Acts Chapter 17
- What was Paul’s Custom whenever he visited a new location?
- He would always go to the synagaogue or the meeting location where Jews gathered
- He taught them from the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for
- What were some of the responses of the people that heard Paul's message?
- Some believed and joined the Christian movement
- Some denied what he was saying
- Some stirred up trouble and made exaggerated accusations against Paul
- What types of people were responding to Paul’s message in these towns?
- Some Jews
- Some Greeks
- Some God fearing non-Jews
- Some prominent women
- Some men
- In other words, social, ethnic and economically diverse people were responding positively to Paul's message and joining the Christian movement.
- What kinds of persecution did Paul experience?
- Jail
- Being thrown out of the town or having to flee
- Previous flogging
- How was Paul able to reason with the people?
- He read scriptures, in context and persuaded them that Jesus was the Messiah from the scriptures
- He did not have to manipulate the scriptures to prove his points
- Why was Paul’s message so controversial?
- He was preaching that Jesus is the Messiah- which means Jesus is the King and not Caesar.
- He was preaching that Jesus should be their Lord--Jesus’s commands and teachings have the final authority on how they live their lives.
- What was so special about what happened in Athens?
- Paul did not initially plan to go there, he was sent there to escape the trouble some Jealous Jews from Thessalonica were stirring up in Berea. Paul had to leave Timothy and Silas behind to continue teaching about Jesus.
- When Paul went to Athens, he did not go to the synagogue, instead he went to the meeting place where the philosophers of the day would meet to talk about the new ideas of the age
- The Athenians invited him to speak to them at the Areopagus because Paul’s message was new to them
- Paul was following the Holy Spirit’s lead to bring the message to Athens and God opened the opportunity for him to talk in a prominent location.
- What are some takeaways you can use in your personal mission to spread the message about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to bring salvation to all people?
- Have a plan, be consistent
- Know the scriptures and use them to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and should be Lord of our lives
- Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit
- Go with a friend if possible