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John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
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MacArthur wrote, “Some Christians believe it is all-important not to offend nonbelievers. Accordingly, they focus their gospel presentations only on what Christ has to offer the sinner to improve his life in time and eternity. To declare to the non-Christian that his sinful life is an offense to a holy God and call him to mourn and repent is considered poor marketing technique. Such an imbalanced approach to evangelism finds no support in Scripture. The true gospel (must) offend the nonbeliever by confronting him with his sin and judgment.” I say “AMEN!” to that. (Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Understanding Acts) Suffer (3958)(pascho) means essentially what happens to a person experience. It means to undergo something; to experience a sensation, to experience an impression from an outside source, to undergo an experience (usually difficult) and normally with the implication of physical or psychological suffering. Pascho can refer to experiencing something pleasant, but in the present context (and most NT contexts) it refers to experiencing something trying, distressing or painful. Luke's uses of pascho - Lk. 9:22; Lk. 13:2; Lk. 17:25; Lk. 22:15; Lk. 24:26; Lk. 24:46; Acts 1:3; Acts 3:18; Acts 9:16; Acts 17:3; Acts 28:5;
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MacArthur writes that "some historians said that Athens, at the time of Paul, was the intellectual center and the university of the world. The minds of that part of the world congregated in Athens. In fact, it was such a – it was such a proud city that it even called its university the Eye of Greece and the Mother of Arts. And Athens offered a home, incidentally, to almost every god in existence. In a place called the Pantheon, they had a god for everything. They had ever god there. And every public building in Athens was a shrine to a god. (God's Man Confronts Satan's City) MacArthur adds that "its zenith, Athens was home to the most renowned philosophers in history, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who was arguably the most influential philosopher of all. Two other significant philosophers taught there: Epicurus, founder of Epicureanism, and Zeno, founder of Stoicism—two of the dominant philosophies in that day. (The MacArthur Study Bible) F F Bruce - “Although Athens had long since lost the political eminence which was hers in an earlier day, she continued to represent the highest level of culture attained in classical antiquity.” Ray
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MacArthur - The noble Bereans carefully sifted the evidence and concluded that the gospel Paul proclaimed was the truth that fulfilled Old Testament promise. Those who honestly examine the Scriptures will always come to that conclusion. In John 5:39, Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me."..." “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me." (Jn 5:46, cf Jn 7:17, Lk 24:25-27)...Most people who reject the gospel have little knowledge of the Scriptures. Some of the Bible's harshest critics over the centuries have displayed a shocking ignorance of its teachings. The primary duty in evangelism, then, must be to demonstrate the truth of Christianity from the Scriptures. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Jack Arnold - The Bereans who attended the synagogue examined everything Paul was saying in light of the Old Testament Scriptures. They did not conclude everything false which did not accord with their preconceived opinions nor would they accept any new teaching without carefully checking it out with Scripture. These folks were not pew sitters; they were Bible students. They were cautious and careful about what they believed and they used only the Scriptures as their final authority. If it was in the Book, they would accept it. Both the Thessalonians and the Bereans received the Word of God, but the Bereans were more skeptical and analytical while the Thessalonians were more gullible. These Bereans challenged what the preacher was saying, not to get in a theological argument but to come to the truth. Notice the Bereans did this daily. They were not only earnest but they were diligent in their pursuit of truth. They not only read the Bible devotionally but they studied the Bible theologically. The Bereans were the ideal audience, and would be to God we would have more like them today. The Bible is our only guide, as Christians, to tell us what is true and what is false, what is right and what is wrong, what is of God and of Satan. Unless a Christian grounds his faith in the Holy Scriptures, he will be lost in a sea of relativism, where everybody does that which is right in his own eyes, setting each individual up as his own authority. Unless a Christian makes the Bible his only authority for faith and living, he will be misled and manipulated so as to believe that he is his own god. This, of course, is the basis for all humanism today. We face a great danger in America today among evangelicals. Most evangelicals