Acts 17:1-15 "#RYFB"
In college, I had a history professor who told us on day one to pay close attention to the syllabus. I remember him saying that—clear as day.
And I… absolutely did not pay attention to it.
Didn’t even read it.
But I came to class, took notes, listened to his lectures. He was interesting and funny. It was a great class. No tests, no quizzes, no papers. Just lectures.
Then came the final. The one test that determined the entire grade.
I flipped through my notes, felt like I had a pretty solid grasp on everything. Walked in with confidence.
Then I saw the test.
It was all essay questions—based entirely on a book he never lectured on. A book that was only mentioned in… you guessed it… the syllabus.
I knew none of the answers.
I did my best “B.S.” responses (which of course stands for Bart Simpson—I Bart Simpsoned that sucker), but let’s just say… I got a zero.
The only zero I’ve ever received. The only F I got in college.
Turns out, sometimes it really does matter whether you read the book or not.
That’s not just a college mistake—it’s a spiritual one.
A lot of us treat our faith the same way.
We listen to the lectures, I mean sermons, we show up to church. We take notes—well, mental notes. We think we’ve got a pretty good handle on this Christianity thing.
But we don’t actually open the book.
We don’t examine the Scriptures. We don’t dig in. We don’t look at what God actually says.
And then when life tests us—and it will. Then we realize…
We ignored the syllabus.
We’ve been following a version of Christianity that’s mostly vibes and cultural leftovers—something that doesn’t challenge us or require change.
Even if you’ve been a Christian for decades, you can still fall into this trap.
You can cruise on autopilot. You can think you already know how it all works.
But when you ignore the Word of God…
It’s like showing up for the final exam having never read the only book that mattered.
Today we’re going to look at a story where Paul preached the truth about Jesus—straight from the Scriptures.
Some people were transformed by it. Others were threatened by it.
Because the real Gospel turns everything upside down.
We’ve been going through the Book of Acts, the early history of the church, and today Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke continue to take the message of Jesus town to town on their tour of Greece. Acts chapter 17 starting at…
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:1
They left Philippi, walked 30 miles on the Roman superhighway called the Via Egnatia to Amphipolis, next day walked 30 miles to Apollonia, and then the next day another 30 miles to Thessalonica. The next time I walk 30 miles in a day will be the first time. The Via Egnatia was like the I-10 of the ancient world, except with sandals instead of semis.
So, they arrive in Thessalonica, the largest city in Macedonia, probably close to 200,000 people at the time. It’s called Thessaloniki now, same place, but the modern city has a population of more than a million.
So, big city—it was pretty easy to find a synagogue.
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” Acts 17:2-3
Paul usually started preaching in a new city by going to the synagogues. He knew he’d find people there who worshipped God and were interested in the Bible—people who had spent their life waiting for the Messiah—the Christ. Boy did he have some news for them!
The New Testament didn’t exist yet, they were still living it, so they turned to the Old Testament to preach about Jesus. He’s all over it, it’s all about Him. The New Testament is really just an inspired commentary on the Old Testament. It’s all the same story of salvation. Sometimes people talk like there’s two covenants between God and the people He promises to save. There’s not two covenants, there’s one covenant. God promised Abraham that one of his descendants would bring salvation to the whole world. God renewed that promise through one of Abraham’s descendants, King David, narrowing who the Messiah would be to someone from the line of David, born in the City of David—you know, Bethlehem. Paul was there to tell them this promised Christ had been born and His name was Jesus of Nazareth. That was good news, but there was also bad news. Jesus showed up, said a lot of really wild things about the kingdom of heaven, people didn’t like it—and they killed Him. That seems pretty bad, right?
But then Paul pulls out the Old Testament scrolls and shows them this was God’s plan all along. This was all part of that promise. The covenant between God and His people.
The Messiah had to suffer and die. Paul probably shows them Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant. He probably shows them Psalm 22 and its detailed description of the crucifixion a thousand years before it happened. He shows them how the Messiah had to die—probably pulls in Leviticus and how all the Temple sacrifices and the Day of Atonement and everything they already knew—how it all was fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That He is the Christ. The One they were waiting on. Then the good news—it’s not too late. All they have to do is believe on the name of the Lord Jesus and they will be saved. Them and their household. Doesn’t matter if they’re Jew or Greek or male or female. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save anyone who will believe with true belief and true repentance. But if anyone rejects the Messiah—if they don’t believe—then they will continue to be as they already are. Condemned. God doesn’t have to condemn people. They’re already condemned. God sent Jesus to save.
