15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Timothy was summoned to undoubtedly make it easier for Paul to become acquainted with the residents of Athens.

Paul did not want to abandon the Thessalonians and believed that their mission there was not finished.

Paul dispatched Timothy from Athens to once again returned to Thessalonica to carry on the work that had been gotten there.

Timothy would later join the apostles at Corinth see Acts 18:1-5.  

Paul at Athens Verses 16-34

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 

Petronius, a contemporary writer at Nero's court, says satirically that it was easier to find a god at Athens than a man.

Because Athens lost political power it lost it’s once held status as the most important city in the world.

These man made idols by today’s standards were crude but the still brought a good revenue to their makers.

Even though Rome had concord the known world, Athens once called the greatest city in the world now became Rome. 

Athens was still revered as the center for culture.

The sin in Athens was great in Paul’s eyes not only because these Athenians worshiped false gods but these man made images was a bearer between them and the one and only God.

There are only 2 choices here:

 the 1st choice is to worship the one and only God,

 the 2nd choice is to worship evil and the evil one.

You cannot have it both ways you must choose.

 The phrase “being provoked” was it translated from the Greek word paroxuno par-ox-oo'-no sharpen alongside, i.e. (figuratively) to exasperate: [2,4].

Paul was disgusted with the city culture concerning these false gods, but he loved the people and told them the good news of Jesus.

17 So 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.

Here again we see Paul 1st speaking in the synagogue with fellow Jews and Gentile proselytes.

The Greek word for reasoning is dialegomai dee-al-eg'-om-ahee; to say thoroughly, i.e. discuss (in argument or exhortation):--dispute, preach (unto), reason (with), speak.

I believe that Paul was not just preaching here, but he was actually discussing the Scripture and how the Scripture foretold of Jesus being born, dying on the cross, and rising from the dead on the 3rd day.

The marketplace or Agora, or even place of public concourse was a place for people to meet, and buy the goods, much like our modern day mall.

18 And 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.

“The Epicureans followed what Epicurus taught. (Epicurus lived during 340-270 *BC.) The Epicureans believed in false gods. But they said that those gods had no interest in people’s lives. The Epicureans believed that people should just enjoy themselves as much as possible. They avoided things that caused fear and pain..” [3]

“The Stoics followed what Zeno taught. (Zeno died in 265 BC.) The Stoics did believe in a chief god, but they did not believe in the real God. They said that everything happened because of fate. They had no hope for the future. They were not like the Epicureans. They did not try to avoid pain. They believed that people should suffer bravely.”[2]

19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

Areios Pagos ar'-i-os pag'-os from Ares (the name of the Greek deity of war); rock of Ares, a place in Athens:--Areopagus, Mars' Hill. See

This was a place is where the high court was held who adjudicated the greatest criminals and also debated and passed down decisions pertaining to religious questions.

Paul was not brought their to be put on trial, but rather to expand upon those things that he spoke of in Agora to the court.

Let’s pause for a moment and just think of the obstacles Paul had to overcome in Athens.

20  “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.”

These people could only be convinced by empirical evidence, and the logical conclusion.

Paul was relating a set of facts about a man/God named Jesus, which they had never met, could not see an image of Jesus in stone, metal, or precious gem.

However, being a people, training, computer things scientifically in a logical manner. They wanted to hear what Paul had to say in finite detail.

21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

As we can see from the parentheses this verse was not part of the original text.

This verse was added to further clarify the inquisitive and explorative reputation of the  Athenians.

Perhaps Luke thought the Athenians did nothing but waste time idly talking and debating new ideas or concepts.

It would seem that the Athenians were talkers and not doers in Luke’s opinion.  We might call them today, pseudo-intellectuals.

Sermon on Mars Hill verses 22 - 34

22 So Paul stood in the midst of  the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.

Areopagus was the name for the leaders of Athens city.

The Areopagus still had much power and made many important decisions.

Paul used a different approach with these pagans.

He did not refer to the Scriptures, nor did he refer to Jewish history, as both these references were unknown to the pagans, and would not be meaningful to them.

We will see in the next verse that Paul begins speaking to them about something that they were familiar with an alter.

Paul begins with a compliment. It is a good practice for any person when speaking to someone to begin a conversation or lecture, with a little honey. It will make the vinegar more easy to swallow.

The word religious was translated from the Greek word deisidaimonia dice-ee-dahee-mon-ee'-ah meaning religion:--superstition.

Was Paul, calling their religion, a religion, or merely a superstition.

Most modern day Greek scholars interpret this to mean these people were very reverent in their religious beliefs.

Paul was not validating their religion. He was merely stating that his mind. They were very fervent in their beliefs.

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.

The Greeks worshiped many gods, and so there were many altars.

Paul refers to one alter in particular, with the inscription an unknown God.

  Using logic, Paul points out they were in fact worshiping in ignorance; Not knowing to which God they were worshiping.

Notice Paul did not address their worshiping of idols or false gods as a sin; as he did in Lycaonia in reaction to the people worshiping the apostles as gods (Acts 14:15-17).

Paul did not declare Christ as the Messiah to these pagans, for they would not have known of the prophetic Messiah, this prophecy was unique to the Jewish people;  but rather referred to Jesus as “the living God”.

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;

The Greeks actually humanized their gods, in that their gods were limited to specific things; whereas the one true God, Creator of all things in heaven and earth is omnipotent.

