THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 17, Paul in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, The Sermon on Mars Hill

 

THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 17

Paul in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, The Sermon on Mars Hill

This chapter could largely be seen as a narration of the Apostle Paul’s missionary travels through sections of Greece. But a deeper look reveals Paul and Silas’ motivations which should be an example of our motivations today.

For those who are willing to put aside denominational spin on quasi-doctrinal teachings on eschatology, and are willing to study the Bible using good study methods, using face-value readings where applicable and staying within the context of the entire Bible on the subject, you can see that the Acts of the Apostles gives us instructions for the Last Days – that is, the days in which we are now living. (see Are We Living in The Last Days articles).

Paul in Thessalonica

Acts 17:1, Now when they, (Paul and Silas), had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Verse 2. And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, verse 3. explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” Verse 4. And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a significant number of the leading women. Verse 5. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people. Verse 6. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; Verse 7. and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” Verse 8. They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. Verse 9. And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

(Commentary Break): (You can use this link to follow Paul’s missionary journey on a power point presentation while you read and listen to this commentary). Paul’s custom while on his missionary journeys was to visit local synagogues to tell of the Messiah, which was a risky proposition. Imagine going to local churches in our day and doing the same thing – assuming you are telling the same message as Paul! Some might agree, some might believe, but many would take great offense and you would, like Paul, ‘create a great uproar’. This was the method then, and considering we are in the Last Days, it should be the pattern for us, as well.

Let me say, that considering the current-day apostasy in many church denominations today, and the scriptural ignorance and Biblical errancy in even in most of the reformed churches, that if you preach and teach the words of Jesus and of the Apostles in most churches, you will most likely be considered a trouble maker, if not a heretic or at the very least a religious pariah. But preach it and teach it we must. (End Commentary Break).

Paul in Berea

Verse 10. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Verse 11. Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Verse 12. Therefore, many of them believed, along with a significant number of prominent Greek women and men. Verse 13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Verse 14. Then immediately the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. Verse 15. Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul in Athens

Verse 16. Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. Verse 17. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. Verse 18. And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could this scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. Verse 19. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? Verse 20. For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” Verse 21. (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

(Commentary Break): “Paul’s spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue…” We live in a different century, in a much different world. But one thing that has remained the same is that “our cities are full of idols”. But, is the spirit within you provoked? Are you reasoning in the churches? Listen, dear friends, you don’t need to be ‘an Apostle Paul’ to follow this example. Scriptures admonish us to call the false teacher, the wolves, the ignorant and the errant teachers out, to flee from them and to warn others. Don’t be confused. Don’t be misled. Know the Word. Proclaim and teach the Word, rebuke, correct train of others in righteousness. This, as Christians, disciples of Jesus, is our mandate and our calling in these days. (End Commentary Break).

Sermon on Mars Hill

Verse 22. So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. Verse 23. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. Verse 24. The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; verse 25, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; verse 26, and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, verse 27, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; verse 28, for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ Verse 29. Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. Verse 30. So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, verse 31, because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”

(Commentary Break): We should memorize verses 22 through 31 and understand them thoroughly so we can preach them. In fact, if you do nothing else today, pray and memorize these verses and quote them often, both in season and out; in the church and outside the church. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 32. Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you again concerning this.” Verse 33. So Paul went out from among them. Verse 34. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. (End Chapter 17 text).

Just as verses 32 through 34 tell us, many will scoff, some will ask to hear it again, but some will believe and others with them.

I am going to make a contemporary remark as of this date, November 5, 2025, that may or may not be relevant a day, a week, a month or a year from now: America is in serious decline and with that, the light of Christ is being diminished in our once great nation. There are those who are putting up a valiant fight, but the floodtide is moving away from our shores, leaving spiritual, psychological and physical devastation in its wake. The perverse Godlessness of global Marxism has a firm grip on our nation and many of her institutions. They are destroying our legacies, our government and our institutions of higher learning. They are stealing our children, killing our unborn and murdering our patriotic and Christian citizens and our national heroes. And worst of all, they are bragging about their evil deeds and wicked accomplishments. They are celebrating the demise of America as having been a good, decent and Christian nation.

There is only One Hope left and that is the Message of Christ. And it must be brought to our nation and world by each Christian reaching one person.

Fighting with weapons of war is futile. We must win the hearts and minds of the enemy in order to win our nation back – one person at a time. God has given us the victory only if we wage this war in His Name, using His Methods, by the word of our testimony and by the Blood of the Lamb! Let’s pray continuously for one another that we are obedient, even to death if necessary, for we are not of those who would shrink back!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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Next: (Coming Soon) THE BOOK OF ACTS – Chapter 18, Paul in Corinth, Third Missionary Journey.

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