Bible Reading
Acts 17:1–15 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
[23:48] [27:15] [53:21]Isaiah 53:4–6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[40:56]2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
[59:28]Matthew 13:3–9 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
[46:44]Observation questions
- In Acts 17, what did Paul do during his three Sabbaths in the Thessalonian synagogue, and what two truths did he seek to prove from the Scriptures? [32:47]
- What different responses did the message about Jesus receive in Thessalonica, and how did jealousy show itself among those who rejected it? [49:25]
- What two actions made the Bereans “more noble” than those in Thessalonica: how did they receive the word, and how did they test it? [56:36]
- In the parable of the soils, what are the different threats to fruitfulness described in the sermon—lack of understanding, shallow roots, and the cares of the world? [45:29]
Interpretation questions
- Why was it necessary for Paul to show from the Old Testament that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again, rather than simply announcing that Jesus was the Christ? [36:13]
- Isaiah 53 says that the Servant was pierced for “our transgressions” and crushed for “our iniquities.” What does this reveal about why Christ’s suffering brings peace to sinners? [40:56]
- The charge against Paul and Silas was that they proclaimed “another king, Jesus.” Why does confessing Jesus as King create tension wherever false loyalties, idols, or human power demand first place? [52:45]
- The Bereans tested Paul’s message without rejecting it in a cynical way. What does their example show about the difference between carefully searching Scripture and merely arguing over Scripture? [59:28]
Application questions
- The Bereans received the word eagerly, but they also searched the Scriptures daily. What is one practical rhythm that could help you open Scripture for yourself this week rather than depending on secondhand knowledge of God? [01:03:55]
- Jesus is the suffering and risen Messiah, not merely a good teacher or prophet. Where might you need to remember that He carried your sin personally and has the right to lead your life as King? [42:16]
- Jesus compares the heart to different kinds of soil. Which danger most often threatens your fruitfulness right now: distraction, shallow roots when pressure comes, or the worries and desires of everyday life? What would it look like to make room for God’s word to take deeper root? [46:44]
- Paul kept moving forward when opposition forced him out of Thessalonica and Berea. Is there an area of faithfulness where discouragement, rejection, or a lack of visible results has tempted you to stop? What might “keep going” look like in one small, wise step? [53:40]
- Christ turns a world gone wrong right side up. What false loyalty or idol—such as money, approval, comfort, fear, politics, or control—most competes with Jesus’ kingship in your own life? [52:45]
- God calls His people not only to know the word but also to do it. What specific act of love, service, encouragement, or witness could make the word visible through your life this week? [57:39]
