November 23, 2025

Acts 17: Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens and Differing Responses to the Gospel

23 minutes

This sermon by Bruce examines Acts 17, focusing on Paul’s missionary journeys to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. The message highlights the different responses to the gospel, from persecution to earnest searching, and draws parallels to modern challenges in sharing faith. Bruce encourages believers to be intercessors and ambassadors in a culture that often rejects biblical truth.

[00:00:12] Paul and Silas travel to Thessalonica, where Paul reasons in the synagogue for three weeks from the Scriptures, explaining that the Christ must suffer and rise from the dead.

[00:01:48] Some Jews, devout Greeks, and leading women are persuaded, but other Jews become jealous.

[00:01:55] The jealous Jews stir up a city-wide riot, attacking the house of Jason and dragging him before the authorities with false accusations of sedition against Caesar.

[00:03:29] This pattern of religious persecution, using violent mobs to attack the message and messengers, is compared to modern situations in countries like India and China.

[00:04:30] Despite the persecution, the tumult served to spread the gospel message beyond the synagogue to the entire city.

[00:09:14] The brothers send Paul and Silas away by night to Berea for their protection.

[00:09:52] Paul and Silas show tremendous courage by immediately going into the synagogue in Berea, remaining faithful to their calling despite recent danger.

[00:10:54] The Berean Jews are described as more noble because they receive the word with eagerness and examine the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s message.

[00:12:28] This honest seeking for truth is contrasted with those who avoid truth to maintain their comfort and status quo.

[00:13:29] Persecution follows Paul to Berea as Jews from Thessalonica arrive to stir up the crowds, prompting the brethren to send Paul on to Athens.

[00:14:28] In Athens, Paul’s spirit is provoked because the city is full of idols, so he reasons in the synagogue, with devout persons, and in the marketplace daily.

[00:15:58] Epicurean and Stoic philosophers engage with Paul, some calling him a “babbler,” and they bring him to the Areopagus to hear his “new teaching.”

[00:16:52] Paul addresses the Athenians by relating to their culture, noting their altar “To an unknown god” and proclaiming that this is the God he declares to them.

[00:17:34] Paul explains that the true God is the Creator who does not live in man-made temples and is not served by human hands, commanding all people everywhere to repent.

[00:19:07] Paul declares that God has fixed a day to judge the world through a man He has appointed, providing proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.

[00:19:55] The response to Paul’s message is divided: some mock, others want to hear more, and a few believe, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

[00:20:40] These three responses—rejection, consideration, and acceptance—are presented as normal outcomes when sharing the truth, and should not discourage us.

[00:21:12] Bruce encourages believers to be distressed by the idols in our culture, just as Paul was, and to respond by praying and interceding for our culture.

[00:21:54] Believers are urged to “pray the news,” actively crying out to God about things that are counter to His will, rather than being passive.

Scripture References

Acts 17

Acts 16

1 Thessalonians 1-3

John 18:36

Daniel 3

Psalm 14

Generated by AI model deepseek-chat

The post Acts 17: Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens and Differing Responses to the Gospel first appeared on Canaan Fellowship.

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By Canaan Fellowship