The Message that Turned the World Upside Down Acts 17:1-9
Paul, Silas and Timothy continued on the second missionary journey. As they departed Philippi, they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, arriving at Thessalonica v.1. Paul found the Jewish synagogue and for three Sabbaths “reasoned with them from the Scriptures” v.2. He taught them that Jesus had suffered and died, and then was raised from the dead. He proclaimed to them that Jesus was the Christ. Some Jews and a great multitude of Greeks believed and joined them. vv.3-4. The Jews, who did not believe, became envious of the success of the gospel of Christ. They set out to create a mob, and enraged them against Paul and Silas, but they could not find them. Thus, they took Jason and some of the brethren before the rulers of the city, claiming they had harbored these men who were “acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king – Jesus.” This incited the crowd and the city rulers. They tried to depict Paul and Silas as revolutionaries against Caesar. The rulers then took security from Jason and the others, and released them. vv.5-9.The Thessalonian church “sounding out the word” and won the lost to Jesus.