We continue the series of articles “Learn to evangelize with the Apostle Paul”. Was it adapted from the eBook? Upsetting the World? By John Crotts, available for free download. In previous articles, Crotts explained two of Paul’s strategies for reaching the religious, and now presents two more.
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as well as a large multitude of pious Greeks and many distinguished women (Acts 17:4).
- Some of the faithful Jews who had learned the Torá.
- Scheduled Easter.
- Circumcised their children.
- And spent Saturdays in the synagogue now believed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.
- From a human point of view.
- If Paul and his friends had done so.
- Leaving aside Thessaloniki.
- These ethnic Jews would have remained religious Jews.
- Instead of reveling in the light of the gospel.
- They would have remained in the shadows.
These Jews were convinced. In other words, they were convinced of the truth of Christianity. Their personal conviction was followed by a public confession and admission to the church. 7 The fact that they joined Paul and Silas probably indicates that they formed a group (i. e. , a new church). which was separated from the synagogue, probably in Jasom. 8
In addition to the Jews who joined Paul, a large multitude of Greek faithful, both men and women, also became converted. Does the numerical difference draw attention? Some Jews against a large crowd of Greeks. These Gentiles may have completely converted to Judaism, or simply those who met regularly at synagogue meetings. The women who came to Christ were apparently leaders and a high social status. Chances are they were married to prominent citizens of the capital. These Gentiles listened intently to the scriptures of the Old Testament, which were read and taught in the synagogue. They grew up in the knowledge of the one true God, even if it was limited knowledge. They needed to feel the bright light behind the shadows. When Paul brought the gospel to the city, these few Jews and a large multitude of pagan men and women were enlightened and the truth filled their minds with a splendor capable of transforming their lives.
There was no specific number of converts, but the description reveals some of the powerful impact that the simple gospel discussed and proclaimed had on the capital of Macedonia. As many have already pointed out, it is necessary to plant to harvest. These converts to Christ were easy to identify, contrary to the growing animosity that was unfolding against Paul and his message.
The Jews, however, moved with envy, bringing with them some villains among the scoundrels, gathering the crowd, moving the city and, attacking Jason’s house, tried to bring them among the people; however, by not finding them, they dragged Jasom and some. brothers before the authorities, shouting: Here also came those who upset the world, what Jasom received. All this goes against Caesar’s decrees, stating that Jesus is another king. Both the multitude and the authorities reveled in hearing these words; however, Jasom and the others were released after receiving their stipulated bail (Acts 17:5-9).
The people of Thessaloniki faced each other for Paul’s preaching; A furious division arose. While it may seem that it is always bad when groups oppose the gospel, this opposition can produce positive results. First, it becomes easier to identify true Christians, when the boundaries between following Christ and remaining in Judaism, or paganism, are drawn with such audacity. Second, the gospel becomes more lucid for those who look from the outside.
The southeastern part of the United States, where I live, is commonly known as the Bible belt. A large majority of people living in this region assume that they are Christians. Of course, true believers do not stand out so much in this part of the world. country, and even the gospel doesn’t seem as radical as it really is. Identifying true Christians and what it means to become one of them is less ambiguous in a context of opposition. In addition, another result of persecution is an increasing number of opportunities for Thessaloniki persecution as persecution increased, these benefits emerged.
The motivation of opponents is revealed in the expression: “Jews, however, out of envy”. Can’t you hear them complain?” All the Gentiles we’ve gathered in the synagogue are attacking this renegade rabbi, Paulo!?
To make their opposition work, the Jews had to recruit helpers. They, bringing with them evil men among the deception?Or, as the English translation James Version so vividly says, “the lustful of the most vile species?”(Free translation ). The Greek scientist A. T. Robertson succinctly called them “vagrants. “9 Basically, the Jewish leaders met with the city’s villains to start a revolt, hoping to stop the missionaries.
Apparently, Paul was being housed by a man named Jasom, because his house was the target of crowd violence. It seems reasonable to believe that Jason had come to believe in Christ. If Paul followed his model of seeking hospitality among tent manufacturers, as he later did with Aquila and Priscrilla in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3), Jason may also have been a tent manufacturer. Jason was a common Greek name that the Jews took for themselves when they joined the Dispersal to live in the lands of the Gentiles, whether they were called Joshua or Jesus.
Luke tells us that the crowd wanted to take The Christians in the face of the crowd, as they could not find Paul, frustrated, they simply dragged Jasom to the city officials. You can feel the intensity of the cries of accusation echoing through the narrow streets on the way to the forum, their Christian reputation preceded them.
“Those who have shaken the world have also come here. ” The point of this accusation, as John Stott pointed out, is that Christians and their message had caused social shock. 11 They were agitators, causing agitation. 12 The translated word?World, is used to indicate the inhabited world that, from the point of view of those who spoke, it was the entire Roman Empire. This sense of the word gives meaning to Caesar’s order, for what?The whole world? (Luke 2:1), and the prediction of the prophet Agabo, of a great famine that would happen?the whole world? (Acts 11: 28-29). Indirectly, the barbaric accusations of the Jews attest to the wonderful impact of the gospel. After only a few decades, since Jesus revealed himself risen from the dead to a handful of disbeliever disciples, the Roman Empire had been shaken by the reality of proclaiming Jesus’ Resurrection.
Jasom hospitality is then guilty of having welcomed these agitators, accused of having preached a rival king over Caesar. It was a very serious claim. The famous New Testament scholar, FFBruce, said: “It was a shrewd accusation; even such an unfounded accusation was enough to ruin anyone against whom it was put. In Paul’s case, was there enough smell of truth in his claim to make, is it a lethal accusation?. 13
What do you think Paul said in synagogues to attract this kind of accusation?He certainly spoke of the kingdom of God and the lordship of Christ. Perhaps he said that Jesus was appointed Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead?(Romans 1. 4); or if you confess from your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, will you be saved?(Romans 10. 9).
Paul did not preach the gospel as someone who sells a security against the fire of hell, by which sinners are called to mentally believe certain facts about Jesus, simply by adding them to his sinful lifestyle. Paul’s gospel included a transfer from the kingdom of Satan to The Kingdom of Christ (Colossses 1:13). Whether intentionally or not, the Jews perverted the discourse of the kingdom of Paul, which originally meant a spiritual change, and gave the impression that believers were preparing a physical kingdom to compete with Roman power. It is easy to see how a serious discussion of Jesus as King and Lord could lead to this accusation.
City officials took charges into consideration, but acted in silence. Taking Jasom’s money was probably more than just bail. Jasom may have been forced to deposit a sum of money that would be lost if that day’s civil unrest continued. This led to Paulo and Silas being evicted from the city, and probably also to make sure they didn’t return so soon. Paul may have alluded to these circumstances in his last letter to the believers of Thessaloniki, in which he said, “We wanted to come to you (at least I, Paul, not only once, but two); However, Satan blocked us?(1 Thessaloniki 2:18)
Paulo’s march gives us the final part of his strategy
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