are gullible, emotional and man-centered. They rarely search the Scriptures. They have believed in Christ but they do not search the Bible for convictions for living and theology. They gather around some teacher and say, “I am of Paul, or Peter or Apollos.” They do not test things they believe and do by the Bible, and their theme song is, “Where he leads us we will follow; what he feeds us we will swallow.” Just because some Bible teacher or evangelist says something, that does not make it right. If a man says, “I have the truth,” or “I know the Greek,” that does not make him an authority. We must study the Bible for ourselves and check all teaching of men with the Bible. We must be willing to change when we are convinced from the Scripture alone. The Reformation brought back to Christians our right as self-sustaining believer-priests to read and interpret the Bible without a priest or a church telling us what Scripture means. It is our God-given right and privilege to study the Scripture daily. Remember, too, that as long as we are in this body of flesh, we shall never understand the Bible perfectly. There is always room for improvement and refinement in one's understanding and proclaiming of the Word of God. (Acts 17: 1-15 Ideal Evangelism) Examining (350) (anakrino from aná = again + kríno = sift, judge, distinguish, separate out so as to investigate) (present tense = continually) means to sift up and down, to examine accurately or carefully (re-examine), to make careful and exact research as in legal processes. Here in Berea, the Jews took the approach of the best in human jurisprudence, seeking an unbiased investigation to arrive at the truth. Anakrino can mean to interrogate, to cross-examine or to put through a course of questioning as when one is questioned and examined by a judge in a court of law. It was often used in secular Greek of the interrogation of a prisoner. It was also used of a judicial examination before the final verdict was rendered. Before the Bereans would render a final verdict on Paul's preaching they would carefully sift through what he had said. Anakrino is used in the general sense to describe the process of evaluation (in sense of to judge, to estimate or to determine the excellence or defects of any person or thing) in Acts 17:11, 1Corinthians 2:14, 15, 10:25, 27. The idea here is primarily to distinguish so as to investigate and form an opinion. Such a process is impossible in regard to spiritual things, without the Divinely imparted spiritual faculties. In a judicial or legal sense anakrino means to question in order to pass a judicial sentence (cf Lk 23:14, Acts 4:9, 12:19, 24:8, 28:18, 1Cor 4:3, 4) Vincent has the following note on anakrino... Originally implying a through examination; ana, up, from bottom to top. Technically, of a legal examination. The fundamental idea of anakrino is examination, scrutiny, following up (ana) a series of objects or particulars in order to distinguish (krino). This is its almost universal meaning in classical Greek. At Athens it was used technically in two senses: to examine magistrates with a view to proving their qualifications; and to examine persons concerned in a suit, so as to prepare the matter for trial, as a grand jury. The meaning judged is, at best, inferential, and the Revised Version inserts examined in the margin, Bishop Lightfoot says: “anakrinein is neither to judge nor to discern; but to examine, investigate, inquire into, question, as it is rightly translated, 1 Cor. 9:3; 10:25, 27. The apostle condemns all these impatient human praejudicia which anticipate the final judgment, reserving his case for the great tribunal, where at length all the evidence will be forthcoming and a satisfactory verdict can be given. Meanwhile the process of gathering evidence has begun; an anakrisis investigation is indeed being held, not, however, by these self-appointed magistrates, but by one who alone has the authority to institute the inquiry, and the ability to sift the facts” (“On a Fresh Revision of the New Testament”). Anakrino is used 16 times in the NT... Luke 23:14 and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. Acts 4:9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, Acts 12:19 And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there. Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Acts 24:8 ordering his accusers to come before you. And by examining him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we accuse him." Acts 28:18 "And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground for putting me to death. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 1 Corinthians 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 1 Corinthians 10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions (e.g., Jews were only allowed to buy meat from Gentiles if it could be established that it was not meat offered to idols) for conscience sake...27 If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions (i.e., not raising the question as to whether the meat is the residue from an idolatrous sacrifice) for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all In Athens anakrino was used of the magistrates, who would examine persons concerned in a suit, so as to prepare the matter for trial. The idea is to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate and thus to examine accurately or carefully. The opposite picture is 1Cor 2:14 (1Co 2:15: he who is spiritual appraises all things) which uses 2 of the same verbs Luke uses to describe the Bereans (anakrino and dechomai) but in this context to describe the ''natural man''. 