“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus. Acts 17: 6-7
The hundred-mile journey to Thessalonica from Philippi gave Paul a lot of time to think. The brethren at Philippi had worked their way into Paul’s heart, as he writes later: “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” Philippians 4: 15)
Now there loomed before them the capital of Macedonia, Thessalonica. Paul kept to his pattern: when entering a new city, he found and ministered in the local Jewish synagogue. He knew he could find both devout Jews and Gentiles, “God-seekers” and proselytes. Many had been polytheistic pagans and received the message gratefully: “ How you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
(I Thes.1: 9-10)
One member, Jason, made his home available to Paul and Silas. After three weeks of ministry “reasoning with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead…” (17: 2-3), some of the Jews, a large number of the God-fearing Gentiles, and not a few of the leading women were persuaded to join Paul and Silas.
The Jews became jealous and incited a riot, attacking the house of Jason since they could not find Paul and Silas. They shouted to the city authorities: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too…and contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
In his book, Paul, N.T. Wright, shared some Insight here:
“Does this mean, then, that Paul and the others really were turning the world upside down “? Broadly speaking, yes, it does. Exactly in line with Jesus’s own announcement of God’s kingdom, which took normal political values and power structures and stood them on their heads…a different way of being human, a different kind of community, and all because there was a very different kind of “king.”
Paul and Silas were smuggled out of town by night and sent to Berea, fifty miles to the west. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Therefore many of them believed. But the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea, and they began agitating and stirring up crowds against Paul. Silas and Timothy were able to stay behind as Paul sailed to Athens alone, where he was to wait for them.
While waiting for his team at Athens, Paul’s spirit was being provoked within him as he observed the city full of idols. Reasoning in the synagogue and in the market place every day with those present, Paul won a hearing on Mars Hill in the Areopagus.
Paul opens with a compliment: “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects…I also found an altar with this inscription, ’ TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” As Paul did in his message for Lystra (14:15-17), he shared four basic truths about God. He is Creator. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things…” Warren Wiersbe comments: “In two brief statements, Paul completely wiped out the entire religious system of Greece!” He is Provider, He is Ruler, and He is Savior. There were three different responses to the message—ridicule, equivocation, and a few who believed.
It was a long way to come for just a few believers, but in this world turned upside down, our King, the Good Shepherd, “will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one who is lost. When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing!” (Luke 15: 4)
Questions To Think About:
The hundred-mile journey to Thessalonica from Philippi gave Paul a lot of time to think. The brethren at Philippi had worked their way into Paul’s heart, as he writes later: “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” Philippians 4: 15)
Now there loomed before them the capital of Macedonia, Thessalonica. Paul kept to his pattern: when entering a new city, he found and ministered in the local Jewish synagogue. He knew he could find both devout Jews and Gentiles, “God-seekers” and proselytes. Many had been polytheistic pagans and received the message gratefully: “ How you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.”
(I Thes.1: 9-10)
One member, Jason, made his home available to Paul and Silas. After three weeks of ministry “reasoning with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead…” (17: 2-3), some of the Jews, a large number of the God-fearing Gentiles, and not a few of the leading women were persuaded to join Paul and Silas.
The Jews became jealous and incited a riot, attacking the house of Jason since they could not find Paul and Silas. They shouted to the city authorities: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too…and contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
In his book, Paul, N.T. Wright, shared some Insight here:
“Does this mean, then, that Paul and the others really were turning the world upside down “? Broadly speaking, yes, it does. Exactly in line with Jesus’s own announcement of God’s kingdom, which took normal political values and power structures and stood them on their heads…a different way of being human, a different kind of community, and all because there was a very different kind of “king.”
Paul and Silas were smuggled out of town by night and sent to Berea, fifty miles to the west. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Therefore many of them believed. But the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea, and they began agitating and stirring up crowds against Paul. Silas and Timothy were able to stay behind as Paul sailed to Athens alone, where he was to wait for them.
While waiting for his team at Athens, Paul’s spirit was being provoked within him as he observed the city full of idols. Reasoning in the synagogue and in the market place every day with those present, Paul won a hearing on Mars Hill in the Areopagus.
Paul opens with a compliment: “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects…I also found an altar with this inscription, ’ TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.” As Paul did in his message for Lystra (14:15-17), he shared four basic truths about God. He is Creator. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, as though He needed anything since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things…” Warren Wiersbe comments: “In two brief statements, Paul completely wiped out the entire religious system of Greece!” He is Provider, He is Ruler, and He is Savior. There were three different responses to the message—ridicule, equivocation, and a few who believed.
It was a long way to come for just a few believers, but in this world turned upside down, our King, the Good Shepherd, “will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one who is lost. When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing!” (Luke 15: 4)
Questions To Think About:
- The crowd accused the believers of acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar by serving another king. Where do you feel the greatest tension today between the cultural “decrees” of the world and your allegiance to King Jesus?
- Paul’s spirit was “provoked within him” when he saw Athens full of idols. What issues of brokenness in your community provoke your spirit and move you to action?
- The devotional concludes with the reminder that Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to chase the lost one. How does knowing that God considers a “long journey for just a few believer” worthwhile change your view of success?
- Paul used the Athenians’ altar “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” as a bridge to share the truth. What cultural trends, anxieties, or longings in society today can you use as a starting point to talk to others about God?
- Paul shared four basic truths abut God on Mars Hill: He is Creator, Provider, Ruler, and Savior. Which of these four roles do you find easiest to trust Him with, and which one do you struggle with the most?
Posted in The World Upside Down