  Paul goes on to say the one true living God is not restricted to living in one place, a place built by human hands, but rather is Omnipresent.

  Jews were very familiar with this concept reference       to 1 Kings 8:27 , Isaiah 66:1 Isaiah 66:2 , & Acts   7:48;

however, to the pagans this was a new   concept. 

25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

Paul was actually using Isaiah 42:5 when talking with Greeks in this verse.

Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,

The Greek word for life is ‘zoe’ it was natural for them to recognize God as a giver of life, for they believe their chief god Zeus was the giver of life. 

What Paul was actually telling them, not in words but in context is that one true God that he was preaching about was a giver of life, not Zeus.

Their logic would have told them there could be only one God which gave life.

Paul was also appealing to their love of reasoning.  Paul reasoned since God the creator of all things could not have need of anything because all things were His, so therefore how could the created provide for the creator  see also 1 Chronicles 29:14

26 and 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,

We read in the book of Genesis chapter 1 of creation a creation of one man and one woman.

Therefore Paul was telling the Greeks of this account of creation in the book of Genesis.

Paul continues by telling the Greek that there is an appointed time and boundaries of mankind’s inhabitation of the earth.

  Paul may have been drawing from the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1–2.

  Paul is establishing not only is there an appointed time to be born but also an appointed time to die.

  God also establishes boundaries or in other words limits for mankind.

27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

“But God did not make us just so that he could watch us from far away. He wanted us to search for him. And he wanted us to know him. That was his plan.”[3]

Once again we see Paul using familiar words to describe the ever present God.

  That life is not a large leap for the Stoics believed that their God was in all things, and therefore present everywhere.

Paul wanted the Greeks to know that God was not the things he created, but everywhere and his desire was to have a close relationship with mankind.

28  for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

Paul must have read and studied the Greek poets. In preparation for his ministry with the Greeks. 

Paul used the words of the Greek poet Epimenides who lived about 600 BC. And also the Poet Aratus a stoic born 310 BC.

Paul used words and concepts his audience were familiar with to tell them it was God, not Zeus in whom we live and move; we are all 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.

Paul using a tenant of the Jewish law ( Leviticus 26:1) explains attempting to create a likeness of God, who is Spirit, John 4:24  is not only futile but wrong for He is more than gold, silver, or stone, and man is incapable of making any engraved image of God.

It was a strange concept for the Greek to worship a God they could not see.

  Even in today’s world we see people praying to (a form of worship) Saints as they would a deity, a concept undoubtedly stemming from the 2nd Council of Nicea.

“(In the eighth century, the second council of Nicea decreed that the image of God was as proper an object of worship as God Himself)”

30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

Paul tells the Greeks that the time of their ignorance is now done. Paul has told them about the one in true God, the God of all creation. From this time forward they could not use ignorance as an excuse for not worshiping the one and only God.

The word repent was translated from the Greek word 0 metanoeo met-an-o-eh'-o; meaning to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent.

Refer also to Luke 24:47, where Jesus says ‘and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’

Failure to do so would bring judgment upon the person or nation.

31 because 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.” 

God has a fixed time in which he will judge the world in His righteousness through Jesus.

Jesus will be the judge of all nations for the righteousness and the failure of any nation to repent of their ways will result in judgment by Jesus.

We know Paul was speaking of Jesus, by the mere fact that he states by raising him from the dead as proof.

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”

“when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked--As the Greek religion was but the glorification of the present life, by the worship of all its most beauteous forms, the Resurrection, which presupposes the vanity of the present life, and is nothing but life out of the death of all that sin has blighted, could have no charm for the true Greek. It gave the death blow to his fundamental and most cherished ideas; nor until these were seen to be false and fatal could the Resurrection, and the Gospel of which it was a primary doctrine, seem otherwise than ridiculous.
others said, We will hear thee again of this--"an idle compliment to Paul and an opiate to their consciences, such as we often meet with in our own day. They probably, like Felix, feared to hear more, lest they should be constrained to believe unwelcome truths" ( Acts 24:25 ; and compare Matthew 13:15 )” [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]

33 So Paul went out of their midst.  34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius and Areopagite and a woman named Dararis and others with them.

“A few people believed Paul’s message about Jesus and they went with Paul. Dionysius was a member of the *Areopagus.  Some students say that Damaris may have been a foreigner. That is because the ordinary women in Athens did not attend meetings of the *Areopagus. Other students think that she may have been Dionysius’ wife.  After that, Paul left Athens. Nowhere in the *New Testament does a writer mention a new *church in Athens. So, it seems that Paul’s speech was not very successful. He had explained the gospel in a particular way. In some students’ opinion, Paul thought that this way had failed. Certainly, when he came to Corinth, he *preached in a different way. Corinth was also a *pagan city. Later, he wrote these words. ‘I decided to speak only about Jesus *Christ, whom people *crucified’ (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).” [3]

CREDITS, LINKS, AND CITATION

Movie clip of "the acts of the apostles" via http:/youtube.com

Map furnished by http:/biblestudy.org

[1] – Cross wire 

[2] -  commentaries by /jamieson-fausset-brown

[3] – Commentaries By Marion Adams

[4] – Wikipedia. Org

[5] – The student Bible dictionary – Karen Dockery, Johnnie Godwin, Phyllis Goodwin