Ministry in Thessalonica
Study note
Paul follows his customary practice of going to the synagogue, where for three Sabbaths he reasons from the Scriptures, proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead and that Jesus is that Christ. Some Jews believe along with many God-fearing Greeks and prominent women. However, jealous Jews recruit troublemakers from the marketplace, form a mob, and attack Jason's house where the missionaries are staying. They accuse the believers of treason against Caesar by proclaiming another king, Jesus. Jason and others are forced to post bail.
1 Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Then they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 Following his usual practice, Paul went to the synagogue. For three Sabbaths in a row, he discussed the scriptures with the people there. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 He carefully explained and demonstrated from the scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer, die, and rise again. Then he declared, "The Jesus I am telling you about -- he is that Messiah." Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 Some of the Jewish people were won over and joined Paul and Silas. Even more impressive, a large number of Greeks who honored God also believed, including quite a few prominent women. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jewish leaders who refused to believe got jealous. They rounded up some troublemakers from the streets, formed an angry mob, and threw the city into chaos. They stormed Jason's house, hoping to drag Paul and Silas out before the crowd. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 When they could not find Paul and Silas, they dragged Jason and several other believers before the city officials instead. "These people have been causing upheaval all over the world," they shouted, "and now they are here!" And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7 "Jason has taken them into his home! They all defy Caesar's laws by claiming there is a different king -- someone named Jesus." Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 This alarmed both the crowd and the city officials. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 They made Jason and the others pay bail money and then let them go. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
The Noble Bereans
Study note
Sent away by night to Berea, Paul and Silas find a more receptive audience. The Bereans are praised for their open-mindedness, receiving the word eagerly and searching the Scriptures daily to verify Paul's claims. Many believe, including prominent Greek men and women. However, when Jews from Thessalonica learn of Paul's success in Berea, they travel there to agitate the crowds. The brothers immediately send Paul toward the coast, while Silas and Timothy remain behind.
10 As soon as night fell, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went straight to the Jewish synagogue. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 The Jewish people in Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They received the message with real excitement. They searched the scriptures every day to check if what Paul said was true. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Because of this, many of them believed. So did a good number of well-known Greek women and men. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
13 But the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out Paul was now preaching in Berea. So they went there and started stirring up the crowds again. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 The believers rushed Paul to the coast right away. Silas and Timotheus stayed behind in Berea. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 Paul's escorts brought him all the way to Athens. Before they headed back, Paul gave them a message for Silas and Timotheus: "Get here as fast as you can." And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Paul's Address on Mars Hill in Athens
Study note
While waiting in Athens, Paul is deeply troubled by the city's abundance of idols. He reasons in the synagogue and marketplace, attracting the attention of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who bring him to the Areopagus. Paul masterfully engages their culture, beginning with an altar inscribed 'TO THE UNKNOWN GOD' and declaring the true God who made the world, does not live in man-made temples, and gives life to all. He quotes their own poets to establish common ground, then calls all people to repent because God has appointed a day of judgment through a man he has raised from the dead. The mention of resurrection provokes mockery from some, interest from others, and belief from a few, including Dionysius and Damaris.
16 While Paul waited for them in Athens, he got very upset. He saw that the city was full of idols. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 He went to the synagogue and talked with the Jewish people and those who honored God. He also went to the public marketplace every day and had conversations with whoever was there. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Some thinkers from the Epicurean and Stoick groups started to argue with him. "What is this chatterbox talking about?" some said. Others said, "He seems to be talking about foreign gods." They said this because Paul kept telling them about Jesus and the resurrection. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 They brought him to the Areopagus and said, "Tell us more about this new teaching of yours." And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 "You are bringing us some strange ideas, and we would like to know what they mean." For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (The people of Athens and the outsiders living there had a habit. They spent all their free time talking about or hearing new ideas.) (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Paul stood up in front of everyone at Mars' hill. He said, "People of Athens, I can see that you take religion very seriously. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 As I walked through your city and looked at all your places of worship, I noticed one altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. You have been worshiping him without even knowing who he is. Let me tell you about him. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 The God who created the entire universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings constructed by humans. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 He does not need people to take care of him, as if he were lacking something. He is the one who gives every living thing its life, its breath, and everything it has. Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 Starting from one person, he created every nation and spread them across the whole earth. He decided exactly when each nation would thrive and where its borders would be. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 He did all this so people would look for him, reach out for him, and hopefully find him. The amazing thing is, he is very close to every one of us. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 As someone once said, 'In him we live and move and have our being.' Some of your own poets recognized this when they wrote, 'We are his children.' For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Since we are God's children, we should know that God is nothing like a statue made of gold, silver, or stone. He is not something shaped by human hands and ideas. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 God overlooked the times when people did not know any better. But now he is commanding everyone, everywhere, to turn away from sin and turn toward him. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 He has already set the date when he will judge the entire world fairly, through a man he has chosen. And he proved who that man is by raising him from the dead." Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32 When they heard about someone rising from the dead, some people laughed. But others said, "We want to hear more about this from you." And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 With that, Paul left the meeting. So Paul departed from among them.
34 A few people, however, believed and stayed with Paul. Among them were Dionysius (who was a member of the Areopagus council), a woman named Damaris, and some others. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.