God’s Word for You
Acts 17:1-2 Paul and the Thessalonians
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Thursday, October 8, 2020
Chapter 17 sees Paul travel south from Macedonia into Achaia or southern Greece. Following persecution in Thessalonica and Berea, Paul arrives in Athens, the center of Greek culture. While there, Paul will preach the second great missionary sermon we have from him (the first was in Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:16-41).
17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul went in, as he was accustomed to do, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
The journey from Philippi around the coast to the south took Paul through the cities mentioned here, Amphipolis (32 miles away) and Apollonia (another 32 miles). It seems from the way verse 1 is written that there were no synagogues in either city, and that seems to match the discoveries of archaeologists in those places. Most likely, Paul and Silas simply rested in those towns overnight, with the intention of arriving in the larger city of Thessalonica. The gospel would return to these other places, but it was important to establish a foothold first, a kind of mother-church for the area.
Paul entered the synagogue in order to proclaim Jesus to the Jews who already knew about the promises of the Messiah in Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44). He reasoned with them there for a short while, perhaps as little as two weeks (three Sabbath days with the weeks between could be as little as fifteen days). Some commentators have supposed that Paul taught elsewhere for a while, after leaving the synagogue. We don’t need to commit ourselves too firmly except to say that the text can certainly stand as it is. We know enough about Luke’s style to know that if he wants to say a thing, he is capable of making himself understood.
An important word in the text is dielexato (διελέξατο), “he reasoned.” This can also be translated “debated” or “disputed” (“Michael when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,” Jude 9), or simply “spoke” (“Paul spoke to the people,” Acts 20:7). It can also be “criticized” (Judges 8:1). Here, “reasoned” or simply “spoke” seems to be a wise translation, but more especially in light of a word we will talk about in verse 3. The important thing to remember when we use the word “reason” in connection with faith is that human reason is to be used like all our other gifts. Reason is a servant in the house, not the Lady of the house. Faith is supreme among God’s gifts to us. If I have another talent, such as pole-vaulting, or gardening, or kayaking, I use it as a servant to my faith. The same is true of my singing voice, if I have one, or my cooking talents such as they are, and on and on. But reason, too, is a handmaid in my mind and in my heart. Reason must be subservient to faith, or else the wrong ideas begin to steer the heart.
“Reason does not instruct or correct the Word of God; reason is instructed and corrected by the Word of God. Reason is a necessary and useful tool in the house of theology, but it is not the master of the house. When used properly, reason is a very useful tool; when allowed to contradict the clear Word of God, reason becomes what Luther called reason thus misused: the devil’s whore.” (Deutschlander, Grace Abounds p. 83).
Paul’s preaching to the Thessalonians came from the Scriptures. They were shown the glory of Jesus and the fulfilment of the prophecies, and the source material was the same source we use to this day: The Word of God. As John said, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). In Jesus we have forgiveness. In Jesus we have God’s kind assurance that he loves us, and that his love will not be removed from us. In Jesus we have God’s guidance as well, the true path ahead to heaven, which is through Jesus, the gateway of forgiveness, the hand that pulls us firmly, gently, assuredly, unceasingly into everlasting life.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.