Chapter Seventeen –
Second Journey of Paul Continued
ACTS 17:5-10:
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.
From
Philippi, Paul will travel to
Thessalonica
and preached to the Jews and devout Greeks in the synagogue with good
success.
Please use
the map provided:
http://www.plvcc.org/index.html?/articles_live_by_faith/image2/CNM19-Pauls2ndJourney.gif
In this
lesson, Paul is going to, once again, be faced with persecution by
unbelieving Jews.
Text #1:
Acts 17:5-9
“But
the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men
from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and
attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the
rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down
have come here too.
7
Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
8
And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these
things.
9
So when
they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.”
Becoming Envious: The Jews were to receive the Gospel of Jesus
Christ first and as master builders help usher in the kingdom of the
Messiah; however, for the most part they rejected the Messiah and His Gospel
of their redemption and all men (Acts
2:37;
4:12). This is a common practice that we have become
familiar with in our study and will continue here and in the future of our
study;
Acts 13:45;
17:5,
13;
22:22. This will also be commentary on God’s
righteous judgment on Israel for their willing rejection and hard
heartedness against the very Messiah of promise; as already warned by Peter
–
Acts 3:22-23; and Paul spent three chapters
informing the Roman Christians about –
Romans 9-11.
Evil Men: These men who were sought in the marketplace, by the
definition of the Greek word used, were ‘Low-fellows’, or ‘those who idle
their time in public places’. The Jews here are going to recruit rabble to
assist them in causing an uproar.
House of Jason: It is obvious that it was known that Paul and his
companions were staying in the house of this fellow Jason. Jason is a common
Greek name (from the Greek, ‘Iason’,
and meaning, ‘to heal’), and all that is known of him is found here in the
text; it is not something that we can truly establish; however, it could be
the same Jason mentioned to Christians in Rome, while Paul was at Corinth –
Romans 16:21.
Rulers: When Paul and his companions could not be found, the Jews
laid hold of Jason and other brethren and brought them before the
‘Politarches’ (rulers of the
city, as in magistrates of the city – these are different than in
16:22; as they were
‘Praetors’, also translated as
‘Magistrates’ but seemed to be more regional).
Turned the World Upside Down: The Jews accused them of exciting
riot in other places, as well as here. This is truly a compliment to Paul’s
work in the Gospel, because their teaching and presence was being felt by
the people. What can any of us accomplish when people are not aware of our
presence? Paul was setting the world straight, but to the unbelieving Jews
it was upside down. Paul’s work in the Gospel is felt by unbelieving Jews
all the way to Rome –
Acts 28:22. In fact, there can be little doubt that
it was the Jews who truly instigated the riot.
It is here
in
verse 7, that we have commentary on the accusations
brought against Paul and Silas in Philippi –
Acts 16:21. The Jews are using the only thing that
they know the city rulers will be concerned about, preaching another king
other than Caesar. The effect is seen in their troubled minds at hearing
this; however, it seems since the Jews do not have the actual instigators of
this claim, they simply secure bond from Jason and the brethren, then
release them.
Text #2:
Acts 17:10
“Then
the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to
Berea.
When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
Berea: This
is another city of Macedonia (the northern province of Greece) and about 60
miles from Thessalonica (it is also known as
‘Beroea’, or
‘Beroia’). It is located in the
south west portion of the province, lying at the base of Mt. Bermius, and
situated on a tributary of Haliacmon.
One of
Paul’s traveling companions at the end of the third journey is from this
city – “Sopater of Berea”,
Acts
20:4.
It should
also be noted before we conclude this lesson, that Timothy is not with Paul
and Silas. He has remained in Thessalonica, and we learn from
1
Thessalonians 3:1-5, that Timothy was left behind to establish
and encourage the brethren in Thessalonica.
Next: “These are More Fair-Minded!”