Paul, Silas, and Timothy have been going to various cities preaching the gospel of salvation to all who would listen.
Paul has been called by God to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, but he has still always taken the time to bring the gospel to the Jews who dwell in those cities which he visits.
Acts 17:1-4- Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Paul has seen many souls saved from both the Jews and the Greeks. But, it never fails that when he tells the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Jews become jealous and envious and work against him.
Acts 17:5-8- But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
These Jews went as far as to hire what we today would call low-lifes, thugs, and hooligans to create a commotion in the town. They went to the place where they thought that Paul and Silas were and dragged the owner of the house out and down to the rulers, claiming that he was harboring fugitives who were teaching that Jesus was the king that was to be obeyed and not Caesar.
These lies seemed to be spreading everywhere that Paul went. But, Paul wasn't preaching that people should disobey the laws of Caesar. He was teaching that people should obey both God and man if they could.
Acts 17:9-12- And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
When the rulers of that city were able to get the homeowner away from the mob, they let him go because they knew that nothing wrong was going on.
The people who had accepted Christ as their Savior asked Paul, Silas, and Timothy to sneak out at night so that they wouldn't be harmed.
In the next city, Paul again preached to the Jews and Gentiles, and many of them accepted Christ as their Savior.
But, the envious riot starters learned which city Paul and his companions had went to and they followed them hoping to destroy what they were trying to accomplish.
Acts 17:13-14- But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Paul and Silas decided that it would be best if Paul went ahead to another city while Silas and Timothy stayed behind and continued with the evangelization.
Acts 17:15-17- And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Paul went all the way to Athens, Greece. When he got there, he sent word to Silas and Timothy to join him.
In Athens, Paul saw so much idolatry! These people had so many false gods to serve, including acquiring higher knowledge and science and astrology.
As Paul went about the city, he told everyone that would listen about the Lord Jesus Christ. And, soon word spread about this stranger and his tales.
Acts 17:18-21- Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
The teachers and professors of the place wanted to know what this strange man was saying. They called for Paul and asked him to tell them about Jesus and His resurrection.
I bet Paul was thrilled! Finally, people who wanted to hear the gospel!
But, these people didn't really want to hear the truth. They only wanted to hear a new story that they could pass on.
Regardless, Paul was going to preach the gospel.
Acts 17:22-23- Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
As Paul was walking to a special meeting place called Mars' Hill, he noticed many places of worship for many different idols. One in particular caught his eye- to the unknown god. These people had made a worship place for anonymous just in case they had forgotten some diety.
Paul used that to preach to them the gospel of the Creator of the world made flesh. The Jewish Messiah who lived and died and rose again.
Acts 17:24-31- God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Paul told the people of Athens that in times past God ignored their misunderstanding of Him and His will. But, now that Jesus had come to earth and died and rose again they needed to repent of their sins and accept His payment for their wickedness, or it would end badly for them when they stood before the Lord God Almighty in judgement.
Acts 17:32-34- And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Some people who heard Paul thought that he was crazy! Others wanted to think about what he had said and hear more later. Then, there were those whose hearts God had pricked, and they asked Jesus to save them from their sins.
When Paul left Athens, he traveled to another Gentile city- Corinth. This city was known for it's self indulgent people.
Acts 18:1-3- After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
While in Corinth, Paul met a Roman Jew named Aquila. He and his wife, Priscilla, had to move from their home in Rome, Italy because the Caesar didn't like the Jewish people and had ordered every Jew to move out of his home town.
Aquila and Priscilla were not only Christians, but they were also tent makers. And, some time in his past, Paul had been a tent maker. So, Paul stayed with them while in Corinth.
Acts 18:4-6- And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
So much had happened while Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy to catch up with him.
He had been preaching and teaching and winning souls. He had seen many Gentiles give up their idolatrous ways and turn their lives over to Christ. He still had a burden for the Jewish people.
But, the Jews had become stubborn in their ways. They were rooted in their traditions and they didn't want to hear about a "new" way. They liked that their God of the Old Testament was a God for only Jewish people, and they didn't want to hear about a God who would accept Gentiles.
Paul became so aggravated that he used their traditions to show them that he was done with their hard-heartedness. He shook the dust off his clothes and said that from now on, he would only preach to the Gentiles.
Acts 18:7-11- And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Paul went to stay with a man named Justus, who lived next to the synagogue. This was a time when the church of God met in people's homes. Paul would peach from house to house and tell people all about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christ gave Paul assurance that he should stay in Corinth and preach. And, Paul did for a year and a half! It wasn't always a pleasant time, and things weren't always easy. The Jews tried again and again to shut Paul up!
Acts 18:12-17- And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
The Jews tried to start an uprising in Corinth, but they couldn't get very far. When they tried to bring their case to the Gentile leader there, he dismissed them because he couldn't care less about the Jews and their troubles.
Acts 18:18-21- And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
When Paul left Corinth, he took Aquila and Priscilla with him. His little group of missionaries traveled to a few more cities. Again he preached to the Jews that were there. When they wanted him to stay longer, he denied their request saying that there was a feast in Jerusalem that he wanted to attend. But, he left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, perhaps so they could continue witnessing to the lost and teaching the saved in that city.
Acts 18:22-23- And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
Everywhere he went, Paul told people about Jesus. He knew what awaited him in heaven, and he knew what God wanted from him on earth. He saw the souls that needed salvation, and he ignored all the troubles and trials that would distract him from rescuing them.
Paul's ministry was to the Gentiles, but he could never forget his nation Israel.
Romans 10:1- Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Romans 9:3- For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
It was Paul's desire to see his people accept his Savior. And, he would never let go of that dream.
One day, Israel will accept Christ as their Messiah, and Paul's prayers will be answered. Oh, what a wonderful day that will be!
