I preached again!
I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship.
As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.

A World Upside Down: Reception, Resistance, Recompense – Acts 17:1-9

Ever been told news that changed everything? (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])

[Read passage]

v. 6c – “These men who have turned the whole world upside down” – More true than they realized. The gospel is a world- and life-changing message.

The true Roman Road was the Egnatian Way that went from Byzantium (Constantinople/Istanbul) to the west coast of Greece, about 1000 miles, to head toward Rome. Each of the cities listed are about a day’s journey by foot from each other, so that from Philippi to Thessalonica it’s about 100 miles.

Paul’s custom was to go to the synagogues in a city, and he spent three weeks showing/proving the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection from the Hebrew Scriptures (OT: ex: Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12-13).

The death and resurrection of Jesus is actually one of the most provable events in ancient history.

Three R’s: Reception, Resistance, and Recompense

Reception: v. 4: Some Jews, many devout Greeks, and a few leading women all believed.

Some Jews: We see that Jason is one who believed àRomans 16:21 calls Lucius (Acts 13:1), Jason (here), and Sosipater from Berea his “kinsmen” as an indicator that these are Jews. Jason may also have been one of the wealthier people as he housed them and had money to pay bail from prison.

Resistance: v. 5: Non-believing Jews get some wicked men of the rabble àthe lay-abouts and lazy men, prone to violence and crime, from the marketplace.

Continuing the trend begun in ancient times: the Israelites choosing the follow their idolatrous neighbors rather than what God has said.  Choosing to try to kill the messengers rather than deal with their sin, like they did with the prophets.

Continuing the trend at Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion: “We have no king but Caesar!” “It is better to injure and kill these people!”

Continuing the trend seen in Acts: They’re messing up what we have, so let’s riot and get violent!

Recompense: (Payment) vv. 6-9: The people wanted retribution, but the authorities were paid the usual bail by Jason and the others. The people did not get the blood they hoped for, but it was still costly for the disciples.

Application:

Reception: What have you done with the gospel message? Do you believe, or are you resistant?

Resistance: We must realize that this fallen world will be resistant to the message, often getting violent.

Jewish Leadership (w/Jesus, Acts 4-9 … and the rest of Acts)

Roman government

Celsus (writing about 175)

Persecution around the world today. (2024: About 7,700 churches attacked; >200k displaced; >380M living under persecution)

Recompense: No, this is not where I call for giving to the church, though that is good for believers to do.

The world will want our blood, for violence to happen to us, to lie about us or misuse the truth (like with Jesus and the early Christians.)

Ironically, Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians deal with Christians who act more like the rabble seen in Acts 17, and he reminds those fearful for those who have died that we have hope in the Second Coming of Christ. God’s remuneration will come for all, with all of the verses that remind us of His vengeance and justice.

[2 Thessalonians 1:5-12]

Revelation 20-22 further reminds us that only those whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter eternal life, while the rest receive their just punishment in the Lake of Fire.

We have hope, which helps face the troubles of this world, even with news that changes everything. (Birth, Death, Dying, New Job, Lost Job, Prison, Debt [Forgiveness])

The Good News of Jesus Christ should change everything about our lives. (Family, Friends, Work/Job/Business, seeing politics/government, community/global issues)

            Change how we see truth.

            Change how we see religion.             Change how we think about God.