A visit to Thessalonica!
V23 n32
Acts 17:1-2, 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, KJV
Often times, (for myself at least), I wonder or contemplate what it would have been like to accompany Paul the apostle on some or at least one of his missionary journeys. The part that most of us would be sure to remember or recall, would be any of the miracles, signs or wonders that took place. Yet, how many could give account of the teachings that took place, or the topics covered? How many would remember the persecutions or hardships, which so often found their way to Paul? How many would have continued with Paul after the first flogging or stoning?
How many of us could have, or would have put up with the things that Paul did, that one more might hear the gospel of Jesus Christ? (ref 2Cor 6:1-10). Have we, (the individual), really stopped long enough to consider or count the cost of what it takes to really be a Christian? Have you really counted the cost of what it takes to really be one of His?
Acts 17:3-4, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. KJV
As we can see and observe, that Paul
did have some fruit in delivering the message of salvation by and through
Christ Jesus to the people of Thessalonica. And yet, there were still many that
did not believe; that is, those that hung onto their traditions and rituals.
How many today, hold onto the traditions and rituals, rather then to hear and
obey God’s Word? How many know the Word well enough, to distinguish the
traditions and rituals from the truth of the Word?
Acts
17:5, But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain
lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on
an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to
the people. KJV
Definition
for “lewd fellows of the baser sort”;
[Certain vile fellows of the rabble] The [agora] (grk 58) or market-place was the natural
resort for those with nothing to do <Matt. 20:4> like the court-house
square today or various parks in our cities where bench-warmers flock. Plato
calls these (common word, but in New Testament only here and <Acts 19:38>)
idlers or good-for-nothing fellows. They are in every city and such
"bums" are ready for any job. The church in Thessalonica caught some
of these peripatetic idlers <2 Thes 3:10> "doing nothing but doing about." So the Jewish
preachers gather to themselves a choice collection of these market-loungers or
loafers or wharf-rats. The Romans called them subrostrani (the hangers around
the rostrum or subbasilicari).(from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New
Testament).
There is always a choice or decision
that one will have to take or make in professing to be a Christian; will one
take a stand for God and His Word, or give into the pressures of the crowd? If
one is riding the fence, or trying to remain friendly with both sides, what
will the outcome be? (Rev 3:16, 1Kings 18:21). How often is it that you will
halt or waver between two opinions or causes? Does one have enough confidence
in the Word, in those things which they have been taught, to hold fast their
profession of faith, regardless of what the rest of the world is saying? How
sure are you, of the work which He has begun in you?
Acts
17:6-9, 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren
unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside
down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do
contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one
Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they
heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the
other, they let them go. KJV
What one often forgets, is that it
was the religious leaders who persecuted and eventually had put to death, for
preaching the truth, Jesus Christ. It was now this same sort of people that
were now pursuing Paul the apostle, for preaching the same message of truth and
deliverance by and through Christ Jesus. It is only this truth that can set a
person free, and keep them free, if they continue in it on a daily basis. How
many people really know how to feed themselves a spiritual meal in and on a
daily basis?
Acts
17:10-11, 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so. KJV
Upon departing Thessalonica, Paul
and Silas went to the city of Berea. Arriving at this new place, Paul begins to
again present the truth of God’s Word to the Jews that were there. And again,
there were those that heard the truth of God’ Word, and responded favorably to
it. Many hear the Word of God and initially respond favorably to it, but how
many continue in it?
Acts
17:12, Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few. KJV
The devil does not like it when the
truth of God’s Word is presented, and people’s lives then begin to change for
the better. The devil’s sole (soul) purpose is to steal, kill and destroy a
person’s trust and hope in God’s marvelous plan of salvation.
Now that the gospel message was
again taking hold within this city, and taking root within peoples heart, the
devil had to again stir things up. How much effort does it take to stir up a
mob?
Acts
17:13, But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was
preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. KJV
One often forgets, that the Word of God clearly tells us,
that “ all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Yet, do we really hear what that says? We
are not greater than our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, therefore, the people that
are of this world, will treat you exactly as they treated Him. (John
15:18-21) How far will you journey with
Him?
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.
From Australia
Larry Gazelka
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