He’s in the synagogue, he’s flipping through the scrolls, making his case. Jews were there, Greeks were there, men and women. Paul had their attention.
The promise that was made to Abraham and David—Jesus uniquely fulfills all these promises. To reject Him is to reject God and to remove themselves from all hope.
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. Acts 17:4
Some of the Jews believed, but a lot more of the God-fearing Gentiles and influential Greek women came to true faith. These were women of high standing in the culture with religious and social influence—people were going to pay attention to what they had to say.
We have to understand the cost of what it would mean for these people to follow Jesus in their culture. They were risking everything that seemed important to most people. Breaking from family tradition, their social standing, putting their livelihoods as well as their lives on the line.
But Paul, with the help of the Holy Spirit, was very persuasive—three weeks later, they got themselves the first church of Thessalonica.
You're going to be surprised what happens next. No you’re not.
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. Acts 17:5
What was their problem? Did they not like Paul’s theological understanding of Isaiah? Did they want to further clarify Paul’s teaching in light of how they read Scripture? No. They were jealous. Paul had proved his point. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you mad!
They rounded up the usual suspects and started a riot. Real mature, guys! They didn’t like what this Paul dude had to say so they got the pitch forks and torches, started breaking windows and dragging people out of their houses.
Starting with some guy named Jason. Who the heck is Jason? Come on, Luke! A little introduction would kill you?
Whoever Luke expected to read this book must have known Jason. It seems like a small detail but actually points to the authenticity of the Book of Acts. Real people in real places, not a made up fairy tale.
So they’re jealous, they hire some thugs—it’s not unusual for enemies of the Gospel to do terrible things to try and shut it down. We should expect it. If it doesn’t happen, we’re probably not really preaching the Gospel.
But Paul and the boys must have been warned because they weren’t there…
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. Acts 17:6-8
You have to feel for Jason. He’s been a Christian for less than three weeks and oh man! Good thing Paul’s preaching strategy wasn’t like a lot of modern preachers. “Believe in Jesus and all your problems will disappear, God just wants you to be happy!” I think Jason knew what he was signing up for.
I love how their big insult to Christianity is, “It’s turning the world upside down!”
I’d be like, “Yeah it is! Let’s put that on a T-shirt!” The Gospel does turn the world upside down. Which is actually right side up—raising the lowly, humbling the proud, first shall be last, last shall be first, love your enemy.
And of course they have to make it political to try and get the charges to stick. They make it a threat to the Roman order: Treason—Jesus says He is Lord, not Caesar.
Echoes of Jesus before Pilate. This is the same accusation the Jewish leaders used in Jerusalem.
It’s a serious charge: Challenging Caesar’s authority would’ve been extremely dangerous.
But they knew what they were doing, they knew Jesus and His followers weren’t political revolutionaries—they just used the “king” language to try and get them in trouble.
And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Acts 17:9
Out on bail—Jason and his friends risked their finances and property for the sake of the Gospel. It's a powerful example of how supporting the ministry of the church is going to mean personal sacrifice. We should take note of that.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Acts 17:10
On the road again. This time a 50 mile walk to Berea. As soon as they got there, they start all over again—find the local synagogue, open the Scriptures, talk about Jesus. This time was different though…
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11
What is going on here? A bunch of religious people being open, thoughtful, fair-minded—willing to change and grow. There were no miracles in Thessalonica or Berea—unless you count this—religious people listening and changing their mind! Paul starts talking about how the promised Messiah was the suffering Servant in Isaiah and how all the Scriptures point to this Jesus guy who was crucified and rose from the dead.
And they didn’t get mad. Even though that truth would change absolutely everything in their life and theology and future. It turns their world upside down and they’re like, “Hmm. Hand me that scroll. Let’s look at Habbakuk in light of what Paul just told us—yeah, and Amos, too.”
This became their new daily obsession. They didn’t just listen—they investigated. They wanted to really understand the truth.
They believed in the clarity and authority of Scripture: The Bereans believed in Jesus and then opened the Scriptures to confirm what Paul said about Him. This is how it works. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Grace alone. Faith alone. Scripture alone. Christ alone. To the Glory of God alone. This is the way!
These days, most Christians don’t get it. We think of God as too mean in the Old and too nice in the New Testament. We need to read the Scriptures and learn who God actually is—a holy and righteous God Whose love and mercy endures forever, Whose justice is as perfect as His grace.
But the Bereans got it.
