Acts 17 Commentary

After leaving Philippi, Paul, Silas, and Timothy make their way further west into Macedonia. In the city of Thessalonica, Paul preaches at a Jewish synagogue. For three Sabbaths, he uses the Old Testament to show that Jesus was the Messiah, who was prophesied to die and resurrect. A significant number of the Jews, God-fearing gentiles, and important women believe in Jesus. Other Jews are filled with jealousy. They rouse a mob and tear through the city. The mob alerts the authorities to Paul’s presence in town, that he and his teachings are upsetting other cities in the Roman Empire. They claim that what he teaches is opposed to Caesar, because he is corrupting people into believing in a false king named Jesus.

Because of the danger to the new Thessalonian believers, Paul and his team sneak out of town to the nearby city of Berea. The citizens of Berea are more thoughtful and mature than those in Thessalonica. They receive Paul’s teaching with a warm and welcoming attitude, while also comparing his truth-claims with the Scriptures. Many of the Bereans believe, Jews and Greeks alike. The Jews who caused the trouble in Thessalonica hear that Paul is still preaching in the next town over, so they go to Berea and rabble-rouse against the Christians once more. This time, only Paul leaves town. Some of the Bereans escort him all the way to the city of Athens, while Silas and Timothy remain in Berea, with the promise that they will join Paul in Athens as soon as they can.

The countless amount of idols in Athens bothers Paul. He preaches in both the synagogue and the Agora (market). Local Greek philosophers are interested in what Paul says. They take him to the Areopagus, a stony hill where debates were held. They give Paul the chance to preach.

Paul gives a sermon that does not presume prior knowledge of the Old Testament. Paul compliments the Athenians on how reverent they are toward divine powers. Paul observes that one of the idols in Athens is dedicated to “the unknown god.” He uses this unknown god as a stand-in for the true God, that although He is unknown to the Greeks, He desires to be known by them. Paul explains that the true God is the real power behind all life. He is a God who does not live in temples. Paul claims that God has overlooked the Athenians’ past; they did not know Him and had not heard of Him until now, but now God was calling them to repent and return to Him because He has appointed a day in which everyone will be judged by a Man who was raised from the dead. Some of Paul’s listeners think the claim that God resurrected a Man is too incredible to believe. But others are very interested in what Paul is preaching. Some Greeks even go to him to learn more. They then believe in Jesus. One of the new believers is an Athenian judge.