Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Jealousy has been a strong motivation for Christian persecution in the early church. It can be jealousy of losing people (Ac 5:17; 13:45), jealousy of losing power, prestige, and wealth (Ac 17:5), or jealousy that Gentiles were being accepted. We find no one with good motives or good reasons to persecute Christianity and its truth.

2. We also find more “mob mentality” in the persecution of the early Christians (cf. Ac 16:22; 17:8; 19:28; 21:30; 22:22) as well as those who are always ready to participate in a mob, regardless of their beliefs or of the facts. They were described as “wicked men” (ponēros - bad, evil) from the “marketplace” (hoi agoraioi - marketplace people, loiterers, rabble-rousers).

3. The whole city was in an uproar and they stormed the house of Jason (probably a Jewish convert), supposing that Paul and the missionaries were staying there.

B. [6] When they did not find Paul and Silas they began dragging Jason and some of the brethren out to the crowds. They accused them of causing an uproar in the world.

1. The accusation that the persecutors gave was that “These men who have upset the world have come here also.” This is a good translation of the Greek though I think we would all would prefer the words of the KJV, “[they have] “turned the world upside down.”

2. The accusation by the persecutors was probably directed at Paul, though Jason was guilty of harboring the missionaries. Evidently, they were aware of Paul’s gospel and trouble in other areas (Philippi etc. cf. Ac 24:5). In all reality, it was the Jews who “set the city in an uproar” (Ac 17:5, 8, 13 cf. Ro 8:7), not Paul. The world and its world-view is upside down compared to God’s truth proclaimed in the gospel, which is right-side up.

C. [7] The second accusation is more significant because only the Jews would have known the full extent of Paul’s gospel. Paul did teach about the “kingdom of God” (Ac 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31 cf. 1Th 2:12; 2Th 1:5) and that Jesus was the “king of kings” (1Ti 6:14). However, it was not in the sense of political or imperial rebellion. In fact, Paul taught that believers need to pray for (1Ti 2:1-2) and submit to authorities (Rom 13:1-5).

D. Later in Christian history, Christians would also be accused of “atheism” for failing to worship the King as a god.

II. JASON RELEASED AFTER POSTING BAIL (Ac 17:8-9)

A. [8] The whole city was in an uproar because after the false accusations, both the Jews and the Greeks would have something against Paul’s gospel.

B. [9] A pledge” (hikanos - sufficient money, bond or bail) was paid by Jason and they were released. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Barnabas to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

III. PAUL AND SILAS SENT TO BEREA (10-12)

A. [10] Out of concern for Paul’s life, the brethren at Thessalonica sent Paul away in secrecy by night (cf. Ac 9:25). So Paul and the others arrived at Berea (cf. Ac 17:14).

B. Berea was a city at the foot of the Vermio (bermion) mountains. It was an important city and one of the oldest cities in Greece. It was also the first city to surrender to the Romans in 168 BC. Obviously, there was a Jewish community in Berea because Paul went to the synagogue after he arrived.

C. [11] Luke contrasted the Bereans to the Thessalonians in regard to their reception of the gospel. The Thessalonians had to be “persuaded” and then only “some” of the m were persuaded (Ac 17:4).

D. Luke called the Bereans “noble-minded” (eugenēs - nobility or open-mindedness to the truth; less prejudice) because instead of having to be persuaded, they received the Word with “eagerness” (prothumia - determined disposition of mind, readiness, willingness). In addition they “examined” (anakrinō - law term, investigate or examine) the Scriptures daily to see if Paul was speaking the truth.

E. After coming to Christ, we know that the Thessalonians had a tremendous testimony of living for the Lord (1Th 1:2-3, 7; 2:8; 3:6; 4:1).

F. [12] As a result of the Bereans readiness and willingness to seek the truth, many “believed” and came to Christ. In addition, we see prominent Gentiles (“women and men”) coming to Christ. Luke was showing that people from every ethnicity, background, and status have been brought to Christ.

IV. RELENTLESS PERSECUTION (13-14)

A. [13] The Jews from Thessalonica were so serious about keeping Paul’s message away from the people that when they heard Paul had gone to Berea, they went there to stop him. In reality, they were preventing the Word of God from being proclaimed. However, that did not stop them from agitating and stirring the crowds. Clearly, they were the ones who were setting the world in an uproar.

B. [14] The brethren acted immediately in getting Paul out of harm’s way. It was not because Paul was afraid; he had proved that on many occasions. Rather, Paul was a man on a mission (probably where the expression comes from) to reach as many cities with the gospel as possible.

C. They sent Paul as far as the sea and would eventually bring him to Athens (Ac 17:15). But for the moment, due to a speedy getaway, Silas and Timothy remained there.

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Believers should turn the world right side up.

1. Looking at the phrase, “they turned the world upside down,” it is better to say that they were attempting to turn the world right-side up.

2. The world is in opposition to God, His Word, and His thinking. They are already upside down. God’s Word and His reality is the true right-side up. The believer’s responsibility is to know God’s Word and right-side up thinking, and share it with the world.

B. Believers should be like the Bereans.

1. The Bereans were noble-minded in their reception of the gospel. We can only assume that they remained examiners of Scripture as they grew in Christ.

2. As believer’s we too are to be “noble-minded,” having an open mind to God’s truth. Sometimes Christians can be very close-minded to God’s truth (eg. King James only).

3. Believers must be willing to examine and study the Scriptures daily so that they ready and willing to accept God’s truth into their thinking and lives.

C. Believers should be able to witness to skeptics and truth-seekers.

1. Whether reasoning from the Scriptures with the skeptics or giving the Scriptures to truth-seekers, the believer must be equipped in the Scriptures and with the reasoning that should accompany it.

2. In this way, he will be able to minister to whomever the Lord brings across his path. Whatever the case may be, he should be able to sow seeds or water. Then it is left in the hands of the Lord to open up their heart and produce life.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516