The Book of Acts Chapter 17
Originally posted Monday, May 26, 2008
Acts Chapter 17:1-9 The
Uproar in Thessalonica
After leaving and
securing the foundation of a new church in Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled
southwest along the Aegean coast through the two coastal cities of
Amphipolis and Apollonia until they reached Thessalonica, one of
the district capitals of Macedonia and a major trade center. Unlike
Philippi and other Macedonian cities to the north, there was a large
Jewish community in the city, probably because of its strategic
location along the Roman road, via Egnatia.
As usual Paul made
his first appeal in the Synagogue. For three successive Sabbaths
he preached "from the Scriptures explaining and
demonstrating" that the Messiah had to suffer and be raised from
the dead and that Jesus is the Messiah he proclaims. The result of his
three day "revival" was the conversion of "some who were
persuaded" which included "both a great multitude of the
worshipping Greeks and not a few of the prominent [Greek] women. (1)"
As in the stories of
Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium and Lystra, the Synagogue Jews became jealous
of Paul's extraordinary success in leading away so many of their Gentile
supporters. Such a loss would be felt both in their status in the community and
economically since, as we know from archaeological findings, Gentile "God
worshippers" contributed to the building and support of
the Synagogues. Their jealousy was expressed by enlisting a
number of "ruffians" from the marketplace to form a mob. They
searched for Paul and Silas hoping to bring them before the city authorities
(Poliarchs). They could not find them at the house of Jason, a
believer who had offered them hospitality, so they dragged Jason and other
believers before the authorities. The charge was political. Paul and Silas were
"turning the world upside down," an ironic charge which was
truer than this crowd could ever begin to understand. The political aspect of
the charge was treason. Paul and Silas were claiming that there was another
king named Jesus. Fortunately the requirements of Roman law delayed any direct
action. Jason and the others would normally be held pending a hearing and trial
but they were able to post bail and were released. In the meantime Paul and
Silas were nowhere to be found.
Acts Chapter 17:10-15
Paul and Silas in Beroea
Jason and others
understood the seriousness of the charges that might be brought against
Paul and Silas. They would be seen as insurrectionists, promoting a rival King.
Roman justice would err on the side of Caesar. The better course would be to
get them out of Thessalonica as soon as possible. If they were not there no
trial could be held. It was decided that they would be sent west to the city
of Beroea. Again the raw courage and dogged determination of Paul and
Silas to proclaim the Gospel was demonstrated. Their first action was to go to
the local Synagogue. Fortunately for the pair the Jews of this Synagogue
"were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica." They
"received the word with all readiness" examining the Scriptures for
themselves to see if what Paul and Silas were claiming was true. Many were
convinced and became believers along with "not a few" Greek women and
men of high standing (in terms of wealth and social status).
The troublemakers of
Thessalonica were not content with protecting their image in their own
city. They were determined to take their base cause on the road and
prevent this spurious message from taking root anywhere else. Having heard of
Paul and Silas' escape they came to Beroea and created another mob scene,
but not in time to prevent another preaching success with more Gentiles along
with a number of Jews becoming believers. The new disciples quickly decided to
send Paul to the coast while Silas and Timothy stayed in Beroea. It was
obvious that Paul was the main target of this collective rage and
some greater distance between the trouble in Beroea and Paul would be
prudent. The disciples escorted Paul south to the great city of Athens,
leaving him there after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to join
him as soon as possible.
Acts Chapter 17:16-33
Paul in Athens
It is little wonder
that this former zealous Pharisee turned even more zealous Christian would
be distressed "deep in his spirit" by the sights in Athens.
Whichever way he looked he would see a temple or statue to a god or goddess.
For Paul this was profane ground but also an opportunity to introduce his God
and what God had done even for pagan Athenians. First He would make his case in
the Synagogue among the Jews and Gentile God worshippers. He would walk through
the Agora (marketplace) and press his point to the shoppers that happened by,
as Socrates had done centuries earlier. There were Stoic, Cynic and Epicurean
philosophers who debated with him. Paul's education made him their scholarly
peer and he entered a reasoned discussion in their own philosophical style of
debate. As he told them about Jesus and the resurrection they were puzzled and
could not grasp the concept. Some rejected his argument as the product of
a "seed picker" trafficking in outmoded ideas. Others thought he was
introducing some foreign and exotic divinity.
The
philosophical Athenians decide that the marketplace is not an appropriate
venue for such a discussion. They took Paul to the Areopagus (Mar's Hill),
an open, level area west of the Acropolis. This was the site of the
Athenian Council, the judicial body that would hear debates and render
judgment. The philosophers want to hear more of this strange teaching and
what it means. Perhaps this new religion, if that is what it
is, is not worthy to be introduced to Athenian society. Paul
sees he needs to take the intellectual high ground and address the assembly on
their own level. Reflecting on the many Temples and sacred sites, he commends
them on their religious nature, worshipping at least twelve important gods
and goddesses as well as a number of minor deities. Indeed,
he has even seen an altar in one Temple inscribed "To an unknown
God" (agnostos theos). This is the God he proclaims. Paul describes
this God as creator and sustainer, Spirit and without form,
incapable of being represented in visible form by human hands', in
need of nothing, supplier of everything; invisible but not far off for those
who seek him. Paul has come to his closing argument. God has overlooked past
human ignorance that believed in idols with forms and locations. But now God
has fixed a time to judge all people in righteousness by one whom God has
appointed and upon whom he has set his seal by raising him from the dead.
The reception to
Paul's "sermon" was mixed. The idea of the resurrection seemed
to be a dividing line. Some scoffed at him; some wanted to hear more; others
became believers including "Dionysius, a member of the Council, a
woman named Damaris and others with them." Was that enough to serve
as the foundation for an established church? There are some writers who believe
that Paul failed in his mission to Athens because he did not wait for Silas and
Timothy to arrive, that he tried to go it alone without the requisite
"witnesses" to assist him. They site as proof that there is no
"Letter to the Athenians" as there is to the Corinthians and Romans.
It is a weak argument. There is no letter to Antioch, Lystra, Beroea, Antioch
in Pisidia, Iconium, Debre and Paul did not evangelize in Rome. Given the
rapid growth of Christianity throughout the Empire - into Egypt, Spain, Gaul,
North Africa and other places, there is no reason to doubt that a fledgling
church took root as a result of Paul's solo mission.
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Notes:
(1) Although
the English translation of vs. 4 in
most versions reads as if some of the Jews were converted, the Greek text
does not support that conclusion. The passage is one of the best examples of
how Paul used the Synagogue as a base for converting Gentiles who already
believed in the Jewish God and had some familiarity with the Greek Old Testament.
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