Exposition of Acts: Favor of God
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. FAVOR OF GOD AT THESSALONICA
A. REASONING
>>1. PATTERN
Acts 17:1-2a Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. And as was his custom, Paul entered,
>>2. PROOF
Acts 17:2b-3 and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving the necessary for Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, adding, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah.”
(also, Mt 11:3; II Thes 3:7-8)
B. RESPONSE
>>1. PERSUASION
Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and quite a few of the leading women.
(also, Phil 4:15-16)
>>2. PERSECUTION
Acts 17:5-7 But the Jews were jealous, and taking men loafing in the marketplace, 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.”
(also, Acts 13:6; 13:45, 50; 14:2, 5, 19; Lk 12:16-21)
C. RESULTS
>>1. PERTURBED
Acts 17:8-9 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.
>>2. PLIGHT
Acts 17:10a The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea,
(also, Rom 11:13; Is 2:20-21; 24:19-23; 34:1-3; Jer 30:5-7; Joel 2:1-11, 30-31; Zech 14:1-7 Is 2:2-5; 11:1-16; Jer 23:3-8; 30:8-24; Ezek 36:21-38; Zech 14:8-11; I Thes 1:10; 2:19-20; 3:11-13; 4:13-18; 5:9-11)
II. FAVOR OF GOD AT BEREA
A. REALIZATION
>>1. PROCLAMATION
Acts 17:10b-11 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.
>>2. PROFESSION
Acts 17:12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
B. REPEAT
>>1. PERSECUTION
Acts 17:13-14a 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,
>>2. PARTNERS
Acts 17:14b-15 while Silas and Timothy remained [in Berea]. Those who conducted Paul took him as far as Athens. After receiving instruction for Silas and Timothy to come to Paul as quickly as possible, they returned home.
(also, Rom 1:16)