April 29, 2012
Morning Service

Acts 17:1-34

 

We have been looking at the life of a man that God chose to take the message of salvation to the world, especially the gentiles.       We are studying his sermons, and writings.    

We have seen:

• This man’s conversion from Judaism to Christianity.  A dramatic turnaround from the life of a dedicated Pharisee, to a Christian.
• A man who had persecuted the church, but now preaches salvation through the name of the Man he once tried to destroy.
• We have looked at his first missionary journey.  He will make three missionary trips throughout the regions of Turkey, and Greece, before he is jailed his final time in Rome.
• He has companioned with Barnabas, on his first trip, and Silas, on his second.
• We have seen, since his conversion, that he is preaching Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. 
• We see a common expression in the writing of Luke, “as his custom was,”.  This was in reference to entering the Synagogue on the Sabbath, and speaking to those assembled, mostly Jews, but some proselyte gentiles.
• We have seen God heal the sick, cast out demons, cause one to be blind, all at this man’s command.  God is showing His approval of this man’s authority.
• He is getting results wherever he goes to present the gospel.   Some embrace it, and others persecute it.
• Some memorable conversions;  Lydia, and the Philippian Jailer, just a couple.

And of course, this man is Saul of Tarsus, better known as the Apostle Paul.

 

This morning we want to look at one of his more famous sermons Acts 17.

Act 17:1-34 KJVR  Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:  (2)  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, 

• I can just imagine the stir, and the excitement, by listening to Paul speak. 

(3)  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. 

• Isa. 53 was one of his best tools.  Sharing how the Christ was to suffer, and certainly Jesus did.

(4)  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. 

• In every discourse of the gospel this happens.  Some believe, and some don’t.

(5)  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. 

• We can understand by these actions that these men are allowing the spirit of satan to manipulate them, and sift them like wheat.

(6)  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;  (7)  Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 

•  So here is another truth that Paul was teaching, Jesus is a King.

(8)  And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.  (9)  And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.  (10)  And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  (11)  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. 

 

• Notice;  they received the Word with all readiness of mind.  They didn’t come with their minds already made up, but they listened with an open mind.  Then they searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so.   THEN LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

(12)  Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 

• They saw that the things Paul was telling them was in the Scriptures, and they believed.

READ VS’S 13 – 21;

 (22)  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.

• Something to catch in this discourse is the way Paul delivers this message.  He is not mean spirited, but gentile, and considerate of their ways, and knowledge.
• He could have said, “you are very religious”.  Same thing.

(23)  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. 

• You see, you would probably be offended if someone called you ignorant, but Paul said this in a manner that was not offending.  “You don’t really know what it is you are worshipping.”

(24)  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; 

• And because we accept what the Bible teaches, we understand that Jesus is the Creator.

(25)  Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

• He doesn’t need for you to make an idol representing Him.

(26)  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; 

• Paul here tells them that we all came from Adam, and Eve, and that God is the one who determines what nationality we will be, and where we will live.

(27)  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: 

• So by this you can see that the expression, “I found the Lord” is a proper statement.  He, however, is not the one that is lost, we were.

(28)  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.  (29)  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. 

• This is so well revealed to us through the Word.  John said “we are the Sons of God”. 
• Paul explains the Godhead, 1Ti 3:16 KJVR  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

PAUL CONCLUDES THIS MESSAGE WITH SOME SERIOUS LANGUAGE:

(30)  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:  (31)  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.  (32)  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.  (33)  So Paul departed from among them.  (34)  Howbeit certain men cleaved unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

• Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
• PAUL SAID; 2Ti 4:1 KJVR  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

SOME MOCKED, AND SOME BELIEVED.