Acts 17 - Planting Churches (notes)

Acts 17 - Planting Churches

One of the main

Roles of the apostle Paul was to plant churches throughout the Roman Empire.

In This Chapter

Paul and his team end up in Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia just west of Philippi where Paul & Silas lead the Philippian jailer and his family to the Lord.

Paul Went To The Synagogue

And for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” and some of them were persuaded and joined Paul & Silas, along with a large number of the God fearing Greeks and a number of leading women.

There was opposition to Paul and his team

The Jews became jealous and took some vile men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason. They didn’t find Paul and took Jason and some believers  before the city officials and told them that they had upset the people by saying that there was another king other than Caesar named Jesus.

The Message says

They made Jason and his friends post heavy bail and let them go while they investigated the charges.

What Paul Said About The Believers in Thessalonica

I Thess. 1:7-10 Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out.

Everywhere Paul Went

• Either a revival broke out or a riot. This is because the Gospel is the great separator. It separates all other religions from the truth.
• There is no other way to God.
• Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The amazing Berean believers are mentioned here:

• Acts 17:11 Lexham English Bible (LEB) Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures everyday to see if these things were so.
• Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

Athens

• Is the next stop but here Paul sees the intense idolatry of the city. But he went to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles and in the market place everyday with anyone who was there. Paul also talks with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Paul preached Jesus & His resurrection.
• The message of the Gospel is always the best way to destroy spiritual strongholds in a community.

The Areopagus

Is the result of Ares, northwest of Acropolis in Athens. In classical times functioned as the high Court of Appeals for criminal cases in Athens. Ares was supposed to have been tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon’s son Alirrothios. In Greek the word pagos means big piece of rock. Later, the Romans referred to the rock hill as “Mars Hill” after Mars, the Roman god of War. It was here that the alter to the Unknown God was.

They Took Paul

Into custody and brought him to the council on Mars Hill. What is this new teaching? Can we learn what you are talking about? Paul then talks about the altar with the inscription, “To An Unknown God.” And preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. (Acts 17:22-31) Some believed among them were Dionysuis the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.