An Altar To The Unknown God
Acts Seventeen
In Acts 17 we have record of the missionaries
in the city of
The envy of the Jews led them to secure
certain base people to cry out against the brethren. They even attacked the
house of Jason hoping to bring these preachers out to the people for
persecution. They accused Paul and Silas of making trouble all over the world.
The charge was, "These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also."
Jason was charged because he had received the
brethren into his house. The people were upset because these men had said that
Jesus is king. They made Jason and others give proof that they were peace
loving and then let them go.
After this tumult Paul and Silas were sent to
Paul's spirit was stirred at the sight of much idolatry in
Paul preached Christ at Thessalonica Acts 17:1-9:
Paul and his co-workers left
Paul used the scripture to show that the Messiah had to suffer and
die for sins. He presented proof that Jesus was raised again from the dead, and
that this Jesus is the Christ. The result of the preaching was that a good
number of God-fearing Greeks and some of the chief women became Christians.
There was, however, opposition to the truth. The Jews stirred up some base
fellows and attacked the house of Jason where these preachers had stayed. The
mob was looking for Paul and Silas, but did not find them. Those that opposed
Christianity said, "These that have turned the world upside down are come
hither also." What was said in derision was in fact a great compliment.
The things that seemed to disturb the unbelieving Jews most were: (1) preaching
concerning the resurrection, and (2) saying the Jesus was king.
The noble conduct of the Bereans Acts 17:10-15:
Out of love for their spiritual fathers and concern for their safety the brethren
sent Paul and Silas to
The Jews of Thessalonica
were not content to leave things alone. They came to
An
altar to an unknown God Acts 17:16-23: While Paul waited for his
co-workers his spirit was stirred by all the idolatry in
Paul was brought to Areopagus
to be examined by the most skillful judge concerning his doctrine. They had
never heard about Jesus, or about salvation through Him, nor of His
resurrection from the dead. They wanted to hear for themselves the things
spoken by Paul. The Athenians "spent their time in nothing
else but either to tell or to hear some new thing." Paul began his speech
by saying that he had observed that the people of
A sermon about the one true God Acts 17:24-34:
In his sermon Paul showed that the true God made the
world and all things therein. This God is Lord of heaven and earth. He gives to
all life, and breath, and all things. He is the Creator having made of one
blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. In the one
true God we live, and move, and have our being. You cannot make an image of or
to this God. The God of heaven has commanded all men every where to repent in
view of coming judgment. The assurance of coming judgment is the resurrection.
"When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter." The
discussion ended with Paul having no more to say to them, or they to him.
"Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was
Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with
them." These were some that received the love of the truth and so they
were saved. Paul could say, To the one we are the savour of death unto death;
and to the other the savour of life unto life...?" (II Corinthians 2:16)
The resurrected Christ provides hope to all that obey Him.
To become a Christian you must hear the
gospel (Romans