This chapter gives us three cities where the gospel was next preached. In Thessalonica there was much hostility. In Berea there was much blessing because of submission to the Scriptures. In Athens there was idolatry, indifference and ridicule.
From Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled about 100 miles before coming to Thessalonica (present-day Saloniki), a center of commerce located on trade routes. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue of the Jews and began to read the Scriptures. We are happy to see that some of them believed and joined themselves to Paul and Silas. However, the unbelievers stirred up opposition, so the brethren immediately sent them away by night to Berea. Here, the Jews searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things that the apostles said were so. Wasn’t that a noble thing to do? We should always test everything we hear by the Word of God. After being driven out of Berea, Paul was brought to Athens. In this city, there was much learning and idle time spent in telling or hearing something new. But with all their learning, Paul noticed that the city was wholly given up to idolatry. How true it is that man “by wisdom knew not God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). Using an altar with the inscription “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD” as his text, Paul preached to the Athenians about the God who made the world and did not dwell in temples made with hands. Such a God gave us life and breath as well as all things, desiring that we should seek Him. If men didn’t repent and seek God but remained in their sins, they could be sure that the day was coming when they would be judged by that Man whom God had raised from among the dead. May none of us ever be among those who mocked when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, because “God is not mocked” (Galatians 6:7).
1. When Paul opened the Scriptures, he proved that Christ (the Messiah of the Old Testament) had to suffer and then rise from the dead and that this One he preached about was, in fact, named __________. Acts 17:___
2. Those in Berea more noble than those in Thessalonica because they searched __________ daily to test whether the preaching was really true. Acts 17:___
3. What city was wholly given up to idolatry? __________ Acts 17:___
4. Why does God not dwell in temples made with hands? __________ Acts 17:___
5. What assurance do we have that this world will be judged in righteousness? __________ Acts 17:___