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Acts 17:30-31 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.

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Ministry in Thessalonica (vv. 1-9): Paul and Silas preached in the synagogue, persuading some Jews, devout Greeks, and prominent women to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Jealous Jewish leaders incited a mob, accusing them of defying Caesar. Unable to find Paul and Silas, the mob dragged Jason (their host) before officials, who released him after taking a security payment.

Preaching in Berea (vv. 10-15): Fleeing to Berea, Paul and Silas found a receptive audience in the synagogue, where Bereans diligently examined the Scriptures to verify Paul’s message. Many believed, but Thessalonian agitators followed, stirring trouble. The believers sent Paul to the coast, while Silas and Timothy stayed behind briefly.

Paul in Athens (vv. 16-21): Alone in Athens, Paul was distressed by widespread idolatry. He reasoned with Jews in the synagogue and Gentiles in the marketplace, encountering Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who brought him to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) to explain his “strange” teachings about Jesus and the resurrection.

Sermon on Mars Hill (vv. 22-34): Addressing the Athenians, Paul commended their religiosity, pointed to their altar “To an Unknown God,” and proclaimed the true God as Creator, Sustainer, and Judge. He called for repentance, citing Jesus’ resurrection as proof. Some mocked, others were curious, and a few—like Dionysius and Damaris—believed.

Acts 17 illustrates Paul’s bold proclamation of the gospel across diverse cultures—Jewish, Greek, and Roman—adapting his approach to each audience, from synagogue debates in Thessalonica and Berea to philosophical discourse in Athens, resulting in both opposition and conversions as the message of Christ’s resurrection spreads.

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Acts 16:31 They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’

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Timothy Joins Paul and Silas (vv. 1-5): Paul met Timothy, a young believer with a Jewish mother and Greek father, in Lystra. To avoid offending Jewish communities, Paul circumcised Timothy before taking him along on the missionary journey. The team delivered the Jerusalem Council’s decision to churches, strengthening them.

Guidance by the Holy Spirit (vv. 6-10): The Holy Spirit redirected Paul’s team, preventing them from preaching in Asia and Bithynia. In Troas, Paul received a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for help, prompting the group to sail to Philippi, marking the gospel’s entry into Europe.

Lydia’s Conversion (vv. 11-15): In Philippi, Paul met Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman, by a river where she and other women prayed. She believed the gospel, was baptized with her household, and offered hospitality to Paul’s team.
Exorcism and Imprisonment (vv. 16-24): Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl, angering her owners who profited from her fortune-telling. They accused Paul and Silas of disrupting the city, leading to their beating and imprisonment.

The Philippian Jailer’s Conversion (vv. 25-34): While Paul and Silas prayed and sang in prison, an earthquake freed the prisoners, though none escaped. The jailer, fearing for his life, asked how to be saved. Paul and Silas shared the gospel, and he and his household believed and were baptized that night.

Release and Confrontation (vv. 35-40): The magistrates ordered Paul and Silas released, but Paul revealed his Roman citizenship, forcing an apology for their unlawful beating. After encouraging the new believers, Paul and Silas left Philippi.

Acts 16 portrays the gospel’s expansion into Europe under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, showcasing God’s power to save diverse individuals—Timothy, Lydia, and the Philippian jailer—through faith in Jesus, even amidst opposition, supernatural intervention, and personal sacrifice.

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Acts 15:11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.

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A Dispute Over Circumcision (vv. 1-5): Some Jewish believers from Judea insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses to be saved, sparking a conflict with Paul and Barnabas, who opposed this requirement. The issue escalated, leading to a decision to consult the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.

The Jerusalem Council (vv. 6-21): Church leaders, including Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James, met to deliberate. Peter argued that God had already accepted Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, showing no distinction between Jew and Gentile. Paul and Barnabas shared evidence of God’s work among the Gentiles. James proposed a resolution, citing Scripture, to not burden Gentiles with the full Mosaic Law but to instruct them to avoid idolatry, sexual immorality, and certain dietary practices.

Decision and Letter (vv. 22-29): The council agreed and sent a letter to Gentile believers, affirming their inclusion in the faith without requiring circumcision, and outlining basic guidelines for unity with Jewish believers. The letter was delivered by Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas.
Response and Continued Ministry (vv. 30-35): The Gentile believers in Antioch rejoiced at the encouraging message. Judas and Silas stayed briefly to strengthen the church before returning to Jerusalem, while Paul and Barnabas continued teaching.

Paul and Barnabas Separate (vv. 36-41): Planning a second missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas disagreed over taking John Mark (who had previously abandoned them). They parted ways—Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus, and Paul took Silas through Syria and Cilicia—yet the gospel work multiplied through their separate efforts.

Acts 15 depicts the early church resolving a critical theological and cultural conflict through the Jerusalem Council, affirming that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ for both Jews and Gentiles, while fostering unity amid diversity and expanding missionary efforts despite personal disagreements.

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