Weekly Bible Study Lesson from the Book of Acts 17 KJV
For Mithcah Bible Baptist Church – Bahrain
Morning Online Devotional Bible Study and Group Prayer Fellowship July 23, 2025
“1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”
Lesson: Reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.
Acts 17:5-10 KJV
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.”
Paul, an example of consistency and determination in his pursuit to spread the great commission, (as how the bible described him: “as his manner was”) is not just an iconic character in the bible, but has been the last among the apostles called after the LORD’s resurrection. It might be about his zealous character, his proficiency about the law of Moses and his unwavering faith in GOD, why The LORD JESUS entrusted to him the ministry of preaching and teaching the gospel to the Gentiles.
We can see that even after they experienced being beaten and imprisoned, he was never intimidated. But still did entered synagogue to preach and teach about JESUS, wherein many got saved. But from this account were recorded: some of the Jews who did not believed moved with envy, that they hailed Jason accusing him to housed and hosted Paul and his alliance; whom their opponents accusedthat they taught people contrary to the law of Caesars; when they couldn’t find Paul and Silas. Not knowing that some of the faithful followers and believers of The LORD, secured them and secretly sent them away by night.
Taking note from this passage, are these characteristics of a true called servant of the LORD:
The LORD expected that these characters be found also in each and every one of us believers; not wavering, but always available, when called to serve to teach GOD’s words.
Acts 17:10-18 KJV
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Another commended are the Berean Christians, as more noble than they of the Thessalonians, because they search the scriptures daily if what Paul said was so.
And after they found that it was what he preached, many of the honorable men and women believed.
But those Jews who were in Thessalonica, upon hearing that Paul also preached the word in Berea, went there and stirred up also the people against Paul. Then again, those who believed sent away Paul to Athens, where Paul could not contain himself to just be silent, when he saw the city given into idolatry, that he went in to the synagogue and disputed there with the Jews, with the devout; even preaching JESUS in the market daily; teaching people who come to him.
Paul was sent to Athens because he was pursued by the unbelieving Jews to be silenced. Again, Paul could not keep his peace within him, while seeing people worship idols.
Our country has been long time blinded by idolatrous belief; too superstitious, deeply rooted from paganism masked with defiled knowledge about GOD; even using the name of CHRIST to lead people believe false doctrine. And yes, we are called a Christian country, but battered by curses from poverty, immorality, corruption even devastating natural calamities.
And how about us true believers of CHRIST? Did our spirit rest within us while seeing people who have not known the true CHRIST wallowed in the mire of confusion and delusions?
Are we even bothered when true churches who teaches and preaches the bible, are more concerned with our own issues against another,than to be united together in one mind to make the lost souls know that there is hope in believing CHRIST?
May we set aside envying, pride, discord and stripes, and focus more on sharing the gospel to the lost; first to our own household, then to our neighbors, then wherever the LORD send us to;that we may fully partake in the ministry which the LORD commission us to do; as we all very well know that the day is coming so soon, when CHRIST appear to take us with Him and all His saints, before His judgement be poured out in this erring world.
May we focus our eyes on JESUS, and may our ultimate goal in existence is making known to people, that GOD’s gift of salvation is still yet available.
Let us make the most of our time while we live, to show others GOD’s grace is still abound.
Acts 17:18-28 KJV -
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Paul here was called as babbler by these certain philosophers, Epicureans and Stoicks. Then I look the meaning of babblers from the
Mirriam Webster dictionary: and these are what babblers means:
“1 a : to talk enthusiastically or excessively
b : to utter meaningless or unintelligible sounds
2 : to make sounds as though babbling
transitive verb
1 : to utter in an incoherently or meaninglessly repetitious manner
2 : to reveal by talk that is too free”
They addressed Paul as babbler, because he talked too much about JESUS. Causingupheavals for some; making him a trend-setter by talking to much about which for them, has they called “strange god”. The world has been long gone deceived by the enemies of GOD. that even these people of great stature in their society has been conditioned to believed that idols are for real.
But Paul unwavering spirit strengthen the more by the power of the HOLY GHOST, stand up with clarity in speech; started by specifically pointing out their devotion to the lines of idols from where he saw an altar with inscription: “To The UNKNOWN GOD”.
Speaking to them about the true Nature of the Living GOD who made all things whether be it heaven or in this earth; that He is not a god made by man, and that He do not dwell in the temple made by man’s hand; for the GOD whom he talked about is the Giver of life to all living things even the GOD who sees all the affairs of men.
That even them who did not know Him was thesewritten about the GOD: “we all are His offspring”.
And that is indeed what people have in the corner of their thoughts: that all are the children of God.
What the enemy of GOD did to confuse mankind is to create a lot of man-made ideas, superstition and even another sets of written scriptures about Him.
Words well-calculated to discredit the only translation from the original receive text:the King James Bible from which translation we believed as the basis of our faith. From where it was written:
John 1:9-13 KJV -“ 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Since sin entered into the world and death by sin, mankind was separated from GOD; and have lost that personal relationship with GOD as being His children. This is the very reason why Paul talked too much about the GOD who called him to speak: for all to know that through JESUS andonly in Him we can have:
This is the truth and the very reason why likeApostle Paul, we should not keep silent: that they may know without JESUS CHRIST, these are impossible for all people to have; that we should explain to them the importance of the song amazing grace. For we all are lost, but still few among us were found, and the LORD is still calling everyone to receive His gift of salvation through His death, burial and resurrection.
May we all who were among the “found”, followPaul in boldness, bravery and brevity in speaking about JESUS: our Redeemer, Savior and LORD.
Acts 17:29-34 KJV -
“29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”
We can see, that herein were written, everybody believed, if not all, that all human is an offspring of God. But not all are willing to hear the truth on how a child of GOD should come to Him, should call upon Him through His Son JESUS CHRIST, should cleave unto Him and rely upon Him about all of His beings.
Some even mocked Apostle Paul when He preached the truth about Him; about the grace that He has given to all men, that men should repent about their ignorance in worshipping idols which GOD utterly forbid people to do.
People are destroyed not only because they lack knowledge, but upon their refusal to accept.
It is written that there will come a day of judgement and reckoning; when GOD’s grace comes to an end.
Let us also reason with them out of the Scriptures; that the voice of us who shared glad tidings be heard by all of human’s ears, even to them who are not willing to listen. For GOD has not given us the spirit of fear, but of sound mind, and confidence, that GOD in JESUS CHRISTalone, is able to deliver souls from the destructive penalty of sin.
Have a peaceful and blessed morning to all!
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