I returned to the book of Acts this morning and enjoyed chapter 17. Paul preaches to very different kinds of people in this chapter. In Thessalonica he speaks to Jews for three Sabbaths in their synagogue, reasoning how Jesus had fulfilled the promise of the Messiah, the Christ, by taking them through very familiar scriptures. Some believed but others became jealous and hostile, threatening Paul's life. So Paul moved on to Berea where he found a different audience...once again they were Jews and once again he spoke in their synagogue, but there was a different quality to their attitude. They were used to searching out truth in the scriptures and they eagerly listened to Paul and compared his teachings with those of the Bible and many believed...but those obnoxious Thessalonians followed Paul to Berea and tried to stir up folks against him. So, once again, Paul moved on. This time he went to Athens and spoke to Jews in the synagogue but also to Gentiles who followed many of the famous Greek philosophers and had a tradition of many idols and cultural gods. For these Gentiles Paul's teachings were strange and new, with nothing in their tradition or belief-structure to reinforce the message and the person of Jesus. In fact they said (verses 19,20) "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." Paul went on to briefly summarize the identity of God the true Creator and His desire for men everywhere to turn to Him. Once again, some rejected the message but some embraced it and believed.
Three places...three kinds of people: familiar skeptics, earnest seekers and foreigners to faith...but one message for all. We are struck with the truth that our God wants to reach all people everywhere with the truth of His reality and His Son's resurrection that we might all be restored to Him.
blessings,
Rob Smith
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