Acts 17:1–15

Introduction

Acts 17:1–15: Paul and Silas travel to Thessalonica and Berea, teaching about Jesus. Some choose to believe, but others seek to stir up trouble. In Thessalonica, a believer named Jason is brought before the city authorities for hosting Paul and Silas in his home. In Berea, Paul is sent away to the coast (probably the northwest coast of the Aegean Sea), and from there he journeys to Athens.

Today’s Key Verse: Acts 17:2b–3a GNT

[Paul] held discussions with the people, quoting and explaining the Scriptures, and proving from them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from death.

Read

17 Paul and Silas traveled on through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue. ² According to his usual habit Paul went to the synagogue. There during three Sabbaths he held discussions with the people, quoting ³ and explaining the Scriptures, and proving from them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from death. “This Jesus whom I announce to you,” Paul said, “is the Messiah.” ⁴ Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas; so did many of the leading women and a large group of Greeks who worshiped God.

⁵ But some Jews were jealous and gathered worthless loafers from the streets and formed a mob. They set the whole city in an uproar and attacked the home of a man named Jason, in an attempt to find Paul and Silas and bring them out to the people. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city authorities and shouted, “These men have caused trouble everywhere! Now they have come to our city, ⁷ and Jason has kept them in his house. They are all breaking the laws of the Emperor, saying that there is another king, whose name is Jesus.” ⁸ With these words they threw the crowd and the city authorities in an uproar. ⁹ The authorities made Jason and the others pay the required amount of money to be released, and then let them go.

¹⁰ As soon as night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived, they went to the synagogue. ¹¹ The people there were more open-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They listened to the message with great eagerness, and every day they studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true. ¹² Many of them believed; and many Greek women of high social standing and many Greek men also believed. ¹³ But when the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul had preached the word of God in Berea also, they came there and started exciting and stirring up the mobs. ¹⁴ At once the believers sent Paul away to the coast; but both Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. ¹⁵ The men who were taking Paul went with him as far as Athens and then returned to Berea with instructions from Paul that Silas and Timothy should join him as soon as possible.

Reflect

In what ways did people react to the message Paul and Silas brought? Why were some willing to believe and others not? What risks did Jason take in hosting Paul and Silas (verses 5–9)? Does believing in Jesus require one to take risks today? Explain.

Pray

Lord God, with great eagerness I seek to study the Scriptures and grow in knowledge of you. I believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah who suffered and rose from death and ransomed me from sin. Loving and merciful God, I thank and praise you for your gift of salvation and eternal life. Amen.

Tomorrow’s Reading

Acts 17:16–34: Paul delivers a speech in Athens.