Acts 17:1-9
1 When they had passed through Amaphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where they was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing...
1 When they had passed through Amaphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where they was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 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. 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. (NIV 84)
FROM THE LESSON
Proving (verse 3) - this word literally means to "place beside." This explains Paul's approach in the synagogue. He places the Christ of the Jewish Scriptures beside the Jesus of history in order to prove that it is the same person. He places beside each other the prophecies of the Christ and the person of Jesus.
Another king (verse 7) - the charge made against Paul and Silas by the mob is that they are turning the world upside down by saying there is another king.
Not "just" another king similar to ones they have known, but another kind of king altogether. The world has never seen a king like Jesus.
The one who has been born king (Matthew 2:2) - Jesus is the only person who has ever been born a king. Even if someone is born into a family line of kings, the child is not born a king. Jesus came into the world as a king.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1 Paul explained from the Jewish Scriptures how the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. If you were given this task which Scriptures from the Old Testament would you use to explain these important truths.
2 Jesus is "another" king. He is not "just" another king like all the other kings before him. He is another kind of king altogether. His kingdom will be unlike any other kingdom the world has ever seen. In what ways is Jesus another kind of king? How will His kingdom be unlike any other kingdom the world has seen?
3 The wise men hosted a baby shower for the one who had been born king. They gave Jesus gifts of Myrrh (symbolizing his death and burial), Incense (symbolizing his worship), and Gold (symbolizing his royalty). Discuss the significance of these gifts and how they help us to understand the kingship of Jesus.
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