1 Corinthians 2:14-note But a natural man does not (ou = absolute negation!) accept (dechomai) the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness (moria from moros [denotes deficiency] - considered foolish, intellectually weak, or irrational) to him, and he cannot (dunamia - inherent capacity - natural men lack this continually = present tense) understand them, because (explains why they have no ability to understand God's Word) they are spiritually appraised (anakrino). In contrast to the natural man these discerning men and women would sift the words of other men up and down, constantly making careful and exacting search as one would in preparing for a lawsuit! The words of Paul were on trial, being actively investigated to see if indeed they lined up with what God's Word in the OT said. Every word was weighed as to it's significance. Ultimately the purpose of the Bereans examining and questioning was in order to pass a judicial sentence...pure words or straw words (see Jer 23:28,29,32 and "the ancient paths" in Jer 6:16,17). They tested the spirits 1 Jn 4:1-note. How? Drop the plumbline (plumb bob) on every teaching no matter how wonderful it sounds...the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) We need God's Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:7-note cp John 6:63) guiding us into all the Truth. (See Illumination of the Bible). Anakrino is word used by Pilate to describe his examination of Jesus... (Pilate) said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. (Luke 23:14) Anakrino clearly is a very legal term, implying extreme attention to the Truth! In Scotland people have the Bible open on the preacher as he expounds the passage, a fine habit worth imitating. (anakrino means to sift up and down, make careful and exact research as in legal processes as in Acts 4:9; 12:19 etc.) the Scriptures for themselves. The more time you spend in observation, the less time you will spend in Interpretation, and the more accurate will be your results. The less time you spend in observation, the more time you will spend in interpretation, and the less accurate will be your results. And of course most important of all, the better you will be able to apply the truth of the Scripture which is the critical component of inductive Bible study. Observation and and interpretation without application as enabled by the Holy Spirit (giving you the "desire" and the "power" - see Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13NLT-note) makes one the equivalent a modern day Pharisee. Charles Haddon
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MacArthur - Right Thinking - It’s frightening to realize our culture has more interest in emotion and pragmatism than in thinking. That’s evident when people more often ask, “How will it make me feel?” instead of “Is it true?” That wrong focus is also evident in today’s theology, where the predominant questions are “Will it divide?” and “Will it offend?” rather than “Is it right?” Not enough people are like the people of Berea, whom the Bible describes as being “noble–minded” because they were interested in finding truth, not good feelings or pleasant circumstances. Too many people are going to church today not to think or reason about the truth, but to get a certain feeling. But living by emotions rather than right thinking will produce instability. In his book Your Mind Matters: The Place of the Mind in the Christian Life, John Stott explains this point: “Sin has more dangerous effects on our faculty of feeling than on our faculty of thinking, because our opinions are more easily checked and regulated by revealed truth than our experiences.” (Truth for Today: A Daily Touch of God's Grace) John MacArthur - God honors spiritual discernment. On his second missionary journey Paul, accompanied by Silas, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in the city of Thessalonica. They weren’t there long before the gospel took root and many turned from their idolatry “to serve a true and living God” (1 Thess. 1:9). In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul says, “We also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God.” Their open response to God’s Word made them an example to all the believers in that area (1 Thess. 1:7). But as exemplary as the Thessalonians were, their fellow-believers in Berea were even more so. God called them “noble-minded” (Acts 17:11). They were eager to hear what Paul and Silas had to say but tested it against God’s prior revelation in the Old Testament before receiving it as a message from God. They had learned to examine everything carefully and to “hold fast” to the truth (1 Thess. 