_And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia._ FROM AMPHIPOLIS TO THESSALONICA The beautiful town of Amphipolis lies to the south of a splendid lake under sheltering hills, three miles from the sea, and thirty three from Philippi, and on the edge of a plain of boundless fertility. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them._ PAUL’S MINISTRY Notice-- I. The chief object of Christian faith. “Jesus”--Saviour from sin, and fear, and hell, through the power of His sacrifice, and the prevalence of His intercession. “Christ,” anointed by the Eternal Spirit, and set apart to k... [ Continue Reading ]
_These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also._ THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN This is just an old version of an oft-repeated story. It was laid to the charge of our Master that He was a stirrer of sedition, whereas He had refused to be a king, for He said, “My kingdom is not of... [ Continue Reading ]
_These do all contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, one Jesus._ CHRIST VERSUS CAESAR Thessalonica, though a free city, was yet under imperial government, and the Jews therefore appeal to the emperor’s decree, probably to the edict of Claudius (Acts 18:2), as at least... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas unto Berea … These were more noble than those in Thessalonica._ FROM THESSALONICA TO BEREA 1. Paul and Silas were sent away “by night.” That is the way to make the most of time. Travel by night and preach by day if you would make the best of y... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore many of them believed._ THE GOSPEL AND THE CLASSES 1. They “believed”--a little word, but a great thing--the step by which they passed from condemnation to peace; from the house on the sand before it fell, to the rock. The moment before they were without Christ and hope; the moment afte... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athena _ PAUL AT ATHENS I. The place which the apostle visited. Athens. II. The feelings of which he was the subject. Not of admiration at the masterpieces of art by which he was surrounded, but of-- 1. Holy indignation. He saw how God was dishonour... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore disputed he in the synagogue … and in the market._ PAUL’S DISCUSSIONS IN THE SYNAGOGUE AND MARKET PLACE I. The parties with whom Paul reasoned. These may be looked on in two aspects:-- 1. Theologically. (1) The “Jews” were monotheists. They believed in the one true and living God, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill._ NOVELTY ATTRACTIVE Yes, the people gathered in crowds round the statue, and looked at it again and again. It was not the finest work of art in the city, nor the most intrinsically attractive. Why, then, did the citizens of Verona stand in such clusters... [ Continue Reading ]
_I found an altar with this inscription, To the unknown God._ Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. BEFORE THE ALTAR OF THE UNKNOWN GOD 1. What was there in Athens to which Paul could appeal? To Jewish prophecy? No one held them in esteem. Should he begin with repentance, f... [ Continue Reading ]
_God._ All the Indo-European equivalents for God are the same in their ultimate root as the word “day,” and signify the brightness of the sky. The Latin _Deus, _the Greek _Theos, _the Sanskrit _Dyaus, _the Welsh _Duw, _and even the English _God, _all come from the same root, signifying the brightne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither is worshipped with men’s hands._ CONTRAST BETWEEN GOD AND IDOLS Idols certainly require the care of human hands. There are still shops in the cities of India and China, with this inscription on their sign boards, “Here old gods are repaired and renovated.” (_Leonhard._) AS THOUGH HE NEED... [ Continue Reading ]
_And hath made of one blood all the nations._ ALL OF ONE BLOOD 1. This is not the gospel, but it is the foundation on which the gospel builds--that humanity is one; that race distinctions are superficial, and not radical; that there is a universal brotherhood, originating in the universal Fatherho... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they should seek the Lord._ GOD THE CHIEF OBJECT OF SEARCH I. In what sense is it true that God is not far from any one of us? He is nigh-- 1. In the creation around us. 2. In the sense of creaturely dependence and trust. 3. In that He is the Being towards whom the soul tends. II. Is wha... [ Continue Reading ]
_In Him we live and move and have our being._ IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING I. Wrong views of the nature of God lie at the foundation of all false theories of religion. These are-- 1. That He is a limited Being, dwelling in temples, receiving gifts from man. This was the popular no... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forasmuch then … we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold._ PAUL’S CUMULATIVE ARGUMENT Up to this verse Paul has made a general statement respecting God. Here he lays down the groundwork of a true and abiding Christian philosophy. The armoury of the Church is in the word “forasmuc... [ Continue Reading ]
_The times of this ignorance God winked at._ GOD AND THE TIMES OF IGNORANCE 1. Surrounded by the representatives of the great philosophic schools, and with the beautiful objects of Pagan devotion on every side, Paul characterises the error of idolatry as a mark of ignorance. It was a severe thing... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will Judge the world in righteousness._ THE DAY OF JUDGMENT I. There shall be a day of judgment. 1. “A particular judgment.” At the day of death the soul hath a judgment passed upon it (Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 12:7). 2. “A general day of judgm... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked._ MOCKING AT THE TRUTH “This has been one of the worst nights,” says Mr. Bampton, an Indian missionary, “I ever endured. Mockery! mockery! cruel mockery, almost unbearable! I talked for a while, and was heard by some, on the blessin... [ Continue Reading ]