Paul’s ministry in Greece and Asia Minor (Acts 20) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Paul’s ministry in Greece and Asia Minor (Acts 20)

 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

Scriptures reading (Acts 20)

Paul arrived in Greece 20:1-6

1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. ² He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³ where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. ⁴ He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. ⁵These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. ⁶ But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Asia Minor: Troas and the elders of Ephesus 20:7-38

⁷ On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said, “He’s alive!”¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

¹³ We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷ From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹ I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

²² And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warms me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

²⁵ Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. ²⁶Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. ²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with His own blood. 

²⁹ I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

³² Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. ³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

³⁶ When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. ³⁷ They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. ³⁸ What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

 

Verse 1-4 Luke’s brevity here, a mere mention of the missionary team and a journey through Macedonia revisiting established communities, suggests that Acts could have been a much longer book. It was there that Paul wrote his second Epistle to the church in Corinth (2 Cor.2:13).

Verse 3 During that time, in Corinth, the apostle wrote his Epistle to the saints in Rome (Rom.15:22-32; Acts 19:21;20:1-3’1Cor.16:3-7). Paul had originally intended to go to Jerusalem through Syria from Achaia in Greece (19:21;1Cor.16:3-7).  Because of the Jews’ plot against him, he changed his route, going northward to Macedonian. From there he returned to Jerusalem. He knew that the Jews were plotting against him and that he would suffer because of this (v.19). Therefore, he begged the saint in Rome to pray for him concerning his return to Jerusalem (Rom.15:25-26,30-31). This might also have been the reason that he was bound in his spirit to go to Jerusalem (v.22). Eventually, after returning to Jerusalem, he was seized by the Jews (21:27-30) who sought to kill him (21:31;23:12-15).

Verse 7 On the first day of the week. This became the regular day of worship for Christians in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection of Sunday. The Lord’s Day (Rev.1:10) Paul stayed in Troas for seven days (v.6), but it was only on the first day of the week that they gathered together to break bread in remembrance of the Lord. This indicates that at that time the apostle and the church considered the first day of the week a day to meet together for the Lord.

Verse 16 Probably to meet people from different countries who came to Jerusalem on that day (21:5).

Verse 22 Paul’s regenerated spirit, in which he served God. In his spirit, a spirit joined to the Lord the Spirit (1Cor.6:17). Paul sensed beforehand that something would happen to him in Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit testified this to him. (v.21).

Verse 23 Paul did not know what he would encounter in Jerusalem (v.22) but he did know one thing the Holy Spirit was solemnly testifying to him those bonds and affliction awaited him. The Holy Spirit’s testifying was only a prophecy, a foretelling, not a charge. Hence, he must not have taken it as a command but as a warning.

Verse 28 The apostles appointed the elders in every church (14:23).But here Paul, the leading one, who did the appointing said that the Holy Spirit did it, indicating that the Holy Spirit was one with the apostles in their appointing of the elders, and that the apostles did it according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The elders of the church (v.17), proving that overseer and elder are synonymous terms denoting the same person. To make an overseer a bishop of a district to rule over the elders of various localities in that district is grossly erroneous. That is what Ignatius did. His erroneous teaching became the basis for the establishing of rank and brought in the hierarchy. The main responsibility of the elders as overseers is not to rule over but to shepherd, to take all-inclusive tender care of the flock, the church of God.

Indicating the precious love of God for the church and the preciousness, the exceeding worth, of the church in the eyes of God. Here the apostle did not touch the divine life and nature of the church as in Eph.5:23-32, but the value of the church as a treasure to God, a treasure which He acquired with His own precious blood. Paul expected that the elders as overseers would treasure the church as God did. 

Both the Holy Spirit and God’s own blood are divine provisions for the church that He treasures. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, and God’s own blood denotes God’s work. God’s redemptive work acquired the church; now God Himself, the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit (1Cor.15:45), cares for the church through the overseers. God’s own blood is the blood of Jesus Christ. This implies that the Lord Jesus is God.

