Acts Chapter 17
Persuading Some
Paul’s journey in Acts 17 takes him to Thessalonica, Berea and Athens, where he meets varied communities to whom he preaches.
Notice the subtle way he tailors his methods of outreach for his audience.
Thessalonica: for believers
In Thessalonica, Paul enters the synagogue to preach. For these Jews who believe already in God, Paul focuses on reasoning ‘with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ”.’ (Acts 17:2-3).
These Jews would have been awaiting the Christ, prophesied in the Old Testament. Paul knew this, and he adjusted his message of salvation accordingly.
While Christians accept Jesus as Christ, not many worship Him in spirit and in truth, according to the full gospel of salvation that He has imparted to us. Whether one’s worship is Sabbath or Sunday, or whether one believes in being baptised for the forgiveness of sins, these (and more!) have significant implications on our standing with Christ.
Jesus counselled, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.’ (Mt 7:21)
Elsewhere, Paul declares the severity of modifying God’s truth: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:8)
Do we know what other gospel believers of God may cling on to, and are we ready to prove from the Bible what God’s will to attain salvation is? Paul was ready, and he persuaded some.
Athens: for non-believers
This leg of his missionary journey was one meant to be embarked on with Silas and Timothy, who were still making their way to him. Instead of taking a breather to recharge his batteries (after all, he had just escaped from two public, frenzied outroars in Thessalonica and Berea), he set off to preach in a synagogue and in the marketplace daily.
Additionally, Paul paid close attention to their religious inclinations, observing the objects of their worship, one of which was an altar that he discovered had an inscription, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.”
We then see how Paul uses these in his sermon: “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you…” (Acts 17:23) Paul realises the gap in his listeners’ religious knowledge and their possible curiosities, and he frames his preaching as an answer to them.
He also makes connections between God’s truth to what they may already know: “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:28).
All these Paul does while introducing God as the Creator and Father, proclaiming how Jesus resurrected from the dead and urging the Athenians to repent, especially with judgment day coming. (That’s at least 3 of our Articles of Faith!)
Paul’s bravery at Areopagus led to some mocking him. Yet again, some were persuaded.
Conclusion
Of course, not all cultural references suit the purposes of our preaching today, let alone are reverent. Nevertheless, we can critically reflect on how we can help our audience understand God better, and more importantly, what their spiritual needs and questions are.
Today, is there someone whose religious background you can take time to understand? How can you then connect God’s wonderful gospel of salvation to his or her needs and questions?
Though it takes time to get to know our audience, remember: you may persuade some.