5:21). The church today, however, has an appalling lack of that kind of discernment. Many believers are duped by novel teachings and outright heresies. They’re “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). We desperately need a new breed of Bereans who will raise high the banner of sound doctrine and never compromise it. With that goal in mind, our studies this month will focus on the character and benefits of God’s Word. You’ll learn that it’s the source of spiritual growth, spiritual service, blessing, victory, truth, and knowledge. You’ll see its infallibility, inerrancy, authority, inspiration, and sufficiency. I pray that by this month’s end, your commitment to learning and applying Biblical truth will be stronger than ever and that you will indeed be a modern-day, noble-minded Berean. (Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith) Verify the Truth Read: Acts 17:10-13 [The Bereans] searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:11 “A deadly jungle spider has migrated to the US and is killing people.” This was the story sent to me and to others on my friend’s email list. The story sounded plausible—lots of scientific names and real-life situations. But when I checked it out on reliable websites, I found it was not true—it was an Internet hoax. Its truth could only be verified by consulting a trusted source. A group of first-century believers living in Macedonia understood the importance of confirming what they were hearing. The folks in Berea “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They were listening to Paul, and wanted to make sure what he was saying lined up with the teachings of the Old Testament. Perhaps he was telling them that there was evidence in the Old Testament that the Messiah would suffer and die for sin. They needed to verify that with the source. Please give us discernment, Lord, to accept only truth that is rooted in Your Word. We praise You for preserving the inspired Scriptures for us—now help us to use them to seek You. For help in understanding and applying the Bible, read A Message for All Time at discoveryseries.org/hp142 God’s truth stands any test. Acts 17:11 "MORE NOBLE" Acts 17:11These were more noble . . . in that they .. . searched the scriptures daily. One of the most prevalent causes for spiritual anemia is the neglect of God's Word. How many people day after day never open the Bible to feast upon God's bountiful provisions! Some go to church; they may hear a Gospel broadcast or watch a telecast, and may even hurriedly scan through the stories in this book, but fail to study the Word of God itself! By the way, did you read today's suggested passage? If not, please do so now. (Should time allow only one or the other, the Scripture or the rest of this devotional,, make the wise choice!) An unknown author tells the following story: "Some Christian women had gathered in a home for Bible study. The leader, much to her dismay, discovered that she had come away without her Bible. So the hostess hurried to get hers. She looked where she usually kept it, but it wasn't there! She searched for it every-where but still couldn't find it. `What will those ladies think of me?' she thought. Running downstairs, she said to the newly employed cleaning woman, `Pearl, have you seen my Bible?' The maid exclaimed, `Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!' `What do you mean, Pearl?' Beaming with joy, she said, `The first thing I do when I go to work at a new place is hide the Bible.' `But why?' the other asked in astonishment. Pearl replied, `Just to find out how long it takes the people to miss it! I put yours in the linen closet under the sheets!' " Dr. Luke tells us that the Christians in Berea "searched the scriptures daily." For this they were commended and called "more noble." Does that describe you? Search the Scriptures, thou wilt find Guidance there for heart and mind; Test each doctrine by its light, Stand "more noble" in His sight. —Bosch Acts 17:11 STANDARD EQUIPMENT These . . received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily. Acts 17:11 The pony express was a thrilling part of early American history. It ran from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Scranton, California — a distance of 1,900 miles. The trip was made in ten days. Forty men, each riding 50 miles a day, dashed along the trail on 500 of the best horses the West could provide. To conserve weight, clothing was very light, saddles were extremely small and thin, and no weapons were carried. The horses themselves wore small shoes or none at all. The mail pouches were flat and very conservative in size. Letters had to be written on thin paper, and postage was $5.00 an ounce (a tremendous sum in those days). Yet, each rider carried a full-sized Bible! It was presented to him when he joined the pony express, and he took it with him de-spite all the scrupulous weight precautions. Why? Because the Scriptures were deemed standard equipment! God was important to people in those frontier days, and they recognized the need of daily searching the Word, and giving heed to it with all readiness of mind! Our life is much like the "pony express." We hurry through it on our way to a distant