Verse 29 The Apostle did not care for his own life, but he was very concerned for the future of the church, which was a treasure to him as well as to God.

Verse 30 The perverted ones among the believers in the church are always used by the devil, who hates the church, to draw the sheep away to form another flock.

Veres 32 The Greek word here refers to the legal inheritance of a share of an estate. To participate in God’s inheritance requires us to be sanctified, and to be sanctified requires the word of God’s grace (John 17:17).

Verse 35 or the infirm. Referring to those who were weak physically (1Cor.11:30), hence, the poor ones. This word is not recorded in the Gospels; it must have been received by oral communication.

 

Bibliography,

 King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

 

 

 

The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor (Acts 19:1-41) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor (Acts 19:1-41)

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

 

Paul’s ministry to Apollos

Scriptures reading Acts 19:1-7

¹ While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples ² And asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” they answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. ⁴Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.” He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.    

The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor (Acts 19:8-20)

Scriptures reading Acts 19:8-20

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.  

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illness were cured and the evil spirits left them.

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceval, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ₂₀ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

The disturbance by Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis (Acts 19:21-41)

Scriptures reading (Acts 19:21-41)

₂₁ After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” ₂₂ He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said, “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The People seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. ³⁰ Paul want ed to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said:” Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴⁰ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

 

Vere 2 This was the deficiency in the result of Apollos's ministry, a ministry which lacked a complete revelation of God’s New Testament economy.

Verse 3 This is the last mention of John the Baptist in the New Testament. Here at last, he wholly gives place to Christ. There was in John’s disciples a thought of rivalry between John and Christ (John 3:26). John’s ministry was to introduce (Christ (v.4) . Once Christ had been introduced, John’s ministry should have ceased and been replaced by Christ. John should have decreased, and Christ should have increased (John3:30).

Verse 5 They were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Though these men had been baptized by John the Baptist, baptism in the name of Christ was in order as a testimony to their new faith in Christ.

 Verse 8 synagogue. Again, Paul on arriving at a city used the synagogue as his center of witness.

Verse 9 He might have been a teacher, and Paul might have rented his school and used it as a meeting hall, apart from the opposing Jews’ synagogue, to preach and teach the word of the Lord to both Jews and Greeks for the years. The lecture hall owned by Tyrannus was probably used by him to teach students of rhetoric and was made available by him to traveling philosophers or teachers.

Verse 11 extraordinary miracles. On other occasions Paul did not have this power (2Cor.12:8; Phil 2:27;1Tim.5”23; 2 Tim.4:20)

Verse 12 Referring to the surface, the skin, of the body. A medical term used at that time. Luke, the author was a medical doctor.

Verse 13 driving out evil spirits. These exorcists were magicians who could cast out demons. The lesson of this story (vv.13-17) is that to use the name of Jesus effectively in exorcism one must be totally devoted to Him. Contrary to theories of magic of the time, the name by itself could do nothing; this misuse, in fact, backfired (v.16).  

Verse 19 sorcery. Magical spells written on scrolls. Fifty thousand drachmas. If the silver drachma is meant, the value would have been more than $10,000. This was to clear up their past life, which was sinful and demonic. Each piece was approximately a day’s wage.

Verse 21 The purpose was to carry out Paul’s loving concern for the need of the poor saints in Jerusalem. At that time Paul was in Ephesus on his third ministry journey, busy with a heavy burden to carry out his ministry in Asia (1 Cor.16:8-9) and in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Cor.16:5-7; Acts 20:1-3). Nonetheless, he still had a burden to spare part of his time for the needy saints in Jerusalem. When he arrived in Corinth, he wrote his Epistle to the saints in Rome, expressing the purpose (Rom.15:25-31). Although he was an apostle set apart by God for the Gentiles (22:21; Gal.2:8), Paul was still concerned for the Lord’s interest among the Jews. His primary concern was for the Body of Christ universally, not merely for his part of the New Testament ministry among the Gentiles.

