Acts 17:1-10

English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ 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.” ⁴ 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. ⁵ But the Jews^[a] 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. ⁶ 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,⁷ and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” ⁸ And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. ⁹ And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

Paul and Silas in Berea

¹⁰ The brothers^[b] immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

This church got off to a rocky start. It started with severe persecution and an entire city disrupted. God promises that his message will offend the world and here is a prime example of just that. I am impressed about how there was mixed group that came to be part of the church. As far as I can tell this is also the first time that women are mentioned as being a part of the early church besides individual women. Paul still preaches first to the Jews and second to the Gentiles. 

My church is starting a church plant. One of the things that the pastor of the new church encouraged people seeking to help is to realize that a new church does not equal another chance to create a "christian utopia." The church is still made of sinners and must interact with a fallen world. Church can be a place of healing; however, that healing comes from the Savior God of that community, not from the community itself. 

I am reading 1 Thessalonians and I am encouraged by the book. Paul has been encouraged by the fact that the church has kept their faith even after so short a time preaching to them and an abrupt cutoff from the church. He does answer a few theological questions they have and encourages them to not be idle, but to work hard for the Lord. 

Holy Father, I feel as if I am rocky start after rocky start. May lean of Christ to fix me and be my comfort. May Christ be the glory in my life. Father, bless this church plant. May you protect it's people and strengthen them for the battle ahead. May we stand fast in persecution and hold to You as our head. Amen.