Chapter 30 – Thessalonica
Narration
Acts 17:16-34
From Philippi through
Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica went Paul and Silas. At Thessalonica they found a synagogue, so Paul could follow his normal custom of visiting the synagogue on the Sabbath.
For three Sabbaths he discussed the scriptures with all who attended, explaining that Jesus had to die and rise again and that he was the Christ, the anointed king.
Some Jews, some God-fearing Greeks and some leading women were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, but others were jealous. Trouble-makers helped them form a mob and an uproar began.
In the end, everything calmed down, but not before one of the new believers, Jason by name, had been compelled to give a pledge of good conduct – in this case, a pledge
that Paul would leave and not come back.
Paul and Silas left by night.
Chapter 31 – Berea
Narration
Acts 17:10-14
Berea was their next
haven, and it proved to be a nice safe haven – for a while. Many people in Berea wanted to hear Paul’s message and check whether it was true or not. This noble attitude made Paul’s job much easier, until the Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was in Berea.
They came at once, agitating and stirring up the crowds, and once again, Paul moved on. He was taken straight to the sea, where he
boarded a ship bound for Athens.
Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
Sketch 31.1
“Why do you say that, Paul?” asked Nahum.
Paul leaned forward, intense and enthusiastic as ever. “In the second Psalm, God said, ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you’, and in another Psalm, he said, ‘You
will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ Both passages talk about the resurrection of Jesus. In fact, in each case, the whole Psalm prophesies about Jesus. And there are other passages in Isaiah and other prophets.”
The two were talking in the market where Paul had set up a small stall, as he often did when visiting a new town or when there was a need for money! Travellers were always on the move throughout the empire, so the skills of
tentmakers like Paul were always in demand. He was also skilled with other forms of leatherwork, and could even mend sandals at a pinch. Best of all, though the casual observer would never discern it, Paul’s stall gave him the perfect opportunity to talk to customers about the subject dearest to his heart: Jesus, as the saviour of the world.
Nahum had approached him with a leather pouch that was developing a hole in one corner, the result of constant
use rather than carelessness. Paul admired the exquisite softness of the leather and skilfully stitched a supporting gusset within that would add years to the life of the beloved wallet.
As he worked, Paul began to chat. He was not surprised to discover that Nahum was a Hebrew and pleased to find that he was devout. By the time he completed the final stitch, Paul had not only mentioned Jesus, but had described his position in God’s plan, his life
in Judea, his rejection by the leaders, his crucifixion and his resurrection. It was the mention of Jesus’ resurrection that had caused Paul to refer to the Psalms, and Nahum was keen to follow it up.
“Why don’t we go to the synagogue now and read them?” suggested Nahum. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but I’d like to see them in context.”
“That’s a good idea,” smiled Paul. “Will there be anyone at the synagogue
at this time of morning?”
“Oh, yes. A few of us like to read the scriptures frequently. One is a leader of the synagogue, and he keeps the synagogue open every day for anyone who wants to read the scriptures.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” said Paul. “Let’s go now.”
Nahum paid his bill and Paul quickly packed up his tools and followed him towards the synagogue.
“Do you often read the scriptures?” asked Paul.
“Oh yes! There are so many fascinating bits of scripture that I often go to the synagogue to re-read some part or other, or to find a new part to read.”
“I think you’re doing just what God would want his people to do,” commented Paul.
“Sometimes travellers visit the synagogue on the Sabbath and are asked to speak,” said Nahum. “They
often explain what some part of scripture means, and afterwards I try to check that the scripture really means what the speaker said it did.”
“And that’s what you’re doing with me!” smiled Paul.
“True. We don’t always get our facts straight, do we? So when I hear new ideas about scripture, I try to check them. It isn’t always easy to find the passages people refer to, though, so having you here will be a great
help.”
They found the synagogue open as expected and Nahum led Paul in. The leader of the synagogue greeted them and Nahum introduced Paul. “Here’s a Hebrew I just met in the marketplace. He’s a tentmaker and leatherworker, but he’s also got some unusual ideas about prophecies in our scriptures. I want to read the passages he’s referring to.”
“Are these prophecies about the Messiah? Those are always the
most popular.”
“Yes,” answered Paul. “Prophecies of the Messiah in the Psalms. And these particular prophecies have been fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.”
“Jesus of Nazareth?” asked the leader blankly. “Who’s he?”
“It still amazes me how few people have heard of him,” said Paul ruefully. “Jesus is a descendant of King David of the tribe of Judah. He was born in the time of
the census and executed by our leaders when Pontius Pilate was governor.”