Besides this, his purpose in going to Jerusalem at this juncture might also have been to fellowship with James and the other apostles and elders in Jerusalem regarding the Judaic influence on the church there. According to Paul’s teachings in the Epistles to the Galatians and the Romans, the decision made by the conference of the apostles and elders in ch.15 to resolve the problem concerning circumcision must not have been fully satisfactory to him. This undoubtedly trouble him because of his concern for God’s New Testament economy, which is to build up the Body of Christ. James’s word in 21:20-22, after Paul had arrived in Jerusalem (21:17-18), and his proposal that Pual participate in the four Jewish believers’ Nazarite vow (21:23-24) seem to confirm this view.

Verse 21 Since the Lord the Spirit dwell in Paul’s spirit (2 Tim.4:22); Rom.8:10-11), Paul must have purposed according to the leading of the Lord the Spirit. Paul did go to Jerusalem (21:17), and he did see Rome (28:14,16). This desire of Paul’s was fulfilled by the Lord when He brought Paul to Rome through his appeal to Caesar (23:11)

Verse 22 A city treasurer of Corinth (Rom.16:23;2 Tim.4:20), of high rank, who probably had been converted by Paul’s preaching in Corinth (18:8) and had become an attendant to Paul. It was at this time, in Ephesus, that the apostle wrote his first Epistle to the church in Corinth (1Cor.16:3-10,19; Acts 19:20-23,8-10, 17:20:1).

Verse 24 Silver shrines. Small shrines in a niche; representing Artemis (Latin, Diana), for worshipers to dedicate in the temple. No silver ones have been found, only some in terra-cotta brought in no little business. Big profits are clearly implied. A dirty and demonic trade. Those who practiced such a trade cooperated with the demons to possess and usurp people for Satan’s evil kingdom (Matt.12:26). Artemis was the Ephesian goddess. To the Romans she was the goddess Diana (Latin).

Verse 25 Behind the idol worship were demons, who instigated the uproat against the apostle to disturb and frustrate the preaching of the gospel. This was Satan’s fighting against God’s spreading of His kingdom on the earth.

Verse 27 The gospel was endangering the business of these idol-makers. In order to stir up opposition against the Christians, the craftsmen appealed to the civic pride of the Ephesians. The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world- a magnificent structure with 127 columns 60 feet high standing on an area 425 feet long and 220 feet wide.

Verse 33 Probably not because Alexander was a convert of Paul’s preaching. (This Alexander was not the one in 1 Tim.1:20 and 2 Tim.4:14).

Verse 32, 39,41 assembly. The people of Ephesus had the right to meet in a legislative assembly, though this particular gathering was an unlawful one. This was the sovereignty of the Lord; it preserved His apostle from the demonic uproar.

 

Bibliography,

 King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

 

Paul’s ministry at Corinth and third missionary journey to Ephesus (Acts 18) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Paul’s ministry at Corinth and third missionary journey to Ephesus (Acts 18)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce   

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

Scriptures reading (Acts 18)

The ministry at Corinth (8:1-17)

¹ After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. ⁴ Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

⁵ When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ⁶ But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “ Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. ⁸ Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.   

¹² While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law-settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he had them ejected from the court. ¹⁷ Then they all furned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.

The Journey completed (18:18-22)

¹⁸ Paul stayed on the Corinth for some time. Then he left the Crothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. ¹⁹ They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “ I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.

The Third Missionary Journey: Ephesus: the power of the word

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refused the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

 

Verse 2 Aquila…his wife Priscilla. See Rom.16:3;1Cor.16:19;2Tim.4:19. Because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. This imperial edict was issued in A.D.49 or 50. Claudius is a Caesar of the Roman Empire. What he did here was used by the Lord for the carrying out of His ministry of the building up of His ministry of the building up of His church, just as what Caesar Augustus did was used by God for the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the birthplace of Christ (Luke2:1-7).

