Heavenly Father, as we turn to these brief yet powerful verses in Acts 17, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts to receive Your truth and our eyes to see the wisdom You have for us in Your Word. Speak to us clearly and transform us through Your Spirit. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
Acts 17:2–3 - And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Dwell:
It feels great to be back with my Bible, commentary, and computer, ready to dive back into the daily rhythm of study and reflection. Some of you may have enjoyed a little break from the steady stream of daily emails, while others might be eager to jump back into our journey through Acts. Either way, I’m excited to continue this walk together!
Today’s thought is short and sweet - and intentionally so. I came across this insightful quote in my commentary: “Simplicity can make all the difference between communication and confusion.”
That really resonated with me. It’s a reminder to strive for clarity and simplicity in my writing each day. Paul, when preaching to the church in Thessalonica, modeled this beautifully. He took the time to “reason” with them, engaging in meaningful dialogue. He carefully explained why Jesus had to suffer and die to satisfy God’s wrath against sin. Paul persuaded them not with elaborate religious jargon but through clear, precise, and heartfelt communication. His example challenges us to prioritize understanding over complexity in sharing the truth.
As a result of Paul’s reasoning from the Scriptures, many came to believe and chose to follow Jesus. And, as was often the case, persecution quickly followed. It seems that every time the Gospel is preached and hearts are transformed, a ripple effect occurs: repentance and faith on one side, and opposition from religious leaders and government officials on the other. This pattern reminds us of the cost of proclaiming the truth - but also the power of the Gospel to change lives despite resistance.
Clarity with the claims of Christ certainly will include the translation of the gospel into words that our hearer understands, but it doesn’t necessarily mean translating it into words that our hearer will like. Too often, advocates of relevant evangelism verge over into being advocates of irrelevant nonevangelism. A gospel that in no way offends the sinner has not been understood. - Mark Dever
Sermons, Podcasts, and Songs:
Reasoning from the Scriptures (Acts 16:35–17:15) — A Sermon by R.C. Sproul
