2. Acts 17:1 NKJV Now when they had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the
Jews.
3. Located about 100 miles southwest of
Philippi, named after the half-sister
of Alexander the Great.
Thessalonica was the largest city in
Macedonia possibly around
200,000, and is currently the second
largest city in Greece with over 1
million residents in metropolitan area.
4. Acts 17:2-4 NKJV Then Paul, as his
custom was, went in to them, and for
three Sabbaths reasoned with them from
the Scriptures, (3) 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." (4) And some of them
were persuaded; and a great multitude of
the devout Greeks, and not a few of the
leading women, joined Paul and Silas.
For many it takes
time for the
Gospel to sink in
5. Persuaded or Believed?
Acts 17:4 NKJV And some of
them were persuaded; and a
great multitude of the
devout Greeks, and not a few
of the leading
women, joined Paul and
Silas.
Acts 17:4 KJV 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.
B e l i e v e
In the Greek, “pisteuō” means to believe
or have faith in. The word can mean a
mere acknowledgement of the truth.
James 2:19 KJV Thou believest that there
is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble.
NOT the word used in Acts 17:4
6. Persuaded or Believed?
Acts 17:4 NKJV And some of
them were persuaded; and a
great multitude of the
devout Greeks, and not a few
of the leading
women, joined Paul and
Silas.
Acts 17:4 KJV 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.
B e l i e v e
In the Greek, “pitis” means faith, truth or
the conviction or a truth. Most often
translated “faith.”
Hebrews 11:1 ESV Now faith is the
assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV But without faith (pistis) it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
must believe (piteuō) that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.NOT the word used in Acts 17:4
7. Persuaded or Believed?
Acts 17:4 NKJV And some of
them were persuaded; and a
great multitude of the
devout Greeks, and not a few
of the leading
women, joined Paul and
Silas.
Acts 17:4 KJV 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.
P e r s u a d e d
“Peithō” is the word used here. The word
basically means persuade as many modern
translations use, but that word is lacking.
8. Literally it means to persuade or to win over.
We are talking about obedience!
According to Vines, “the obdeience suggested is not by
submission to authority [hupakouō], but resulting from persuasion.”
Vines also says, “Peitho and pisteuo, 'to trust,' are closely related
etymologically; the difference in meaning is that the former implies
the obedience that is produced by the latter.”
Hebrews 13:17 NKJV Obey (peithō) those who rule over
you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as
those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and
not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
9. Over a three week span Paul
persuaded some to Obey
the Gospel!!!
10. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
Acts 17:2-3 NKJV Then Paul, as
his custom was, went in to
them, and for three Sabbaths
reasoned with them from the
Scriptures, (3) 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.”
Dialegomai – lit. through speaking; Thayer
says, “to mingle thought with thought”
R e a s o n e d
11. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV All Scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness,
2 Tim. 2:15 Be diligent to present
yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth.
12. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV But sanctify the
Lord God in your hearts, and
always be ready to give a defense
to everyone who asks you a reason
for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;
13. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
Acts 17:2-3 NKJV Then Paul, as
his custom was, went in to
them, and for three Sabbaths
reasoned with them from the
Scriptures, (3) 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.”
Dianoigō – lit. to open thoroughly; to open
the mind of one, i.e. to cause to understand
a thing.
E x p l a i n i n g
14. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
Acts 17:2-3 NKJV Then Paul, as his
custom was, went in to them, and
for three Sabbaths reasoned with
them from the Scriptures, (3)
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.”
Paratithēmi–(Thayer)toplacebeside
ornearorsetbefore
1a)food,i.e.foodplacedonatable
1b)tosetbefore(one)inteaching
1c)tosetforth(fromone’sself)
D e m o n s t r a t i n g
15. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
Luke 24:25-27 NKJV Then He said to
them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart
to believe in all that the prophets have
spoken! (26) Ought not the Christ to
have suffered these things and to enter
into His glory?" (27) And beginning at
Moses and all the Prophets, He
expounded to them in all the Scriptures
the things concerning Himself.
16. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
1 Cor. 15:1-4 (1) Moreover, brethren, I declare
to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which
you stand, (2) by which also you are
saved, if you hold fast that word which I
preached to you—unless you believed in
vain. (3) For I delivered to you first of all
that which I also received: that Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4)
and that He was buried, and that He rose
again the third day according to the
Scriptures,
17. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
According to the Scriptures Christ:
To be rejected by the Jews: Is. 53:3; Ps.
2:2; fulfilled: Jn. 1:11, 5:43; Lu.
4:29, 17:25, 23:18
Betrayed by a friend: Ps. 41:9; fulfilled:
Mk. 14:10; Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:43-45
Sold for 30 pieces of silver: Zec. 11:12, 13;
fulfilled: Mt. 26:15, 27:3-10
18. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
According to the Scriptures Christ:
False witnesses accuse Him: Ps.
27:12, 35:11; fulfilled: Mt. 26:60, 61
Silent when accused: Ps. 41:9; fulfilled:
Mk. 14:10; Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:43-45
Smitten and spat upon: Is. 50:6;
fulfilled: Mk. 14:65, 15:17; Jn. 18:22, 19:1-3
19. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
According to the Scriptures Christ:
Hated without a cause: Ps.
69:4, 109:3-5; fulfilled: Jn. 15:23-25
Suffered vicariously: Is. 53:4-6, 12;
fulfilled: Mt. 8:15, 17; Ro. 4:25
Crucified with sinners: Is. 53:12;
fulfilled: Mt. 27:38; Mk 15:27; Lu. 23:33
Hands and feet pierced: Ps. 22:16; Zec.
12:10; fulfilled: Jn. 19:37, 20:25-27
20. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
According to the Scriptures Christ:
Mocked and insulted: Ps. 22:6-8;
fulfilled: Mt. 27:39-44; Mk. 15:29-32
Prays for his enemies: Ps. 109:4; Is.
53:12; fulfilled: Lu. 23:34
Soldiers cast lots for his coat: Ps. 22:18;
fulfilled: Mk. 15:24; Jn. 19:24
His Resurrection: Ps. 16:10; fulfilled:
Mt. 28:9; Lu. 24:36-48
21. Reasoned Out of the Scripture
According to the Scriptures Christ:
His Ascension: Ps. 68:18; fulfilled: Lu.
24:50-51; Acts 1:9
Acts 2:36 NKJV “Therefore let all the
house of Israel know assuredly that God
has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 17:3 NKJV 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.”
22. Acts 17:5 NKJV But the Jews who were not
persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men
from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the
city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and
sought to bring them out to the people.
John 3:36 ESV Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
God remains on him.
23. Acts 17:5 NKJV But the Jews who were not
persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men
from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the
city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and
sought to bring them out to the people.
to be heated or to boil with
envy, hatred, anger
E n v i o u s
24. Hebrews 4:2 NKJV For indeed the gospel was preached
to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard
did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those
who heard it.
