Chapter Seventeen –
Second Journey of Paul Continued
ACTS 17:1-4:
We began
this journey with Paul and Silas in
Antioch of Syria;
they then traveled through the rest of
Syria
and through the region of
Cilicia
strengthening the Bodies of Christ
along the way. When they came to the area of the two cities of
Lystra and Derbe,
they will pick up young Timothy to travel with them. They delivered the
decrees to these cities which strengthened them to a productive unity. From
here they will travel to two new areas of Asia Minor;
Phrygia and Galatia.
Luke does not record anything about these visits and Paul will not return to
these regions until
Chapter 19.
Passing
through the region of Mysia (having been forbidden by the Spirit of God to
go into Asia and Bithynia at this time), Paul and his group have come to
Troas.
Here at Troas, Paul will have a vision encouraging him to go to Macedonia
and bring the Gospel. As they determine to go to Macedonia, we learn that
Luke joins them.
They set
out across the Aegean Sea and cross with relative ease, stopping at the
island of
Samothrace,
and the next day arriving at
Neapolis,
the sea port town for Philippi. From Neapolis they head straight to
Philippi,
the chief city of this region. While here, Paul would live the very words
that he would later instruct the Philippian Christians to practice after him
(Philippians
4:8-9). He would go on to bring the Gospel to already religious
people, produce good works in the face of adversity, and never allow an
opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus as the Christ to pass. There would
be great success in the power of the Gospel at Philippi.
Please use
the map provided:
http://www.plvcc.org/index.html?/articles_live_by_faith/image2/CNM19-Pauls2ndJourney.gif
In this
lesson, Paul is now going to continue to move through Macedonia and bring
the Gospel of Jesus as the Christ.
Text #1:
Acts 17:1
“Now
when they had passed through
Amphipolis
and
Apollonia,
they came to
Thessalonica,
where there was a synagogue of the Jews.”
Amphipolis:
Amphipolis was about 32 miles west of Philippi and 3 miles from the Aegean
Sea on the Via Egnatia. Its name, meaning "around the city" (from amphi,
"around," and polis, "city"), is derived from the fact that Strymon
(Strimón) River curved around the site on which it was built.
A strategic
transportation center, it controlled the route from northern Greece to the
Hellespont to the east, including the western approach to the timber, gold,
and silver of Mount Pangaion in Thrace.
Apollonia:
A maritime city of Macedonia located 38 miles east of Thessalonica on the
Via Egnatia; its name means "belonging to Apollo." It is thought that Paul
did not preach here or in Amphipolis because neither had a significant
Jewish population. In any event, it is not recorded by Luke either way,
other than they passed through!
Thessalonica:
A port city
about 100 miles west of Philippi and 190 miles northwest of Athens. The city
was founded about 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon, who named it after
his wife Thessalonikeia, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. Her name
means "victory (niki or nica) in Thessaly." The city continued to develop
until Rome defeated Perseus, the last Macedonian king, in 168 BC. Rome
divided the former kingdom into four independent "free" districts, then, in
146 BC, established it as a province with Thessalonica as its capital. At
the time of Paul it had a population of about 200,000, making it the largest
city in Macedonia. Thessalonica was located in a natural amphitheater on the
slopes of the Kortiates Mountains at the head of the Thermaic Gulf, with a
view (when not obscured by a prevailing haze) of fabled Mt. Olympus across
the bay. It was an important trade and communication center at the junction
of the Via Egnatia and the road north to the Danube.
Text #2:
Acts 17:2-4
“Then
Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths 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 preach to you is the Christ.”
4
And some of
them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a
few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”
One point
that needs to be made before we move forward is that by the pronouns found
in
verse one
(“they”, instead of “we”), we see that Luke stays behind in Philippi and
does not continue on with Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
As His
Custom:
Paul, upon
entering Thessalonica is going to practice what we have come to see him do
in every city he enters that has population of Jews large enough to have a
synagogue; he will start there first.
We know by
the letter that he would write back to those who obeyed the Gospel here,
that along with his preaching, he also performed miracles in the support of
the word.
1 Thessalonians 1:5
“For
our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were
among you for your sake.”
Explaining
and Demonstrating:
The use of
the term “Explaining” (“Opening”
in the King James), comes from the Greek word with reference to
explaining or expounding. In other words, he is going to introduce the
premise prior to the evidence.
The use of
the term “Demonstrating” has had
many thinking that it refers to the miracles that we have already mentioned;
however, the source of the evidentiary foundations Paul is using has already
been given, “Scriptures” –
Vs.
2.
The Lord
Himself has already used this same practice in order to open the minds of
His chosen disciples – see:
Luke
24:44-46. Paul is likewise from the Old Testament scriptures
showing fulfillment of such passages as
Psalms 16,
22;
Isaiah 53; etc… in Jesus. Thus the only conclusion is that He was
the Christ!
Results:
Some of them were “Persuaded” (To
induce to undertake a course of action or embrace a point of view by means
of argument, reasoning, or entreaty). Along with Jews who obeyed (we know
that Jews obeyed as well as proselytes by the comments of
verse 5), many devout Gentiles became members of the
Body of Christ by obeying the
Gospel, and a great many “Leading
Women”; or “Devout Women”
from the Greek, ‘Sebomai’, which
is to ‘feel awe’, or ‘to worship’. So, we note that the majority of these
brethren would be from the ranks of Gentiles, which would continue; we see
this in the words of Paul written back to them, note:
1 Thessalonians 1:9
“For
they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you,
and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”
We will
additionally learn from Paul’s letters, post his visit here, that he would
not take assistance from these brethren and that the brethren in Philippi
would send assistance to him here at Thessalonica, note:
1 Thessalonians 2:9
“For
you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that
we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of
God.”
Philippians 4:15-16
“Now
you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I
departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and
receiving but you only.
16
For even in
Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.”