They turned the world upside down

                      

In the Poem “You forgot my soul, 2009” we read these words.  “You lived next door to me for years; we shared our dreams, our joys, our tears. A friend to me you were indeed; a friend who helped me in my need. My faith in you was strong and sure. We had such trust as should endure. No spats between us ever arose. Our friends were like and so, our foes. What sadness then, my friend, to find that after all, you were not so kind. The day my life on earth did end, I found you were not a faithful friend.

For all those years we spent on earth. You never talked of second birth. You never spoke of my lost soul and of the Christ who could make me whole. I plead today from Hell’s cruel fire and tell you now my last desire. You cannot do a thing for me; no words today my bonds to free. But do not err, my friend, again. Do all you can for souls of men; Plead with them now quite earnestly; lest they be cast in Hell with me.

Paul and Silas were on the second missionary journey. God had just shaken the jail with an earthquake and opened every door (Acts 16:26). When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “release those men”( Acts 16:36).  When the magistrates heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. To inflict corporal punishment on a Roman citizen was a serious crime and they were always entitled to a trial before punishment.

Paul made use of his Roman citizenship and boldly challenged the officials on the legality of their treatment. He demanded that the magistrates come and publicly escort them from prison as a public admission that the magistrates were wrong and that Christians pose no threat to Roman law. Paul went to all this trouble to secure a measure of protection for the young church in Philippi.

Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left (Acts 16:40). Lydia’s house now served as the centre for worship and fellowship for the young church. The immediate return to ministry after their release from prison shows a faith that is active and resilient. Their example encourages believers to continue serving God regardless of circumstances.

Paul and Silas made a deliberate pastoral visit before leaving Philippi. They wanted to ensure the believers were spiritually fortified for whatever opposition would follow. They indeed faced opposition ; In a letter he wrote to them later, Paul said “for it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have” (Phil. 1:29-30).

Fresh from miraculous deliverance Paul and Silas had a testimony that would spur faith. The psalmist’s song (Ps. 66:16-19) was in their heart. Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith is exactly what Paul did on earlier journeys (Acts 14:22). The Philippians were his “joy and crown” (Phil. 4:1). He did not want them to wither or get chocked (Matt. 13:1-7).He wanted them to bear fruit, much fruit (Matt 13:8, John 15:8), lasting fruit (John 15:16). Having confirmed the fledgling church is stable, they entrusted the church to God’s ongoing grace and the mission advanced to new fields.

We are told “now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 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. 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 17:1-4).

Paul and Silas left Philippi and headed southwest. Luke was not with them, since he once again described Paul's party as "they" instead of "we".  Despite potential challenges, Paul and Silas continued their mission. Amphipolis was about 30 miles southwest from Philippi and Apollonia another 30 miles beyond. Why Paul hurried through these two large cities, if he did, we are not told. Forty miles beyond Apollonia was Thessalonica.

Thessalonica was a strategic centre for the evangelization of its region. Not only was it one of the four capitals of Macedonia, but it was also located on several important trade routes. It was a major seaport city and it had an excellent harbor. It was an important commercial center, rivaled only by Corinth in this area of the world. Unlike in Philippi, here the Jewish population was large enough for a synagogue.

We do not know exactly how long Paul remained in Thessalonica. We are told that "reasoned" with the Jews in the local synagogue only "three Sabbaths". But, his letters suggest he remained there longer than the three Sabbaths. Paul and Silas supported themselves by working night and day while they preached to them (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7-10). They stayed long enough receive financial help twice from the church in Philippi (Phil. 4:15-16) and to develop deep relationships. Two of the members, Aristarchus and Secundus, will accompany Paul to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4) and Aristarchus will go on with him to Rome (Acts 27:2).  

Luke described Paul's method of evangelizing in Thessalonica as reasoning with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence (proving). It was not a formal sermon; these terms indicate dialogue. Paul took time to show that prophecy, history and eyewitness testimonies converge on one conclusion: Jesus is the promised Messiah. He used the Scriptures to present clear, logical evidence so that their faith would rest on facts and not feelings.

To emulate Paul's pattern we need to be sure we understand what we believe. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. The Gospel message has the power to persuade and transform lives. We should be prepared to share it with clarity and conviction. God’s word should be clearly explained, spiritually illuminated and practically understood.

It should not be treated as a distant relic but as His living instruction for the present community. All that we are or ever hope to be is founded upon the Scriptures. The strength and wisdom we need for everyday life rests in the Scriptures. There is much in the Bible regarding our obligations and responsibilities in life, but the primary focus of the church is to share the Gospel with a world that needs to hear!

Paul was careful to give evidence of the Messiah's resurrection. The sermons in Acts place great emphasis on Christ’s resurrection. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed. Only his resurrection can give a believer a living hope (1 Pet.1:3). Paul later wrote “ if the dead are not raised... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile... those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost... But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1Cor. 15:13-20).

Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women (Acts 17:4). This reminds us that God’s Word does not return to him empty, but will accomplish what he desires and achieve the purpose for which he sends it (Isa. 55:11). Here we see a multi-layered harvest Jewish, Gentile, male, female, influential, and ordinary. These believers formed the nucleus of a vibrant church, the recipient of two letters from Paul (1 Thess.1:1; 2 Thess.1:1). I Thessalonians is the first (or second if Galatians is the first) letter written by Paul.

“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. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. ..these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go (Acts 17:5-9).

Paul’s popularity and the effectiveness of his message upset the synagogue leaders’.   James 3:16 says “where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice”. Teaching that a rival ruler to Caesar existed was one of the most serious crimes in the Roman Empire. The Jews in Jesus' day made similar charges against him making the Romans crucify him (John 19:12,15).Yet  Jesus had said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world... My kingdom is not of this realm’” (John 18:36).

When you read his two Thessalonians letters, you see the strong emphasis Paul gave in Thessalonica on the kingship of Christ.  But, Paul also taught submission to human government.   He wrote “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” (Rom. 13:1). “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority... This is good and pleases God our Savior” (I Tim. 2:1-3)

Jason" was Paul's host in Thessalonica, as Lydia had been in Philippi (16:15, 40). For some reason God sheltered them at this time. They were charged with upsetting things wherever they went. There is truth in the accusation, for Christianity is revolutionary. When Christianity penetrated that old Roman Empire it had a tremendous effect. The gospel caused a revolution both in the life of the individual and in the life of society.

The gospel fulfils the prophecy in Isaiah 9:2-3; “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have ... increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest”. The early Christians were walking torches. The risen Christ was living within them and working through them. Wherever Paul went, things happened. Everybody knew when he came to town.

The accusation that Paul and Silas had turned the world upside down is one of the greatest compliments which has ever been paid to Christianity. It has been a thrill and a challenge to true believers ever since. There are Christians like that today, but many are content with lukewarm Laodicean (Rev.3:16) faith which won't even cause the world to tilt a little. The Christians who have turned the world upside down have been men and women with vision in their hearts and the Bible in their hands.

Paul and silas had no choice but to leave Thessalonica.  Paul later wrote that his return to the city was hindered “For we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, did, again and again but Satan blocked our way (1 Thess. 2:18). Paul's work in Thessalonica had not been in vain. The Christians carried on admirably. In his letter to them he wrote “we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God... you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1Th 2:13).

“You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia your faith in God has become known everywhere...They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1Thess. 1:7-10). Paul loved the church, he wrote “Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1Thess. 2:20). Every propagative work for God is done at cost. We should be persistent in our efforts, even when immediate results are not visible.