NOW WHEN THEY HAD PASSED THROUGH AMPHIPOLIS AND APOLLONIA, THEY CAME TO THESSALONICA, WHERE THERE WAS A SYNAGOGUE OF THE JEWS. 1. Amphipolis is a city that was on the way to Thessalonica. It was situated on a peninsula with a river on each side of the city. 2. Apollonia is about 20 miles from Thes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PAUL, AS HIS CUSTOM WAS, WENT IN TO THEM, AND FOR THREE SABBATHS REASONED WITH THEM FROM THE SCRIPTURES, 1. Custom (habit) is not a bad word. There are many good habits that we should cultivate. Prayer, study, church attendance and eating are also good habits. 2. There are also bad habits tha... [ Continue Reading ]
EXPLAINING AND DEMONSTRATING THAT THE CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD, AND _SAYING,_ " THIS JESUS WHOM I PREACH TO YOU IS THE CHRIST. " 1. Paul was explaining and demonstrating the many prophecies concerning Christ. 2. There are many passages in the Old Testament that predict the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME OF THEM WERE PERSUADED; AND A GREAT MULTITUDE OF THE DEVOUT GREEKS, AND NOT A FEW OF THE LEADING WOMEN, JOINED PAUL AND SILAS. 1. Some Jews were converted to Christ. 2. There were also many (a great multitude) Greeks who were converted. 3. Many of the leading women - We are now in Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE JEWS WHO WERE NOT PERSUADED, BECOMING ENVIOUS, TOOK SOME OF THE EVIL MEN FROM THE MARKETPLACE, AND GATHERING A MOB, SET ALL THE CITY IN AN UPROAR AND ATTACKED THE HOUSE OF JASON, AND SOUGHT TO BRING THEM OUT TO THE PEOPLE. 1. However many Jews were not converted, or convinced by the teachin... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY DID NOT FIND THEM, THEY DRAGGED JASON AND SOME BRETHREN TO THE RULERS OF THE CITY, CRYING OUT, " THESE WHO HAVE TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN HAVE COME HERE TOO. 1. Paul and Silas were not home. So, they grabbed Jason and some of the other converts and brought them to the city council.... [ Continue Reading ]
JASON HAS HARBORED THEM, AND THESE ARE ALL ACTING CONTRARY TO THE DECREES OF CAESAR, SAYING THERE IS ANOTHER KING-JESUS. " 1. Now the specific charge against Jason - He housed them. He gave them board and room. 2. They accuse him of being contrary to the law of Caesar by declaring that Jesus is Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TROUBLED THE CROWD AND THE RULERS OF THE CITY WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS. 1. The riffraff trouble-makers stirred up the crowd and the political leaders of the city. 2. The leaders were caught between the crowd and their legal responsibility.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN THEY HAD TAKEN SECURITY FROM JASON AND THE REST, THEY LET THEM GO. 1. These leaders found a compromise. 2. They kept Jason and allowed the rest to go free.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE BRETHREN IMMEDIATELY SENT PAUL AND SILAS AWAY BY NIGHT TO BEREA. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE JEWS. 1. Realizing that it was no longer safe for Paul and Silas, they were sent away under the cover of darkness. 2. They came to Berea.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE WERE MORE FAIR-MINDED THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY _TO FIND OUT_ WHETHER THESE THINGS WERE SO. 1. The Jewish people in Berea were: 1. More fair minded. They were more receptive. Their minds were open to the t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE MANY OF THEM BELIEVED, AND ALSO NOT A FEW OF THE GREEKS, PROMINENT WOMEN AS WELL AS MEN. 1. Many from Berea believed. Not because Paul said it. But because they had confirmed the message and decided for themselves. 2. Also many non-Jews (Greeks) and prominent women were converted.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THE JEWS FROM THESSALONICA LEARNED THAT THE WORD OF GOD WAS PREACHED BY PAUL AT BEREA, THEY CAME THERE ALSO AND STIRRED UP THE CROWDS. 1. As word spread that Paul was in Berea and having success in converting Jews, the Jews from Thessolonica went to Berea to create trouble. 2. And what wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IMMEDIATELY THE BRETHREN SENT PAUL AWAY, TO GO TO THE SEA; BUT BOTH SILAS AND TIMOTHY REMAINED THERE. 1. The mission team is now split - three ways. Luke remained at Philippi. Now Silas and Timothy remain at Berea and Paul travels on to Athens. 2. Paul is taken to the seacoast and takes a shi... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THOSE WHO CONDUCTED PAUL BROUGHT HIM TO ATHENS; AND RECEIVING A COMMAND FOR SILAS AND TIMOTHY TO COME TO HIM WITH ALL SPEED, THEY DEPARTED. 1. Some of the brethren from Berea escort Paul to see him off. 2. Paul issues a request - send Silas and Timothy ASAP. 3. The Berean brethren leave to tel... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHILE PAUL WAITED FOR THEM AT ATHENS, HIS SPIRIT WAS PROVOKED WITHIN HIM WHEN HE SAW THAT THE CITY WAS GIVEN OVER TO IDOLS. 1. Paul arrives in Athens, Greece and waits for Silas and Timothy to catch up with him. 2. His spirit was troubled at what he saw happening in Athens. 3. The city was al... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HE REASONED IN THE SYNAGOGUE WITH THE JEWS AND WITH THE _GENTILE_ WORSHIPERS, AND IN THE MARKETPLACE DAILY WITH THOSE WHO HAPPENED TO BE THERE. 1. Paul could not just rest and wait. He saw a troubling situation and needed to speak about it. SO - - - 1. He reasoned, discussed and argued w... