History · Chapter 17 of 28

Acts 17

In Thessalonica Paul reasons from Scripture that Christ had to suffer and rise, and some believe while others riot, accusing the believers of proclaiming another king, Jesus. The Bereans receive the word eagerly and search the Scriptures daily. At Athens Paul, grieved by idols, preaches to philosophers at the Areopagus, proclaiming the unknown God who made all and now calls all to repent, having appointed a risen judge.

What happens in Acts 17

At Thessalonica Paul reasons in the synagogue for three sabbaths, showing from the Scriptures that Christ had to suffer and rise, and that Jesus is that Christ. Some believe, but jealous opponents gather a mob, assault Jason's house, and accuse the believers of turning the world upside down and proclaiming another king, Jesus. The believers send Paul and Silas by night to Berea, where the people receive the word eagerly and search the Scriptures daily.

When opponents follow, Paul is sent on to Athens, where his spirit is stirred by a city full of idols. He disputes until philosophers bring him to the Areopagus. Paul points to their altar to the unknown God and declares the Creator who made all nations from one blood, in whom we live and move and have our being. He calls all to repent, for God has appointed a day to judge by a man he raised from the dead. Some mock; some believe.

Acts 17 in context

Acts 17 shows Paul's gospel meeting three very different audiences: synagogue Jews at Thessalonica, eager searchers at Berea, and pagan philosophers at Athens. The Areopagus, or Mars Hill, was a council where new ideas were examined. Athens was the intellectual capital of the ancient world, steeped in Epicurean and Stoic philosophy and countless idols.

Paul adapts his approach, quoting their own poets rather than Hebrew prophets, yet arrives at the same summons: repentance in light of the resurrection.

Main themes of Acts 17

Acts 17 (KJV)

1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. 10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. 14And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 15And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. 16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33So Paul departed from among them. 34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Verses to carry from Acts 17

“Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”Acts 17:3

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”Acts 17:11

“Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”Acts 17:31

Reflection

The Bereans did not take even an apostle's word without checking it against Scripture. In an age of many voices, their habit is worth keeping: receive teaching eagerly, then search the word to see if it is so. Let the Bible, not mere persuasion or feeling, settle what you believe about Jesus.

A prayer from Acts 17