destination called eternity. God has determined that He will not leave us without compass or guide, so He has provided us with "the standard equipment" of His precious revelation called the Bible. Like the noble Bereans of old, may we receive this important "love-letter" with a readiness of mind that will cause its truths to bear fruit in our lives. Is the Bible precious to you? Is it standard equipment as you go along the journey of life? Do you search its pages daily? I hope so! The Bible, the Bible! more precious than gold; Glad hopes and bright glories its pages un f old; It speaks of the Father and tells of His love, And shows us the way to the Mansions above. —Anon. One evidence of the value of the Bible is the character of those who oppose it Give me understanding according to Your word. PSALM 119:169, , 2Ti 2:15 CONTEXT, INDUCTIVE STUDY Peter Deison tells about a friend who visited New York City and got lost among the maze of streets. So he took an elevator up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building and looked out over the city. He carefully noted prominent buildings, landmarks, and major streets. Having them firmly fixed in his mind, he said to a friend, "Now I understand where we are and where I want to go." Deison commented, "He went back down to the busy streets and never got lost again. He finally understood where to go because he got an overview of the city" To get the most out of studying a portion of the Bible, we need the big picture. It's important to know the major divisions of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments, and how they are related. It helps to know the general themes of the Bible and the specific theme of each book, who wrote the books, to whom they were written, and their time period. It's also helpful to know that there are different types of literature in the Bible such as history, prophecy, and poetry. As you read God's Word the Author Himself will guide you. —R. W. D. Is It True? Read: Galatians 1:1-9 They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. —Acts 17:11 Trust, but verify.” My husband loves that quote from Ronald Reagan. During his time in office, the former US President wanted to believe everything he was told in his political dealings with others. But since the security of his country depended on the truth being told—he strived to verify everything. Acts 17:11 tells us that the Bereans had a similar attitude about knowing the truth. “They received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” In other words, the Bereans didn’t simply believe what someone else was telling them. They also verified it on their own—on a daily basis. That’s important for us to consider as well. Whether we receive our Bible teaching through church, Sunday school, radio, or TV—we need to test what we hear against God’s inspired Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are to “be diligent to present [ourselves] approved to God, . . . rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2:15). If we do this, we won’t become prey to those who teach “a different gospel,” and those who “want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7)—false teachers who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15). Remember, trust—but verify! Protection from false teaching comes The more we read God’s Word; For once we know the Scripture’s truth, What’s false will sound absurd. —Sper Knowing what’s true is the first step in knowing what’s false. For Honest Skeptics Read: Acts 17:10-15 They . . . searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. —Acts 17:11 A skeptic is one who is inclined to doubt. If such a person is honestly seeking to know the truth, his doubting may be the first step toward finding the truth. When Paul came to Berea, he found Jews who were more “fair-minded” than those in Thessalonica. They received the word “with all readiness,” but also “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Although they believed in the Old Testament, they had a healthy skepticism about the subject of Paul’s preaching. Yet when they found it to be supported by Scripture, they became strong believers in Christ. Not all skepticism is wrong. The Bereans were commended for their readiness to listen to Paul and for their diligence to evaluate carefully what he said in the light of Scripture. An honest skeptic will give the gospel a fair hearing. He will be willing to consider the evidence for the truthfulness and unique authority of the Bible. He will examine and test the claims of all who say they have a message from God (1 Thessalonians 5:21). He will recognize that Christians have a rational basis for their faith and that there are sound reasons for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). If you doubt but want to know God, Doubt can help you find His way; But your doubts will lead to darkness If His will you disobey. —D. De Haan Honest questions can lead to faith-building answers. Acts 17:11 (They] searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:11 Children sometimes do unusual things to song lyrics. One child sang a verse of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as