The Uproar in Thessalonica

1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.

5The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. 6But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”

8On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed. 9And they collected bond from Jason and the others and then released them.

The Character of the Bereans

10As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.a 12As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Paul in Athens

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus,b where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

21Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

22Then Paul stood up in the meetingc of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one mand He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

27God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’e As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’f 29Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

30Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.” 33At that, Paul left the Areopagus. 34But someg joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.Paul's Customary Approach
As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). Paul consistently used the Scriptures to explain and prove that Jesus is the Messiah, demonstrating the importance of grounding our message in God's Word.

The Noble Bereans
Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true (Acts 17:11). The Bereans exemplify a commendable attitude of eagerness and discernment in studying the Scriptures.

Paul in Athens
For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To an unknown god. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you (Acts 17:23). Paul skillfully connects with the Athenians by addressing their spiritual curiosity and pointing them to the true God.

The Resurrection's Centrality
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, 'We want to hear you again on this topic' (Acts 17:32). The resurrection of Jesus is a pivotal truth that demands a response, whether of belief or rejection.Engage with Scripture
Like Paul and the Bereans, prioritize studying and understanding the Bible to effectively share and defend your faith.

Be Culturally Aware
Observe and understand the beliefs and values of those around you to find common ground for sharing the Gospel.

Proclaim the Resurrection
Emphasize the resurrection of Jesus as the cornerstone of the Christian faith, offering hope and assurance of eternal life.

Respond to Curiosity
Be prepared to engage with those who express interest or skepticism about the Gospel, using their questions as opportunities for deeper discussion.1. Paul
A prominent apostle and missionary, Paul is the central figure in Acts 17. He travels to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, preaching the gospel and reasoning with both Jews and Gentiles. His speeches and debates, especially at the Areopagus in Athens, are key highlights of this chapter.

2. Silas
A companion of Paul, Silas accompanies him on his missionary journey. He is mentioned alongside Paul in Thessalonica and Berea, participating in the ministry and facing opposition from some of the local Jews.

3. Timothy
Another companion of Paul, Timothy is present during the missionary activities in Berea. He is a young disciple who assists Paul and Silas in their work.

4. Jason
A resident of Thessalonica, Jason provides hospitality to Paul and Silas. When a mob forms against Paul and Silas, Jason is dragged before the city officials and accused of harboring them.

5. Some of the Jews
In Thessalonica, certain Jews oppose Paul and Silas, becoming envious and inciting a mob against them. This group is contrasted with the more noble-minded Jews in Berea.

6. The Bereans
The Jews in Berea are described as more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica. They receive the message with eagerness and examine the Scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings.

7. Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers
In Athens, Paul encounters philosophers from these two schools of thought. They engage with Paul, curious about his teachings on Jesus and the resurrection.

8. Dionysius the Areopagite
A member of the Areopagus council in Athens, Dionysius is one of the few who believe Paul's message and become a follower of Christ.

9. Damaris
A woman in Athens who, along with Dionysius, believes in Paul's message and becomes a follower of Christ.

10. Others with them
Referring to additional individuals in Athens who join Dionysius and Damaris in believing Paul's message.1. Thessalonica
Acts 17:1: "When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue."
Thessalonica was a significant city in Macedonia, known for its strategic location and as a center of trade and politics. The presence of a Jewish synagogue indicates an established Jewish community.

2. Berea
Acts 17:10: "As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue."
Berea was a city in Macedonia, noted for its noble-minded inhabitants who examined the Scriptures diligently. The Greek term "εὐγενής" (eugenēs) is used to describe the Bereans as noble or open-minded.

3. Athens
Acts 17:15: "Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible."
Athens was a renowned city in Greece, famous for its philosophical heritage and as a center of learning and culture. Paul’s engagement with the Athenians highlights the city's intellectual atmosphere.

