Opening: Is there
something in your life that causes frustration? Something that constantly
causes trouble as home, like a temperamental washing machine or a car that
continually breaks down? Maybe a difficult neighbor or disruptive family
member? How do you deal with adversity?
Scripture: Read Acts 17:1-15.
Insights:
- Philippi was 33 Roman miles from Amphipolis; Amphipolis was 30 miles from Apollonia; and Apollonia was 37 miles from Thessalonica. Thus, a journey of over 100 miles is briefly covered in one verse!
- Nothing else in Christian tradition and history is said about Amphipolis and Apollonia. It might be there no Jewish synagogues in these towns, which Paul preferred as a place to begin his evangelistic outreach.
- Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. Through the center of town passed the Roman road from the Adriatic Sea to the Middle East called the Egnatian Way. If Christianity was firmly founded in Thessalonica, it could spread both east and west along that road until it became an important highway for the progress of Christianity. The church Paul planted grew quickly while he was there, from A.D. 50 to 51. Paul later sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the Christians were doing, as well as writing the two letters we call 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
- Paul and Silas spend three weeks at the Thessalonian synagogue. Note the adjectives used to describe the response: some Jews, many Greek men, and quite a few prominent women.
- The Jews in Thessalonica were a troublesome bunch. They had Jason arrested, sent the city into a tizzy, led the Thessalonian believers to send Paul and Silas to Berea, and then made so much trouble in Berea that they forced Paul to go to Athens.
Life Questions:
- Verse 6 in the NRSV records the jealous Jews shouting to the city authorities, “These people have been turning the world upside down.”[1] Could it be said any better? Christianity seeks to turn the world upside down. Or maybe, turn it right side up again!
- In this single passage, Paul is kicked out of two towns. Did it discourage him or cause him the question his mission or God? Not in the least. All the troubles he had – the stonings, the beatings, the hostilities, being shipwrecked, and the rejections – were what he called “light and momentary.”[2] How do you look at your troubles in comparison to the “glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever”?[3]
Prayer Focus: That we would
persevere in our mission no matter the result.
