Opposition in Thessalonica and Berea

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 17:1-15

 

John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

(NKJV)

 

While it would be nice if everyone hearing the gospel received it with joy, this is not in line with what Jesus said in John 16:33. In the passage of this post, we see Paul and those with him experiencing opposition to declaring the gospel, with them even being run out of town for preaching this message. This did not stop them because they knew Jesus had overcome the world, something all of us must remember when we encounter opposition when sharing the gospel with someone.

 

Paul and those with him arrive in Thessalonica, and as was his custom, Paul goes into the synagogue to reason with them from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths (Acts 17:1-2). His reasoning with them is an explanation and demonstration that the Christ needed to suffer and rise from the dead, and that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 17:3). Paul’s teaching was very persuasive, with a great multitude of devout Greeks and many leading women joining Paul and Silas (Acts 17:4).

 

However, this great multitude of followers caused envy among the Jews who were not persuaded by Paul’s teaching, leading to them assembling a mob of evil men. These men attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people (Acts 17:5). However, when they did not find Paul, Silas, or Timothy among them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, saying that those who had turned the world upside down were in the city (Acts 17:6). They accused Jason of harboring them, with them acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar by claiming there was another king, Jesus (Acts 17:7). This troubled the crowd and rulers of the city with them taking security from Jason and the rest and letting them go (Acts 17:8-9).

 

This prompted the brethren in Thessalonica to send Paul and Silas away by night to Berea immediately, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews there (Acts 17:10). Those in Berea were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with all readiness and daily searched the Scriptures to determine whether what they heard was true (Acts 17:11). Many in Berea also believed including Greeks, prominent women, as well as men (Acts 17:12). However, when the Jews in Thessalonica heard about what happened in Berea, they went there to stir up the crowds (Acts 17:13). The brethren in Berea immediately sent Paul away to the sea with both Silas and Timothy remaining in Berea (Acts 17:14). Those with Paul brought him to Athens and sent a command to Silas and Timothy to come to Athens, which they did (Acts 17:15).

 

Paul was a Pharisee who changed sides from persecuting disciples of Christ to becoming one after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). This change of religious sides has created envy among Jews in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5), possibly Pharisees and those siding with them. Just as they did with Jesus in Jerusalem, these religious leaders stir up an angry mob in an attempt to silence the message of the Gospel from going forth in Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:5-13). Fortunately, an angry mob could not silence Jesus by crucifying Him on a cross, with many coming to believe in Thessalonica and Berea because of the preaching of Paul.

 

The word of God does not return void when it is declared (Isaiah 55:11), but this does not mean there will not be opposition to the preaching of the Word of God. This is because the preaching of the Word of God stands in opposition to the things promoted in today's woke culture. All life is sacred to God, including the life of an unborn child being formed by God in its mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). God ordained marriage as between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:4-6), with gay marriage proclaimed as a vile passion in Romans 1:24-27. Also, when God formed us in the womb, we were assigned a gender, and since God does not make mistakes, this is the gender we are to have throughout our lives. Just as in this passage in Acts, we too should expect opposition when we declare the Gospel and proclaim these truths

 

If you are reading this and are tired of the lies being spread through media, the internet, and social media, I want to invite you to know more about the one who said He was the truth, Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The key to knowing more about Jesus is study of the Bible and having a relationship with him. Anyone can have a relationship with Jesus no matter what we have done in our lives because we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). While the penalty for sin is death, anyone can be saved from this death penalty through the gift of salvation provided by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23, 10:9-10). If you want to have a personal relationship with the one who is the truth, I invite you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

This prayer is not some magical prayer, but it must be a genuine expression of your heart. If that is why you prayed, rest assured, your sins are completely forgiven, and you have eternal life. I now encourage you to let someone know of your decision. I also urge you to find a church of truth that teaches from the Bible and is empowered by the Holy Spirit, so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.