A TALE OF TWO RESPONSES

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on April 12, 2023 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: April 12, 2023 from Acts 17:1-15

Theme: The gospel—when faithfully preached in this world—upsets systems … but saves souls.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …” So began Charles Dickens’ famous Tale of Two Cities. But—depending on someone’s perspective—it could also describe the kind of impact that the gospel brought about in two cities in which Paul and his missionary partners preached. It was the worst of times for them, because the preaching of the gospel stirred the city into an uproar. But it was also the best of times for some within those cities who heard the message and believed.

The story is told to us in Acts 17. In this chapter of the unfolding story of Paul’s second missionary journey, we’re told of how the preachers had completed their work in Macedonia, and then made their way southward to the regions of Achaia. And along the way, they ministered to two Macedonian cities—Thessalonica and Berea. And their experience in these two cities illustrates ‘the best of reactions’ and ‘the worst of reactions’ to the gospel.

As Acts 17:1-15 shows us, the gospel of Jesus Christ—when faithfully preached in this world—definitely upsets systems. But it also saves souls.

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First, let’s consider …

1. THE PREACHING IN THESSALONICA (vv. 1-4).

Paul and Silas—fresh from their release from the Philippian jail—then traveled on along the southern coast of Macedonia. We’re told;

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews (v. 1).

We’re not told of anything that the missionaries might have done in the cities of Amphipolis or Apollonia. It may be that there were no synagogues in those cities; and for that reason thought it a better strategy to move on to a city in which there was a synagogue. Paul had broken with his usual pattern in Philippi. He didn’t begin preaching in the synagogue because—apparently—there wasn’t one there. And so—in keeping with his usual plan to bring the gospel ‘to the Jew first’—he and his missionary team came to the city of Thessalonica.

Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 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” (vv. 2-3).

Notice the main content of Paul’s message to them. It was decidedly Christ-centered. But notice also that it was based on the teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures. He helped the Jewish Thessalonians to see that the things that Jesus suffered were promised in the Old Testament prophecies—including His death and resurrection. This was the content of the gospel that they heard. Also, some of the Greek citizens of Thessalonica heard.

And look at their reaction to it;

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 (v. 4).

Some very important citizens of Thessalonica believed. Later on, Paul wrote two letters to the believers in the growing Thessalonican church. And in those letters, he referenced a remarkable depth of theological truth that the Thessalonians had already learned. These three weeks of teaching were truly fruitful; and it all gave the Thessalonians a firm basis in which to grow. In the introduction of his first letter, Paul wrote and told them;

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10).

The gospel had a powerful impact in Thessalonica. It was the best of times for the believers.

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But it was also the worst of times because of those who would not believe. We go on to read of …

2. THE UPROAR IN THE CITY (vv. 5-9).

We’re told in verse 5;

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 (v. 5).

Note that it wasn’t the preachers who caused this great disturbance. It was the Jews who wouldn’t believe. And note that it was motivated by envy. It angered them that some were turning away to follow Jesus. And note that the uproar was brought about through the incitement of a mob that had been gathered from the marketplace. They attacked the house of a man named Jason—who, most likely, was the one who was providing the missionaries a place to stay.

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. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus” (vv. 6-7).

From the standpoint of the gospel, it was the best of times. And you can even see in these words the testimony that the message of the gospel—and the testimony of its power—had spread before it even got to Thessalonica. But from the standpoint of the people of this world, it was the worst of times. The gospel was upsetting the system. It was turning their world upside down. And note the accusation. It was that they were acting contrary to Caesar, and were saying that Jesus was another king. It’s true, of course, that they preached another and greater king than Caesar. Jesus is the King of kings. But there was nothing in following Jesus that would have inherently required disobedience to Caesar’s decrees. In fact, when looking at the things that Paul taught in his letter to the Thessalonians, we find that following King Jesus would have made them even better citizens under Caesar. Paul told them;

that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

But because of envy, the Jewish leaders—whose world was being turned upside down—would not allow any peace in the city:

And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go (vv. 8-9).

Later on, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians and said;

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

The gospel that had brought about the best of times for those who believed also brought about the worst of times for those who would not.

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And so; the missionary team escaped in the middle of the night and moved on. And this leads us to …

3. THE RESPONSE IN BEREA (vv. 10-15).

It was a different response than that which we read of in Thessalonica. Luke tells us in verses 10-12;

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men (vv. 10-12).

Paul and his team remained faithful to their pattern. They went to the synagogue and preached the gospel to the Jews first. But these Jews were more “fair-minded”. Literally, they were said to be “of noble birth”; which meant “of high social status” or “open minded”. They didn’t react impulsively to what they heard; instead, they received it, opened the Scriptures to test it, and ended up being convinced of the truth of it. They believed. It was the best of times for them.

But still, it was the worst of times for those who would not believe. We’re told that opposition came again—and not from the Jews in Berea, but from the Jews in Thessalonica who had already rejected it. Luke tells us in verse 13;

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 (v. 13).

Think of it! They not only wouldn’t allow for peace in their own city! They wouldn’t even allow peace in their neighboring city—15 miles away. Luke goes on to say;

Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 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 (vv. 14-15).

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Why it was that the Berean Jews were so much more receptive to the gospel than the Thessalonian Jews? It’s a mystery that is attributable—ultimately—only to the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the gracious choice of God. The sovereign God permits some to hear the message, only to be further hardened by it. But with regard to others, Paul was able to say,

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

If we have believed, we owe praise and thanks to God that He had grace upon us. But let’s learn this lesson from the tale of these two cities. The gospel—when faithfully preached in this world—upsets systems … but also saves souls.

Let’s faithfully preach it wherever God places us, and trust in His sovereign work through it.

AE