*Acts 17:1-15
Paul and Silas find success in Thessalonica but are forced to flee to Berea after facing opposition from Jews.
- Paul and Silas in Thessalonica:
- After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica, where there is a Jewish synagogue.
- As was his custom, Paul goes into the synagogue, and for three Sabbath days he reasons with them from the Scriptures.
- He explains and proves that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”
- Some of the Jews are persuaded and join Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
- Uproar in Thessalonica:
- Jews who are not persuaded become jealous and form a mob. They start a riot in the city.
- They attack the house of Jason, looking for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
- Not finding them, they drag Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting that these men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here.
- They accuse Jason of harboring them, claiming that they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
- The city officials are disturbed by these accusations, and they make Jason and the others post bond before releasing them.
- Departure to Berea:
- That very night, the believers send Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arriving, they go to the Jewish synagogue.
- The Berean Jews are more noble in character than those in Thessalonica, for they receive the message with great eagerness and examine the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul says is true.
- Many of them believe, including a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
- Trouble Follows from Thessalonica:
- When the Jews in Thessalonica learn that Paul is preaching the word of God in Berea, they come there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
- The believers immediately send Paul to the coast, while Silas and Timothy stay in Berea.
- Paul’s Travel to Athens:
- After leaving Berea, Paul is escorted to Athens by the believers. He sends a message back to Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 17:3 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.
17:4 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.
17:5 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.
17:6 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; 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
17:9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
17:11 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.
17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
17:13 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.
17:14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
17:15 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.