Title: Evangelism in Thessalonica/Acts 17:1-9
Contents
Title: Evangelism in Thessalonica
Bible: Acts 17:1-9
Following chapter 16, Paul's second missionary journey to Asia Minor and Europe is recorded.
After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they reached Thessalonica.
I. Paul preaching in the Thessalonian synagogue (1-4)
1. A homily in the synagogue at Thessalonica
1) Paul came to Thessalonica
Thessalonica was the capital of the second district of Macedonia by the Romans who conquered Macedonia in 167 B.C.
It became a province and became the capital of the province when Macedonia was reorganized in 142 B.C.
The side of Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) during the battle near Philippi during the Second Demonic Civil War
I was granted the privilege of a free city because I heard
In particular, it plays a role in connecting the rich agricultural land of the inland to the land and sea routes in the east.
It was also called the heart of our territory by Cicero. Why
This is because Macedonia is a large city with a population of about 200,000 and was a scenic and economic center.
is. It seems that Paul saw this place as a strategic point to spread the gospel to the Balkans.
I did. So, despite their torment in Philippi, they were more than 16 km away.
was destined to enter Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:2). As a result, Thessalonica
It became the second region in Europe where a church was established after Philippi.
2) Paul preaching in the synagogue
Wherever Paul went, he first preached the gospel to the Jews. Jews are
They were bones and flesh, and at the same time as God's chosen people, they had a very strong sense of choice.
I did. If I preached the Messiah to them, I could understand them better than anyone else. so the bar
Wherever he went, he first visited the Jewish synagogue, where he preached the gospel to the Jews first.
I did. In this way, when we evangelize, we start with the people we can easily reach.
In other words, we need to expand from family members and relatives to ethnic groups in neighboring communities.
2. The central content of evangelism - Jesus' resurrection and death
The central content of Christian evangelism is that Jesus died and rose again.
Even if anyone told of all the other events of Jesus, his death and resurrection
If you don't preach, you're not preaching Christianity. Paul said (1 Corinthians 2:
2) “I am nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
I decided not to know either."
As John Stott said, if you remove the cross and resurrection from Christianity, you destroy Christianity.
said to have become.
3. The great crowd and ladies who are being saved
In Thessalonica there was a great crowd of devout Greeks and ladies, and these were Paul's
After listening to the sermon, I received Christ as my Savior. What is a godly Greek? idolatry
I am a person who refuses to lead an immoral life and lives a life that fears the one and only Jehovah God.
It refers to those who gather and worship on the Sabbath in the synagogue. Also, what is a lady? Thessal
Roni refers to the wives of nobles in high position.
The arrival of Christianity in Thessalonica is a very important event. by the Adriatic Sea
The Roman highway from the Middle East to the Middle East was called the Egnatia Road. therefore
Christianity followed this road as a great crowd and ladies received the gospel in Thessalonica.
It could have spread from east to west. The Gospel Paul preached in a synagogue in Thessalonica
This can be seen as an opportunity to spread the religion around the world.
II. The period of the Jews (5-9)
1. Jew envy and commotion
1) The power of the gospel
Seeing godly Greeks and not a few noble ladies accept the way of salvation,
The greats were jealous. In this way, the gospel has the power to separate. spirit to be saved
It is the gospel that distinguishes between those who belong to the world and those who are natural, which have nothing to do with salvation.
All.
2) The cruelty of religious self-righteousness
At that time, there was usually a market in the heart of the city, and there were thugs and thugs.
I was just wandering around with nothing to do. The Jews took them to the city in herds
It made me nervous. Self-Proclaimed Jews are Zealous for God
They had mobilized this thug to oppose God's work. Such religious self-righteousness
This is a passage that shows just how cruel you can change people.
The truth doesn't need the help of a fool. Therefore, the Jewish ideology
It was not the truth, but merely cruel religious self-righteousness. As such, they are spiritually
It was blind.
In this way, when believers become spiritually ignorant and corrupt, they are sometimes stronger than unbelievers.
There are many cases in which the sun goes down and opposes the gospel (Acts 28:25-27; Hebrews 6:6). Saints are all spiritual
We must reject the path of the blind.
2. Those who disturb the world
First, the charges against Paul and Silas were not nationally recognized in the Roman Empire.
He disturbed the world by teaching religion, and secondly, he disobeyed Caesar's orders and made other kings
He was charged with proclaiming Jesus as king.
Especially those who disturb the world? Other problems when Rome ruled the colonies
Although he was generally tolerant of treason, he was strict about treason and treason.
What is a problem group for the Roman authorities? It was an attempt to arouse awareness.
3. Jason suffered a felony
1) Surprised town mayors
The mayors were astonished by the complaints from the Jews. What is a town mayor? The autonomous city of Thessalo
It was a name given only to the five local administrative ministers of Niiga. But these
The reason for this surprise was the feud between Christians and Jews that occurred in Rome in A.D. 49.
I know of the decree of Emperor Claudius (A.D41-54) which ordered the Jews to leave Rome.
Because of this, they thought that such a commotion might have recurred in Thessalonica.
It was a door.
2) Jason, who received the treasure and was released
Although the contents of the Jewish accusation were subject to warning, the mayor of the town did not have enough evidence.
There was no special way otherwise. However, in order to prevent the situation in case
He received money from his lifetime and gave it to Noah. that this will never cause commotion again
As a promise, such as the content or the commitment to get Paul and Silas out of Thessalonica, this
It was a guarantee and guarantee that the physical property owner would bear the damage in case of violation.
3) Paul and Silas sent to Berea
On the day Jason was in custody, Paul and Silas were sent to Berea. Paul later
In his letter to the church in Thessalonica, he tried to visit them several times, but 'Satan
have stopped us' (1 Thessalonians 2:18). This is the promise that Jason received from the townspeople,
There is a deep relationship. Since Paul does not visit Thessalonica after that, Jason's party
I have faithfully kept my promise to these town mayors.
There are various obstacles and obstacles in the gospel. But seeing the disturbance, I immediately
We must not give up the gospel ministry. Doing our best in difficult situations of persecution and opposition
We must imitate the gospel ministry of Paul and Silas. We always have everything
I think that the Lord's work is possible after being kind, but the Lord is rather in the midst of trials.
It is to raise up a stronger gospel work.