“Executed? I thought you said he’s the Messiah!”
“Paul says that his execution…”
“And resurrection!” interjected Paul.
“…and subsequent resurrection were just what the scriptures foretold,” said Nahum. “So I wanted to check the details.”
“Let’s get out the
scroll of Psalms, then,” said the leader. “That’s the best way to check it. Shall we get the Greek version?”
“That’s the one I can understand,” answered Nahum. “Is that alright, Paul?”
“What matters is that you understand it,” said Paul. “Let’s use the Greek.”
Carefully lifting the Greek scroll of the Psalms from its home, the leader placed it on a table where all three of them
would be able to read it. Removing the protective covers, he put them to one side and the scroll lay ready.
“Let’s start with the second psalm,” said Paul. “That’s easy to find.”
It was quickly found and Paul pointed to the passage, roughly halfway through the psalm.
Nahum began to read out loud, “ ‘I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten
you.’[1] Is ‘me’ the writer of the psalm? And is who is ‘the Lord’?”
“Our Hebrew scroll uses the word ‘Yahweh’ there,” answered the synagogue leader, “so God is claiming a son.”
“Exactly!” cried Paul. “And ‘me’ is the son speaking – the king, the Messiah mentioned earlier in the Psalm.”
Nahum began again, this time reading from the beginning of the psalm and trying to understand the
context. After some time, he said, “The psalm seems to describe all the kings of the earth plotting against God and his Messiah – who God also calls his son. That doesn’t seem likely to be successful! Hmm. I can’t remember having noticed this Psalm much before. But now I see that it could be a… a… a powerful component of Paul’s argument in favour of God actually having a son.”
“And notice the way it finishes,” added Paul,
pointing.
“It says, ‘Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.’[2] ‘Son’ again. Well, Paul, you certainly weren’t making this up! And you believe that Jesus of Nazareth is this ‘son’?”
“I do. And when you take it in conjunction with the words of Isaiah: ‘A virgin shall conceive and bear a son…’, we can understand
how the birth of Jesus came about, born as he was to a virgin mother and also a son of God.”
“That’s a big claim,” said the leader, frowning. He shook his head for a few moments, then laughed. “In fact, I imagine making a claim like that in Jerusalem could get you stoned! They’re not as open-minded as we are here in Macedonia.”
“And what about the other psalm you mentioned?” asked Nahum.
“Ah, yes,” said Paul, all enthusiasm once more. “It’s a miktam of David. Can I…?” he asked the synagogue leader, who responded with a nod. Paul quickly found the object of his search and smoothed out the scroll. Resting his finger near the end of the psalm, he said, “From there to the end.”
Nahum began to read. “ ‘For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the
path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’ There’s quite a bit in that passage, isn’t there? And ‘pleasures forevermore’ sounds like living forever, doesn’t it?”[3]
“It does,” nodded the synagogue leader.
Paul beamed. “You’re absolutely right. And when David writes, ‘you will not abandon my soul to Sheol’, he’s not writing from his own point of
view – after all, David is dead and buried and his tomb is still in Jerusalem. Instead, he’s speaking of his descendant, Jesus, who died but was not abandoned to the grave nor left to rot. Instead, as David wrote, he was raised to God’s right hand and lives forever.”
More questions followed, for the unexpected work of Jesus takes time to understand, but with the scriptures to guide them and Paul to describe the life and works of Jesus, Nahum and his
friend gradually came to believe the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. And they weren’t alone.
Chapter 32 – Paul in Athens
Narration
Acts 17:16-34
Brothers
accompanied Paul to Athens, then returned to Berea with orders for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens as soon as they could. He had intended to stay quiet until they came, but it just wasn’t possible. How could he say nothing when the city was full of idols?
He could reason with the people at the synagogue – and did so – but what about all the others? How would they hear?
He began talking to people in the market places, speaking to any who would listen. Some were philosophers who revelled in disputation, and they soon brought him to the Areopagus to speak before many others – important people all.
Paul chose to speak about an altar he had seen marked “To An Unknown God”, a sort of
catch-all dedication to make sure no deities felt left out.
He used the opportunity to tell them about the God they didn’t know, an all-powerful God who does not live in temples and does not need anyone to make offerings to keep him well fed. Paul presented the creator of heaven and earth, maker of mankind, and his son Jesus Christ, once dead but raised again to life.
Some sneered – but others listened.
Paul left them, but one of the members of the Areopagus followed him, along with some others.
Notes
[1] Psalm 2:7
[2] Psalm 2:12
[3] Psalm 16:10-11
[To be continued]