TO PROCLAIM AN UNKNOWN GOD , Sarah Barry
TROUBLE-MAKERS FOR JESUS
Passage: Acts 17:1~9  
Key verse: 6b
In Thessalonica
17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,(A) where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(B) and on three Sabbath(C) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(D) 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(E) and rise from the dead.(F) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(G) he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(H) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(I) They rushed to Jason’s(J) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged(K) Jason and some other believers(L) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(M) have now come here,(N) 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(O) 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason(P) and the others post bond and let them go.
Footnotes
- Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
Cross references
- Acts 17:1 : ver 11, 13; Php 4:16; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; 2Ti 4:10
- Acts 17:2 : S Ac 9:20
- Acts 17:2 : S Ac 13:14
- Acts 17:2 : Ac 8:35; 18:28
- Acts 17:3 : Lk 24:26; Ac 3:18
- Acts 17:3 : Lk 24:46; S Ac 2:24
- Acts 17:3 : S Ac 9:22
- Acts 17:4 : S Ac 15:22
- Acts 17:5 : ver 13; S 1Th 2:16
- Acts 17:5 : Ro 16:21
- Acts 17:6 : S Ac 16:19
- Acts 17:6 : S Ac 1:16
- Acts 17:6 : S Mt 24:14
- Acts 17:6 : Ac 16:20
- Acts 17:7 : Lk 23:2; Jn 19:12
- Acts 17:9 : ver 5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Teaching the Bible in the synagogue (1-4)
There was a synagogue in Thessalonica, and Paul went there on the Sabbath, as was his custom. For three weeks he taught them from the Bible that the Christ must suffer and rise from the dead, and he proclaimed, 'Jesus is the Christ.' A few Jews and many God-fearing Greeks-- along with some prominent women accepted Jesus.
2. Jason suffers for his faith (5-9)
The Jews were jealous. Perhaps they were upset by the prominent women who defected to Jesus, leaving their synagogue. They rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot. Jason had welcomed the missionaries into his house, so he became their target. They attacked his home and dragged him out. The missionaries had become infamous; they were branded as people who 'caused trouble all over the world.' Opposition to God's work starts with small things--like the jealousy of a few people.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to be surprised when Bible teaching gets me into trouble.
One Word: Making trouble for the devil