Acts 17:1-15
As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.
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.
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Paul and Silas travel the great Roman highway, the Egnatian Way, from Philippi to Thessalonica. The response to Paul in this sea-port, the capital city of Macedonia, was no mere flash in the pan. The Jews were 'jealous' because here as elsewhere Paul won over the 'devout Greeks', those already attracted to Judaism - the very people they themselves hoped to win as converts.
In Beroea, 100km to the west, the Jewish group is notable for their open-minded study of the scriptures, Jews. Greek women and mend respond. But troublemakers from Thessalonica ensure that Paul moves on again, escorted by believers to Athens ahead of Timothy and Silas.
Why?
Paul was on the way to preach gospel to Jews, Greeks and others. His mission is keeping going and many noble men and women joined him and turn to Jesus Christ. But some jealous Jews came as troublemakers.
Troublemaker can make trouble to the missionary, but they can't stop the gospel and the Holy Spirit.
Jealous may turn and distort the truth.
How?
Preach gospel is hard work but for this is the mission of the Lord gives us, so we should obey and follow it. Even it takes me time and effort, but there are much grace poured on me from God. This is my joy and obligation.
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