Verse 3 a tentmaker. Jewish fathers were urged to teach their sons a trade, and Paul learned tentmaking, an important industry in Tarsus.

Verse 5 It was at this time in Corinth that Paul wrote his first Epistle to the church in Thessalonica (1Thes. 1:1) after Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia with information concerning the church there (1Thes.3:6).

Verse 12 Proconsul. Gallio was proconsul of Achaia in 51. He was characterized by contemporaries as an amiable, witty, and lovable person.

Verse 14-16 Judaism was a “licensed religion” under Roman law. Christianity could take advantage of this protection as long as it sheltered itself under the tent of Judaism. The Jews must have complained that these Christians were not a division or sect of Judaism, and Gallio refuses to see it their way. He says, in effect, “ settle your own religious squabbles yourselves.” This ruling was probably important for the spread of the gospel.

Verse 18 he had his hair cut off. The sign of the conclusion of a Nazirite vow. Just why he took the vow is not known. Aprivate vow for thanksgiving performed in any place by the Jews, with the shearing of the hair. It differed from the Nazarite vow, which had to be carried out in Jerusalem with the shaving of the head (21:24;Num.6:1-5,18; 1 Cor.11:6, where it is shown that there is a difference between shearing and shaving). Paul was a Jew and kept the vow, but he would not and did not impose it on the Gentiles. According to the principle of his teaching concerning God’s New Testament economy, Paul should have given up all the Jewish practices, which belonged to the Old Testament dispensation . However, he still had this vow, and it seems that God tolerated it, probably because it was a vow carried out in private outside Jerusalem and would not have had much effect on the believers. Cenchrea. The eastern port of Corinth.

Verse 25 This indicates that Apollos did not have a complete revelation of God’s New Testament economy, although he ahd been instructed in the way of the Lord. Hence, there was a deficiency in the result of his ministry (19:2).

Verse 27 Lit., the grace; indicating the particular grace which Apollos enjoyed in the Lord. This grace is just God Himself in Christ as the portion to the believers in Christ.

 

Bibliography,

 King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible(NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

  

Paul’s missionary journey to Thessalonica, Berea and Athens (Acts 17) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Paul’s missionary journey to Thessalonica, Berea, Athens (Acts 17)           4/22/2026

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music  

 

Scriptrues reading Acts 17:1-34 (NIV)

To Thessalonica

¹ When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “ This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ”  he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

⁵ But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Hason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “ These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that thereis another king, one called Jesus.” ⁸When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 

To Berea

¹⁰ As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ¹² Many of the Jew believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. ¹³ When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.

To Athens

¹⁴ The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea ¹⁵The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” Thy said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “ May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said : “Men of Athens ! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription : TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵ And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man He made every nation of men, that they sould inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷ God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, “We are His offspring.” 

²⁹ Therefore, since wew are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone –an image made by man’s design and skill.

³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to respent.

³¹ For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” ³³At that, Paul left the Councel. ³⁴ A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

 

 Verse 9 The authorities made Jason put up a bond, forfeitable if there was further trouble.

Verse 15 The capital of Achaia, a province of the Roman Empire. It was the center of enlightenment in science, literature, and art for the ancient world. Through the apostle Paul’s visit to such a center, the gospel of the kingdom of God reached the people of the highest culture.

Verse 16  Paul’s human spirit (Zexh.21:1;Job 32:8;Pro.20:27), regenerated by the Spirit of God (John3:6), indwelt by the Lord the Spirit (2Tim 4:22;Rom.8:10-11), in which spirit he worshipped and served God (John 4:24; Rom.1:9). Such a spirit was provoked by the many idols in Athens. Even the highest culture did not prevent these people from worshipping idols. Within them, as within all mankind, was a God-worshipping spirit created by God for man to seek and worship Him. However, because of their blindness and ignorance, they took the wrong objects for their worship (v.23). Now the very true God, who created the universe and them, sent His apostle to announce the true object whom they should worship (vv.23-29).