4. Areopagus
Acts 17:19: "So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, 'May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?'"
The Areopagus, or Mars Hill, was a prominent rock outcropping in Athens, serving as a place for the council and philosophical discussions. The Greek term "Ἄρειος Πάγος" (Areios Pagos) refers to this location.1. Paul and Silas in Thessalonica
Paul and Silas travel through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where there is a Jewish synagogue. Paul, as was his custom, goes into the synagogue and for three Sabbaths reasons with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. He declares, "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ" (Acts 17:3).

2. Response in Thessalonica
Some of the Jews are persuaded and join Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. However, other Jews become jealous and, taking some wicked men from the marketplace, form a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attack Jason's house, seeking to bring Paul and Silas out to the crowd (Acts 17:4-5).

3. Accusations Against Paul and Silas
Unable to find Paul and Silas, the mob drags Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus" (Acts 17:6-7).

4. Release of Jason and the Believers
The city officials are troubled by these accusations, but after taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they release them (Acts 17:8-9).

5. Paul and Silas in Berea
The brothers immediately send Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Upon arrival, they go into the Jewish synagogue. The Bereans are more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, receiving the message with great eagerness and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings are true (Acts 17:10-11).

6. Response in Berea
Many of the Bereans believe, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. However, when the Jews from Thessalonica learn that Paul is preaching the word of God in Berea, they come there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds (Acts 17:12-13).

7. Paul Sent to Athens
The brothers immediately send Paul to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remain in Berea. Those who escort Paul bring him to Athens and then return with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible (Acts 17:14-15).

8. Paul in Athens
While waiting for Silas and Timothy, Paul is deeply distressed to see that the city is full of idols. He reasons in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happen to be there (Acts 17:16-17).

9. Paul Addresses the Areopagus
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers begin to debate with him. They bring him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?" Paul stands up in the meeting of the Areopagus and delivers a speech, explaining the nature of God and calling them to repentance (Acts 17:18-31).

10. Mixed Reactions in Athens
When they hear about the resurrection of the dead, some sneer, but others say, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul leaves the Council. Some men join him and believe, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them (Acts 17:32-34).1. Paul and Silas in Thessalonica
Paul and Silas travel to Thessalonica, where Paul reasons with the Jews in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. Some Jews and a large number of God-fearing Greeks believe, but others become jealous and incite a mob against them.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:3 - "explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. 'This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,' he declared."

2. The Uproar in Thessalonica
The jealous Jews form a mob and set the city in an uproar, attacking Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas. Unable to find them, they drag Jason and some other believers before the city officials, accusing them of defying Caesar's decrees by proclaiming Jesus as king.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:6-7 - "But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, 'These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus.'"

3. Paul and Silas in Berea
Paul and Silas are sent to Berea, where they find a more noble character among the Jews. The Bereans receive the message with great eagerness and examine the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. Many of them believe, including prominent Greek women and men.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:11 - "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."

4. Paul in Athens
Paul waits in Athens and is distressed by the city's idolatry. He debates with Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the synagogue and with others in the marketplace. Some philosophers bring him to the Areopagus to explain his teachings about Jesus and the resurrection.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:16 - "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols."

5. Paul's Speech at the Areopagus
Paul addresses the Areopagus, acknowledging their religiosity and introducing the "unknown god" they worship as the one true God who created the world. He explains that God does not dwell in temples made by hands and calls all people to repent, as He has set a day to judge the world by Jesus, whom He raised from the dead.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:24-25 - "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."

6. The Response to Paul's Message
The response to Paul's message is mixed; some mock the resurrection, others express interest in hearing more, and a few become followers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.
^Key Verse:^ Acts 17:32-34 - "When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, 'We want to hear you again on this topic.' At that, Paul left the Areopagus. But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them."1. Proclamation of the Gospel
Acts 17:2-3 describes Paul's custom of reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. This theme highlights the importance of using Scripture to proclaim the Gospel message, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus Christ.

