Acts 17:1-9
Faithful exposition of Scripture concerning Christ produces saving faith in some and hostile resistance in others.
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.
6 When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”
8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.
9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Faithful exposition of Scripture concerning Christ produces saving faith in some and hostile resistance in others.
To show Paul’s synagogue reasoning in Thessalonica and the mixed response that results in both belief and persecution.
This passage begins the Thessalonian ministry and follows the pattern of synagogue proclamation and mixed response. Luke highlights Paul's scriptural reasoning and the centrality of Christ's suffering and resurrection. Opposition escalates quickly, shifting from theological disagreement to political accusation.
On the second missionary journey, Paul travels west along the Via Egnatia to Thessalonica, the capital of Macedonia. As was his custom, he enters the synagogue and reasons from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths. Some Jews and many God-fearing Greeks believe. Jealous Jewish leaders stir up troublemakers, attack Jason's house, and accuse the missionaries before city officials of defying Caesar by proclaiming Jesus as king.
The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations
Acts 17 shows that the gospel must be reasoned from Scripture, tested by Scripture, and proclaimed to idolaters as the message of the Creator God who commands repentance and has raised Jesus from the dead.