Paul and Silas continue on their missionary journey encountering all kinds of trials, opposition and danger. The Jews continue to be the force that raises opposition to the gospel that Paul preached. In some cases they use very rough people to oppose Paul (“certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,” Acts 17:55But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. (Acts 17:5)), and in others they used people of very high social and religious standing (“the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city,” Acts 13:5050But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. (Acts 13:50)).
The Word of God is not hindered in all of this and so the two come to Berea. Here one of the nicest commendations of the Spirit of God is given to these Jews. They are called “more noble” than those in Thessalonica because they not only received what Paul and Silas preached with a ready mind, but they also searched the Scriptures to see if what they were hearing was supported by God’s Word as the truth.
Finally Paul’s journey takes him to Athens, Greece - the very center of learning and man’s intelligence in the whole of the known world. Here in the very center of man’s wisdom, Paul meets with the greatest spiritual darkness and ignorance. Though encouraging, it is most solemn to consider that only a few residents of Athens were given faith to turn from their own intelligence and in simple faith accept the message that Paul preached.
1. The Jews stirred up and used people from every class of society to oppose Paul and the gospel he preached. According to the prayer of praise lifted up to the Lord in Acts 4, who was responsible for opposing God and His Son, Jesus?
Acts 4:___
2. What characterized the witness of those who testified against the Lord Jesus the night before He was crucified? Mark 14:___
3. Fearing further strife and contention, the brethren sent Paul and Silas away from the uproar their gospel preaching had caused in Thessalonica. What instructions does Paul later give to Timothy about the character that a servant of the Lord should maintain? 2 Timothy 2:___
4. Even though it was an Apostle of Jesus Christ who was preaching to them, the Berean Christians are commended for confirming Paul’s teaching by Scripture. What did Paul desire would happen to one, even though he were an angel of God, if the gospel he preached was not according to the Word of God?
Galatians 1:___
5. The very intelligent Athenian idolaters were really very foolish in God’s sight. Paul has to speak to them about the “unknown God” as if he were speaking to them as a little child. What has God done to the wisdom of this world? 1 Corinthians 1:___