2. Response to the Gospel
In Acts 17:4, we see varied responses to the Gospel message: "Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women." This theme underscores the diverse reactions to the Gospel, from acceptance to opposition.

3. Opposition and Persecution
Acts 17:5-9 details the opposition Paul and Silas faced, as some Jews became jealous and incited a mob. This theme reflects the reality of persecution that often accompanies the spread of the Gospel, a concept rooted in the Greek word "διώκω" (diōkō), meaning to pursue or persecute.

4. Noble Character of the Bereans
Acts 17:11 highlights the Bereans' noble character: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." This theme emphasizes the importance of diligently studying Scripture to discern truth.

5. Engagement with Culture
In Acts 17:16-23, Paul engages with the culture of Athens, addressing the philosophers at the Areopagus. This theme illustrates the necessity of understanding and interacting with cultural contexts to effectively communicate the Gospel, as Paul references their altar to an "unknown god."

6. God's Sovereignty and Creation
Acts 17:24-26 speaks of God's sovereignty and role as Creator: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands." This theme affirms the biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty over creation and history.

7. Call to Repentance
Acts 17:30-31 emphasizes the call to repentance: "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent." This theme highlights the universal call to repentance in light of the coming judgment, rooted in the Greek word "μετανοέω" (metanoeō), meaning to change one's mind or repent.

8. Resurrection of the Dead
Acts 17:31-32 focuses on the resurrection: "He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead." This theme underscores the centrality of the resurrection in Christian doctrine and its role as proof of future judgment.1. Acts 17:26 – How can all nations come from one man when genetic and archaeological evidence suggest multiple human origins?

2. Acts 17:22–23 – Is there historical or archaeological proof of an altar dedicated “to an Unknown God” in ancient Athens?

3. Acts 17:31 – What evidence supports the claim of a coming judgment by a resurrected man when such accounts defy scientific understanding of death?

4. Acts 17:16–17 – Why do Paul’s activities in synagogues and marketplaces have scant corroborating historical records outside biblical texts?

5. Acts 17:29 – If God is beyond images and idols, how do Old Testament instructions for sacred objects not contradict Paul’s teaching here?

1. How does Paul’s approach in each city reflect his understanding of his audience?

2. How does the reaction in Thessalonica illustrate the threat that the Gospel message can pose to established systems of power and belief?

3. Why do you think the Bereans were more receptive to Paul's message than the Thessalonians?

4. How does Paul use the Athenian's religious practices as a starting point for his message?

5. How can Paul's sermon on Mars Hill guide us in explaining the Gospel to people with a different belief system?

6. What are some "altars to unknown gods" in today's society, and how can we address them in our conversations about faith?

7. How does Paul’s message challenge both Jewish and Greek views of God?

8. How can we be more like the Bereans in our approach to studying Scripture?

9. How can we maintain our faith and continue our mission when facing opposition, like Paul did in Thessalonica and Berea?

10. How does the Athenian response to the concept of resurrection reflect different cultural understandings of life and death?

11. In our diverse and pluralistic world, how can we adapt our approach to sharing the Gospel as Paul did?

12. How does the presence of Dionysius and Damaris among the believers reflect the reach of the Gospel across social and cultural barriers?

13. How can we constructively engage with intellectual criticism and mockery of our faith, as Paul did in Athens?

14. What does Paul's engagement with Greek philosophy tell us about the relationship between faith and reason?

15. What strategies can we use to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations with people from different cultural and intellectual backgrounds?

16. How can we discern when to move on from a place or situation, as Paul did with Thessalonica and Berea?

17. How does Acts 17 challenge our understanding of God's omnipresence and sovereignty?

18. How does Paul's speech on Mars Hill illustrate the balance between contextualizing the Gospel message and maintaining its core truth?

19. How can we identify and address misconceptions about Christianity in our own cultural contexts?

20. How does Paul's journey in Acts 17 inspire us to persist in sharing the Gospel, regardless of the varied responses we may encounter?