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CERTAIN EPICUREAN AND STOIC PHILOSOPHERS ENCOUNTERED HIM. AND SOME SAID, " WHAT DOES THIS BABBLER WANT TO SAY? " OTHERS SAID, " HE SEEMS TO BE A PROCLAIMER OF FOREIGN GODS, " BECAUSE HE PREACHED TO THEM JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION. 1. Epicureans - 1. John Gill describes them - These were so cal... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOOK HIM AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE AREOPAGUS, SAYING, " MAY WE KNOW WHAT THIS NEW DOCTRINE _IS_ OF WHICH YOU SPEAK? 1. Paul is brought to the Areopagus. This is the Greek word for Mar's Hill. (Verse 22) 2. They were interested in this "new" doctrine and wanted to know more about this god whi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOU ARE BRINGING SOME STRANGE THINGS TO OUR EARS. THEREFORE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN. " 1. Thayer explains the meaning of "strange" things that they were hearing. The word "strange" means - "to surprise or astonish by the strangeness and novelty of a thing." 2. These men were rea... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THE ATHENIANS AND THE FOREIGNERS WHO WERE THERE SPENT THEIR TIME IN NOTHING ELSE BUT EITHER TO TELL OR TO HEAR SOME NEW THING. 1. Luke tells us the many Athenians were "babblers" (seed pickers). 2. They spent their day in doing nothing but telling or hearing from others about some new idea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PAUL STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THE AREOPAGUS AND SAID, " MEN OF ATHENS, I PERCEIVE THAT IN ALL THINGS YOU ARE VERY RELIGIOUS; 1. The King James Version used the word - superstitious. This makes us think that Paul was, in some way, condemning them. 2. The word here is used in a good sense of rever... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS I WAS PASSING THROUGH AND CONSIDERING THE OBJECTS OF YOUR WORSHIP, I EVEN FOUND AN ALTAR WITH THIS INSCRIPTION: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. THEREFORE, THE ONE WHOM YOU WORSHIP WITHOUT KNOWING, HIM I PROCLAIM TO YOU: 1. Paul discusses the many objects - statues, temples, buildings, relics and other o... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD, WHO MADE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT, SINCE HE IS LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, DOES NOT DWELL IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS. THE GOD YOU FORGOT ABOUT- - -(sermon outline--see comments on next thre verses for rest of outline) 1. Creator - This God made the world, earth, planets, sun, moon, stars... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR IS HE WORSHIPED WITH MEN ' S HANDS, AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANYTHING, SINCE HE GIVES TO ALL LIFE, BREATH, AND ALL THINGS. 1. Omnipotent - God does not need men to serve Him. God does not need anything. He gives. He does not need us to meet His needs. 2. GIVER - The God of Paul is one who gives, n... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAS MADE FROM ONE BLOOD EVERY NATION OF MEN TO DWELL ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, AND HAS DETERMINED THEIR PREAPPOINTED TIMES AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR DWELLINGS, 1. Interested in Humanity - He made us all - red, yellow, black and white. He made us alike inside. 1. OF ONE BLOOD - There... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MIGHT GROPE FOR HIM AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE IS NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US; Conclusion: 1. We should seek to know this God. God wants us to seek, search, grope for Him. 2. God also wants us to find Him. It is not enough to seek - we must f... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING, AS ALSO SOME OF YOUR OWN POETS HAVE SAID, ‘FOR WE ARE ALSO HIS OFFSPRING. ' 1. We owe our very existence to Him. It is in and through God that we live, have the ability to move, and have our personality, character, and very being. 2. Then Paul quotes... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE THE OFFSPRING OF GOD, WE OUGHT NOT TO THINK THAT THE DIVINE NATURE IS LIKE GOLD OR SILVER OR STONE, SOMETHING SHAPED BY ART AND MAN ' S DEVISING. 1. Since we come from God - - - 1. We need to move away from the notion that god is like gold, silver or stone. 2. You can't ca... [ Continue Reading ]
TRULY, THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE GOD OVERLOOKED, BUT NOW COMMANDS ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT, 1. For too long - too many - in too many places - have been living unaware of God. That ignorance about God needs to end. 2. God understood that many were living ignorant of Him. He endured and overlooke... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE HE HAS APPOINTED A DAY ON WHICH HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE MAN WHOM HE HAS ORDAINED. HE HAS GIVEN ASSURANCE OF THIS TO ALL BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD. " 1. There is a coming day of judgment. I don't know when that day will be. But it is coming. 2. God will judge the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HEARD OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, SOME MOCKED, WHILE OTHERS SAID, " WE WILL HEAR YOU AGAIN ON THIS _MATTER._ " 1. RESURRECTION - The key term that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. Most world religions teach us to live a moral life. To pray. To worship. To obey... [ Continue Reading ]
SO PAUL DEPARTED FROM AMONG THEM. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. 1. While some mocked and some wanted to know more - Some believed. 2. Dionysius, a member of the group that governed and oversaw the A... [ Continue Reading ]