The Acts of the Apostles Acts 17 – Gospel Persuasion, Prejudice, And Pride Sunday – May 13, 2018 Many of the slides used in this presentation are prepared by Joe Price and are used and adapted with his permission.

Paul’s Second Preaching Trip Acts 15:41-18:22 Bithynia Mysia Galatia Phrygia Asia Cilicia Syria Paul’s Second Preaching Trip Acts 15:41-18:22

The Egnatian Way

The Egnatian Way William Barclay writes … “It is impossible to over-stress the importance of the arrival of Christianity in Thessalonica. If Christianity was settled there, it was bound to spread East along the Egnatian Road until all Asia [Minor] was conquered and West until it stormed even the city of Rome. The coming of Christianity to Thessalonica was crucial in the making of it into a world religion.” cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:8

The Gospel of Christ: The Apostles’ Doctrine Gospel belongs to Christ, Romans 1:16; Philippians 1:27 Apostles’ doctrine because they preached it, Mark 16:15 (John 20:21) Earthen vessels. (2 Corinthians 4:7) “my gospel” (2 Timothy 2:8) “committed to my trust” (1 Timothy 1:11). How we receive the apostles and their teaching is how we receive Christ, John 13:2o Acts 17: How people react to the gospel makes the difference between their salvation and their condemnation, cf. Luke 8:8, 18

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) “Jesus is the Christ” 100 miles WSW of Philippi “Most important seaport of Macedonia” Idolatry: Mt. Olympus to the West Jewish community

Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) Resistance Jewish Prejudice

Resistance in Thessalonica: Jesus is the Christ Reasoned from the Scriptures, 17:1-3 (2 Timothy 3:15) Christ would suffer and rise, Luke 24:44-46 Declared Jesus to be Son of God, Romans 1:3-4 Conversions and Persecution, 17:4-9 Some were persuaded (Jews and Greeks) Some were not persuaded: Charged treason Jason and other Christians detained – paid a peace bond and released

Resistance in Thessalonica: Jesus is the Christ Reactions to the Gospel Believers, 17:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 Faith, love, and hope, 1:3-4 Certified gospel and convicted preachers, 1:5 (2:2-7) Received word with joy in persecution, 1:6-7 Faith toward God, 1:8-10 Turned to God from idols: Repented, Acts 26:18, 20 Wait for Jesus (patient hope), Romans 5:1-5 Unbelievers, 17:5-9 – Envious, violent liars

“Received the Word” Berea (Acts 17:10-15) 50-60 miles SW of Thessalonica Eastern slope of the Olympian Mountain range

Readiness Fair-minded Berea (Acts 17:10-15) Readiness Fair-minded

Readiness in Berea: Searched the Scriptures Fair-mindedness, 17:10-12 (Romans 10:14, 17) Many became believers Envious Jews from Thessalonica, 17:13 Unbelievers incited crowds against them Paul taken to Athens, 17:14-15 Silas and Timothy remained in Berea Commanded to come quickly to Paul

Athens: Ignorance City of Athens: Filled with idols. Acts 17:16, “It is easier to find a god in Athens than a man.” (Roman Satirist Bloomfield) Acts 17:21, “(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)”

Paul’s Second Preaching Trip Acts 15:41-18:22 Bithynia Mysia Galatia Phrygia Asia Cilicia Syria Paul’s Second Preaching Trip Acts 15:41-18:22

Athens: Ignorance City of Athens: Filled with learning and philosophy. Philosophy is a way of thinking about the world, the universe, and society. It works by asking very basic questions about the nature of human thought, the nature of the universe, and the connections between them. QUESTIONS: What is the nature of the universe? What is the purpose of man? What is truth? How do you determine what is right and wrong?