Theme Number 41. Acts 17:1-34 Founding of church at Thessalonica and the Jewish opposition.

Thessalonica

Everywhere Paul went churches were opened among the Gentiles. He usually went to Jewish synagogues first but generally his message was opposed. After planting the church at Philippi now we find him in Thessalonica.

Act 17:1  Now traveling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

Act 17:2  And according to Paul's custom, he went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Act 17:3  interpreting and pointing out that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and to arise from the dead, and saying that "This is the Christ, Jesus, whom I proclaim to you."

http://www.bibleplaces.com/amphipolis.htm

Comment: Paul did not stop in Amphipolis and Appollonia but passed through on his way to Thessalonica.

and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

[dialegomai] Thayer Definition:

1) to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought

1a) to ponder, revolve in mind

2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss

Reasoned (dielexato). First aorist middle indicative of dialegomai, old verb in the active to select, distinguish, then to revolve in the mind, to converse (interchange of ideas), then to teach in the Socratic (“dialectic”) method of question and answer (cf. dielegeto in Act_16:17), then simply to discourse, but always with the idea of intellectual stimulus. With these Jews and God-fearers Paul appealed to the Scriptures as text and basis (apo) of his ideas.RWP

that is, out of the Old Testament, concerning the Messiah, the characters of him, the work that he was to do, and how he was to suffer and die for the sins of men; and this he did three weeks running, going to their synagogue every sabbath day, when and where the Jews met for worship; and made use of books, which they allowed of, and of arguments they could not disprove.J.Gill

Conclusion: The doctrine of Christ does not fear a scrutiny, but will be borne out fully by the light of all Scripture. Those who reason from the Scriptures concerning “Christ crucified” may expect not only that God will incline some to make use of the means of grace by searching the Scriptures for themselves,

Act 17:4  And some of them were persuaded and were joined with Paul and Silas, both of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.

Act 17:5  And the Jews who did not believe became envious, and took some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob, they threw the city into disorder, and came upon the house of Jason, and sought to bring them to the people.

Act 17:6  But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out, "The men who have upset the whole world, these have come here, too;

Act 17:7  whom Jason has received; and these all practice contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king--Jesus."

Act 17:8  And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.

Act 17:9  And having taken the security bond from Jason and the rest, they released them.

Act 17:10  Then the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away during the night to Berea.

Comment:These that have turned the world upside down - That have excited commotion and disturbance in other places. The charge has been often brought against the gospel that it has been the occasion of confusion and disorder.

Conclusion: The enmity of the restless agents of Satan will be aroused by the Good news of jesus Christ. Nevertheless, by seeking to extinguish the divine fire, enemies will but spread it the farther and faster.

Key Word: (Scriptural) Reasoning, Act_17:2, Act_17:11, Act_17:22.