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. Acts 17:12
Another church is born. A mixture of Jews, Greeks, men, and more of those women of high standing. The Gospel is for all people.
Remember this was all happening at a synagogue, so these were Jews and Gentiles already familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures—the only Gentiles who would have been there were already worshiping Yahweh—but now they were brought into the fullness of faith in Christ, the Messiah, the fulfillment of where all this Jewish faith was always going. This is what God was always doing. Everyone is welcome to come aboard but the really hard lesson is this: any Jews who reject Jesus are excommunicating themselves from the promises of God. There is no salvation outside of Christ.
Which is always a hard pill to swallow for anyone who thinks they have God all figured out without Jesus.
So, meanwhile, 50 miles away…
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Acts 17:14
The same angry mob from Thessalonica hoofs it all the way to Berea to shut Paul down—that’s some dedication. They seem to have a lot of time on their hands.
But, as usual, the persecution is what God used to spread the Gospel farther.
Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. Acts 17:15
Paul wasn’t alone—the new church was getting him to safety. They went to the sea, got on a boat and headed in the direction of Athens. Harder for the mob to catch up with them that way. Probably took 4 or 5 days to get there.
Silas and Timothy stayed behind until Paul sent word to join him.
There’s a lot that was good in both of these cities. Both cities gave us examples worth following—bold preaching, generous hospitality, open ears, and hearts willing to search God’s Word.
When we compare ourselves to Jason’s courage or the Bereans’ hunger for God’s word—we come up kind of short.
That syllabus in college—the one I ignored, the book I didn’t read, the test I failed.
That’s not just a story about young, dumb me. That’s a snapshot of how we live our faith. God has given us His word—the words of God Himself—and we ignore it. We think we can pass the final exam without ever opening the only book that contains the answers. That’s not just laziness. That’s insanity. We just assume we’ve got the main idea. We think showing up sometimes and taking mental notes is enough.
But then life gives us a test—
and we don’t really know the answers. Bart Simpson our way through it.
We ignore truth when it threatens our ego or comfort or forces us to change.
We treat the good news of the Gospel like it’s a threat to our way of life, our identity, our little kingdoms. “My kingdom come, my will be done.”
We don’t want to admit when we’ve been wrong about God stuff. About Jesus.
We want to keep on being our own god—our own king—our own lord.
And even those of us who walk around intentionally calling ourselves Christians—how often are we too lazy to examine the Scriptures daily. We say we’re too busy but it’s not about time. We’d just rather scroll on our phones, listen to talk radio, let all the madness surrounding us shape our worldview, sit on the couch and zone out in front of the TV.
We just let life happen. Too often, we’re not intentional about growing in our faith.
We let emotions, fears, and the constant noise of the day drown out any real reflection that might lead to real repentance.
We fear a lot of things—losing money, losing influence, losing comfort—but we have very little true fear of God. The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But we don’t.
Because if we did, we would live differently.
We would be eager to know what He’s told us in His Word.
We would cling to His promises.
We would obey His commands.
We would pattern our lives after Jesus.
All of it—how to live, who to trust, where to find salvation—it’s all laid out for us in page after page of Scripture: in the stories, the poetry, the commands, the Gospel.
Passed down from the apostles, through the church, across centuries, into our hands.
We have easy access to it all.
We just… don’t do it.
We tell ourselves we already know enough.
And that’s why we fail.
AMEN.
Ha. No. That’s not the end of this message. That’s just the part we’re supposed to do and we’re not very good at it. The good news, and the reason we show up here every week is the part that Jesus did for us, is doing for us, and will continue doing for us!
This is the good part…
The same Christ Paul proved from the Scriptures, the same Christ who opened the Bereans’ hearts, the same Christ who gave Jason courage—that’s your Christ. Our Messiah! He suffered for your laziness and distraction, your fear of change, your resistance to His truth. He rose from the dead to give you a new heart that actually wants what God wants for you—a life that makes sense, has hope, and knows the joy of living in the security of the One true King.
So, yes… #RYFB Read your freakin’ Bible. But Jesus is the Word of God made flesh for your salvation. You can’t add to that, but you can dig deeper.
Jump in on the One Story that Leads to Jesus Bible reading plan—I just finished Habakkuk. Start there. Start anywhere.
Not because God will get you if you don’t—not out of obligation—but because in its pages are promises God has already kept for you. Promises that prove His love for you. A love that will never fail you. A love that will turn your life upside down—which is actually right side up. AMEN