Acts 17
The God Who Is Not Far Away
Acts 17 follows Paul and his friends through three cities where people respond to the good news in different ways. Some believe, some fight against it, and some want to hear more, but the message stays centered on Jesus and His resurrection.
Walking Through Acts 17
A King Worth Following (Acts 17:1-9)
1 After they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason’s house, trying to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, screaming, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar’s decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!” 8 They caused confusion among the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 9 After the city officials had received bail from Jason and the others, they released them.Acts 17:1-9 · NET Bible
After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas reach Thessalonica. For three Sabbaths, Paul explains the Scriptures in the synagogue, the Jewish place of worship. He shows why the Messiah, God's promised King, had to suffer and rise from death. Then he identifies Jesus as that King. Some Jews believe, along with many Greeks who worship God and several leading women.
But jealousy stirs up trouble. Opponents gather a mob and attack Jason's house, looking for Paul and Silas. When they cannot find them, they drag Jason and other believers before the city leaders. They turn the message about Jesus into a charge of rebellion against Caesar, Rome's ruler. Jason and the others must give security before being released. I notice that welcoming the gospel costs Jason something. God's grace is free, but following Jesus can bring real pressure.
An Open Mind and an Open Bible (Acts 17:10-15)
10 The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God in Berea, they came there too, inciting and disturbing the crowds. 14 Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea. 15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.Acts 17:10-15 · NET Bible
The believers send Paul and Silas to Berea at night. There, they again enter the synagogue. The Bereans welcome the message eagerly, but they also search the Scriptures each day to see whether Paul's teaching is true. Their openness does not mean believing everything they hear. They listen carefully and test the message against God's written Word.
Many believe, including respected Greek women and men. Yet trouble follows them. Opponents from Thessalonica come to Berea and stir up the crowds. The believers send Paul toward the coast, while Silas and Timothy remain behind. Those who escort Paul bring him to Athens, then return with his request for Silas and Timothy to join him quickly.
I want us to notice the balance here. A teachable heart is neither careless nor closed. God welcomes careful attention to His Word. Honest study and eager faith belong together.
Good News in a City of Ideas (Acts 17:16-21)
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. 17 So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there. 18 Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.)Acts 17:16-21 · NET Bible
While Paul waits in Athens, he is deeply troubled by the city's many idols. These are images people treat as gods. His concern moves him to speak, both in the synagogue and daily in the marketplace. He does not keep the message only among people who already share his beliefs.
Epicurean and Stoic thinkers begin debating with him. These groups offered different ideas about life, happiness, and the divine. Some dismiss Paul as someone picking up scraps of ideas. Others think he is announcing foreign gods because he speaks about Jesus and the resurrection.
They bring him to the Areopagus, a gathering connected with Athens's council, to explain his teaching. Luke notes the city's strong interest in new ideas. That interest opens a door, but curiosity is not yet faith. Paul has not come merely to offer something fresh. He brings news about something God has actually done.
The Maker Who Gives Us Life (Acts 17:22-28)
22 So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. 26 From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’Acts 17:22-28 · NET Bible
Paul begins with something his listeners know: their many objects of worship. He has even seen an altar dedicated to an unknown god. He uses that altar as a starting point, not as approval of their worship. He announces the God they do not know.
This God made the world and rules heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings people make, and He does not depend on human hands to meet His needs. Instead, He gives everyone life and breath. From one man, He made every nation, and He rules over their times and places.
God's purpose is that people seek Him, though He is not far from any of us. Paul also draws on words from their own poets to show that human life depends on God. I find this deeply humbling: every breath is a gift, not something we supply to a needy god.
The Risen Jesus Calls for a Response (Acts 17:29-34)
29 So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul left the Areopagus. 34 But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.Acts 17:29-34 · NET Bible
Because human beings come from God, Paul explains that God cannot be reduced to a gold, silver, or stone image shaped by human skill. The living Maker is not a thing His creatures can design.
Paul then moves from what they have not known to what God now commands. Everyone, everywhere, must repent, which means turning from sin toward God. God's past patience did not mean that false worship was right. He has set a day when He will judge the world fairly through the man He has appointed. Raising Jesus from death is God's assurance that this judgment will come.
The resurrection divides the listeners. Some mock, while others want another hearing. Paul leaves the gathering, but some join him and believe, including Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others. The crowd's mixed response does not make the message less true.
- Resurrection — God raised Jesus from death; this is central to Paul's message.
- Repentance — Turning away from sin and false worship toward the living God.
Which response in this chapter most closely describes how you receive God's truth right now?
Father, thank You for giving us life and making Yourself known through Jesus. Give us hearts that welcome Your Word and turn from what is false. Help us speak Your truth with courage, patience, and love. Amen.