Verse 18 The Epicurean philosophers were the followers of the Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC), whose philosophy was materialism. They did not recognize the Creator and His providence over the world but sought sensuous pleasures, especially in eating and drinking. Some of Paul’s words to the Philippians (Phil.3:18 and the Corinthians (1Cor.15:32) referred to the Epicureans who was believed that happiness was the chief end of life.

The Stoic philosophers were members of a school of philosophy founded by Zeno (340-265 BC). They were pantheists who believed that everything was governed by fate and that all happenings were the result of the divine will, and therefore that man should calmly accept them, free from all passion, grief, or joy. They emphasized that the highest good is virtue and that virtue is the reward given to the soul. Some of the words in Paul’s Epictle to the Philippians referred to the Stoics (Phil 4:11). Stoic Poikile (Painted Porch) where he taught in Athens, emphasized the retional over the emotional. They were pantheistic. Their ethics were characterized by moral earnestness and a high sense of duty, advocating condust “accordin got nature.”

Verse 19 Areopagus. The venerable council that had charge of religious and educational matters in Athens. It met on the Hill of Ares W. of the Acropolis, the hill also being known as the Aeropagus Mars’ Hill (in Athens) the seat of the ancient and venerable Athenian Court, which judged the most solemn problems of religion.

Verse 22 The Greek word here means fearing a demon, a supernatural spirit; hence, given up to demon worship; very much revering the deities. The same word is used in noun form in 25:19.

Verse 24 The Apostle’s Word in vv 24-25 was a very strong inoculation to both the atheistic Epicureans who did not recognize the Creator and His providence over the world, and the pantheistic Stoics, who submitted themselves to the will of many gods concerning their fate.

Verse 26 Adam. Some ancient MSS read, one blood. Appointed seasons- The migrations to America in their times and with their boundaries are strong proof of this word and the first part of the succeeding verse.

Verse 27 because God is the omnipresent Spirit.

Verse 28 denoting that man’s life and existence and even his actions are in God. This does not mean that unbelievers have God’s life and live, exist, and act in God like the believers in Christ, who are born of God, possess His divine life and nature, and live. Exist, and act in His divine person.

Poets -Probably referring to Aratus (about 270BC) and Cleanthes (About 300 B.C), both of whom uttered these same words in their poems to Zeus (Jupiter), whom they considered the supreme God. In the writings of the two poets His refers to Zeus as the supreme God.

His race- Just as Adam was thought to be the son of God (Luke 3:38) Since God is the Father of them all (Mal.2:10) in a natural sense, not in the spiritual sense in which He is the Father of all the believers (Gal.4:6), who are regenerated by Him in their spirit( 1Pet.1:3;John3:5-6).

Verse 29 Greek. Theion, meaning that which is divine. It is not the same as theiotes in Rom.1:20, which denotes the characteristics of divinity, nor is it the same as theotes in Col.2:9, which denotes the Godhead, God Himself theion is a more vague and abstract word than theiotes and is not as definite as theotes, which is definite in denoting the Godhead, God Himself .

Verse 31 The Day when Christ will judge living men, the nations on the earth at His coming back, on the throne of His glory before the millennium (Matth 25:31-46). This probably does not include the day when He will judge dead men at the great white throne after the millennium (Rev.20:11-15) as in 10:42 2 Tim.4:1 and 1 Pet 4:5, because on the day mentioned here, He will judge the world, which should refer only to living men. This day of Christ’s judgment on earth will be brought in by His coming back. He was designated by God to execute this judgement, and God’s raising Him from the dead is strong proof of this. In their preaching to the Gentiles, both Peter in 10:42 and Paul here and in 24:25 stressed the coming judgment of God. Faith, assurance, guarantee. The resurrection of Christ is proof and assurance that He is coming back to judge all the inhabitants of the earth. This is guaranteed that we may have faith in it and that it may lead us to repent. (v.30).

 

Bibliography,

 King James, The Holy Bible (KJV), Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible(NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.