“Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks, and not a few prominent women.

But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.”
Acts 17:4-5

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MARCH 11, 2025

The hearts of some of the Jews in the synagogue at Thessalonica were warmed as they listened to Paul reason from the Scriptures that Jesus had fulfilled messianic prophesies as the Christ. An even larger proportion of the Gentiles who gathered believed in Jesus as Messiah. But acceptance of Paul’s message was not universal.

Some were threatened by what they heard, for it upset the status quo in their synagogue. Change—especially theological change!—is not without its challenges, but the word “jealous” is notable here. Their response was immediate and violent. They gathered a number of trouble-makers and went on a rampage to find Paul and Silas, arriving at the home of Jason, a new believer. Their intent was to bring Paul and Silas out for the mob to accost them.

The contrast between belief and unbelief in Thessalonica is striking!

There is a spiritual battle raging in this world. One implication of the gospel is that we live for God and each other, not for ourselves—and this requires accountability. Who wants to be held accountable? Yet where there is no recognition of culpability, there is no perceived need for repentance.

Another implication of the gospel is our submission to a new Master. Who wants to live under the control of someone else? But as has been shared from the pulpit in recent months, all of us live under some kind of authority: let us be sure we are subject to the proper authority, only the Lord Himself.

How many of us claim to believe, and yet live for ourselves, submitting only to ourselves? We are too often paralyzed by the repudiation of the gospel—from others, but in our own behavior as well. But let us not be ashamed of the gospel or timid in our assurance that it is true. This is not a call for confrontation or tasteless promotion of our beliefs, but may we be absolutely convinced of God’s compassion, justice, and love, and spend each day spreading these things to the world in word and in deed. We are to tell the good news. We cannot save anyone; that is God’s responsibility. But we have a story to tell.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

  • Do you live as though you believe the gospel? How so or how not?
  • When sharing your faith with someone, have you received a response of disinterest or rebuff? In those instances, what should we remember?
  • How should the truth, that it is only the Spirit of God who brings a person to repentance and salvation, affect our attitude when sharing the gospel?

 

Church Reading Plan: Exodus 22; John 1