Acts 17:1-9 Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Paul and Silas were consistent in their strategy to preach the Gospel. They looked for a nearby synagogue and began to preach the Gospel there. They spent three Sabbath days (weeks) at the synagogue. Paul reasoned with them, explaining and proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ who had to suffer and rise from the dead. Certainly the Gospel needs to be preached in the power of the Spirit, and needs to be centered on the Scriptures, but it does not exclude the use of reason. Is Scripture the source of my preaching? Am I seeking the power of the Spirit to preach?


Reason (explanation and proof) is at the service of Revelation with the purpose of persuading those who listen. When Paul refers to his preaching not being of words with eloquent wisdom (1Cor.1:17), he is referring to the custom of the professional orators who performed for the sake of entertainment and instruction calling attention to themselves. The preaching of the Gospel strives to persuade using reason at the service of revelation by exalting Jesus as the Christ, not the messenger. The proclamation of the Gospel must be Christocentric. The messenger must hide behind the cross.

It was very difficult for the Jews to accept that the Christ would have to suffer. They expected a Christ who would become King, but they could not conceive of a suffering Christ. The truth of the Gospel is that through suffering and death we are given healing and life. I don't like suffering. The mere thought of suffering causes me to shrink back. But we know that suffering produces endurance (Rom.5:3) and it is part of our identification with Christ in his kingdom. If Christ was hated and persecuted and suffered, I must realize that my following him will bring the same upon my life. Suffering is part and parcel of the kingdom of God. I have to come to grips with suffering. This is part of the cost to follow Jesus. Am I willing to pay the cost?

The jealousy of the Jews drove them to go after Paul by forming a mob, setting the city in an uproar. They went into Jason's home, but they missed him - thank God. Because they missed Paul, they went after Jason and some other brothers accusing them of acting against Caesar by proclaiming Jesus as king. At least, they were not executed. They were charged a fine as security - more likely referring to giving their word that Paul and Silas would not come back to preach. This may be the "Satan's hindrance" mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians (1Thes.2:18). It is important to realize that behind such opposition lie the powers of darkness. My struggle is not against flesh and blood. That's why I can't stop praying!

Acts 15:12-21 The Jerusalem Council - Part II

After Peter's testimony on how the Holy Spirit guided him to minister to the Gentiles and how the Holy Spirit came upon them just like for the Jews, Paul and Barnabas take the stand and testify on all the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Both Peter and Paul had experienced the presence of the Spirit guiding them to minister to the Gentiles and the power of the Spirit upon them in conversion and baptism accompanied by signs and wonders just like among the Jews. There is no partiality in God and there should be none in the Church which means there should be none in me.

Now James, the Apostle, more likely the lead elder of the Jerusalem church, offers scriptural backing for what Peter, Saul, and Barnabas have experienced and are trying to explain. He cites Amos 9:11-12 that refers to the restoration of Israel in the end times to include all the nations of the world. It is interesting to note that the apostles are reasoning together to find a solution to the Gentile issue. They bring experience, but they also bring the Scriptures to bear upon it. There was no angel with a message, there was no vision (they had a few already on the issue), and they were not prophet speaking a word. Yet, the presence of the Spirit in their decision-making cannot be questioned. Experience, Scripture, and Reason are working together for the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom.

James, based on the evidence before them, proposed a solution to the issue of asking Gentile believers to circumcise and keep the Law. He proposed that no undue burden be placed upon them, but "to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." And the reason he gives for the Gentiles to abstain from these things is that the Law is proclaimed in the synagogues everywhere. In other words, to ensure that the Gospel would have no stumbling blocks among the Jews and to ensure the fellowship between Gentiles and Jews, there had to be some standard of conduct.

Am I willing to do whatever it takes to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel where I live? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to ensure fellowship with my brothers and sisters who are different from me in my local church? I think I am too prompt to sound the cultural trumpet to excuse myself from things that could offend others. Whether that be language, food, greeting, etc. I must be willing to give up my culture for the sake of the kingdom of God so that people don't have objections to the Gospel and my brothers and sisters can feel comfortable around me. Ultimately, my citizenship is from heaven and not from earth. And heavenly citizens are willing to give up their earthly customs to promote evangelism and fellowship.

Father, thank you for my heavenly citizenship. Help me understand that my culture may stand in the way of reaching others for the kingdom and it may stand in the way of bonding with my brothers and sisters in the kingdom. Grant me discernment to learn what I must give up to avoid being a stumbling block for the Gospel. Amen.