follows: "He has trampled on the village where the great giraffe is stored." And my preschooler Melissa likes to sing the familiar spiritual, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho." Only she sings it, "Joshua fit the battle of Cherry Coke." Word-twisting stops being funny, though, when adults alter Scripture to make it say what they want it to say. Maybe they take a verse out of its context to prove a pet teaching. Some use Jeremiah 10:2-4 to prove that we should not have Christmas trees. Or it may be reinterpreting Scripture to make it support a belief that is not orthodox. Some alter the wording of John 1, for example, to make it say that Christ is not God. When we study the Bible, we must be careful to get the words right—to let Scripture say what it says. And even more, we must make sure we do not read into it what is not there.—J. D. B. WE MUST MAKE SURE WE ARE HEARING WHAT GOD HAS SPOKEN. A PASTOR called my father one Saturday night and said, "I have my sermon prepared from a certain text, but I can't find it in the Bible." "What is the text?" my father asked. "Give me liberty or give me death," the pastor answered. Although the idea expressed in the quotation is noble, it is not Scriptural. Those words were spoken by American Revolutionary leader Patrick Henry, not by any biblical character. Many people, including that pastor, think they know the Bible, but don't. To assess your own biblical knowledge, deter-mine which of the following are biblical quotations. • Cleanliness is next to godliness. • God helps those who help themselves. • An honest confession is good for the soul. • We are as prone to sin as sparks fly upward. • Money is the root of all evil. • Honesty is the best policy. The answer? While some of these statements contain elements of truth, none of them are found in the Bible! Acts 17:1-12 Following The Leader By Richard De Haan They . . . searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. —Acts 17:11 My wife and I were driving to church one Sunday when we came to a red traffic light, so we stopped. There was only one car in front of us. While I waited, my mind began to wander. When the car ahead started to move, I was far away in thought and absentmindedly followed right along without even glancing up at the light. Only after I had driven through the intersection did I realize that I had blindly followed the leader. If the other driver had moved ahead before the light had turned green, my following along might have caused a serious accident. As I reflected on my carelessness, I thought about people who blindly follow their religious leaders. Many are attracted to speakers who have dynamic personalities, the ability to communicate effectively, and an air of authority. They accept and do everything these preachers say without ever thinking for themselves. In sharp contrast, the Christians in Berea “received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). The best translation of God's Word That we will ever read Is found in servants of the Lord Who live that Word in deed. —DJD It's good to follow the teacher who follows the Master teacher. A Special Day Read: Luke 11:1-4 This is the day the Lord has made. —Psalm 118:24 What’s special about September 4? Perhaps it’s your birthday or anniversary. That would make it special. Or maybe you could celebrate the historic events of this day. For instance, in 1781, the city of Los Angeles, California, was founded. Or this: In 1993, Jim Abbott, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, didn’t let anyone get a hit off his pitches—and he was born without a right hand. Or if you’re a TV fan: In 1951, the first live US coast-to-coast television broadcast was aired from San Francisco. But what if none of these events and facts seem to make your September 4 special? Try these ideas: Today God gives you a new opportunity to praise Him. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Today God wants to speak to you through His Word. The believers at Berea “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11). Today God desires to renew your inner person. “The inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). With God as your guide, September 4—and every day—can be special. This is the day the Lord hath made, He calls the hours His own; Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad, And praise surround the throne. —Watts (Link to Watts' hymn for you to sing out in praise and adoration to our King). Each new day gives us new reasons to praise the Lord. Acts 17:12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. many - Acts 17:2-4; 13:46; 14:1; Psalms 25:8,9; John 1:45-49; 7:17; Ephesians 5:14; James 1:21 honorable - Acts 13:50; 1 Corinthians 1:26; James 1:10 Acts 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 17:1-3, 10-11 Men Who Turned the World Upside Down, Part 1- John MacArthur Acts 17:4-9, 12-15 Men Who Turned the World Upside Down, Part 2 - John MacArthur THE FRUIT OF EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY! Therefore many of them - Therefore is a term of conclusion. What the conclusion? Literally "and not a few" but many! Jack Arnold - All the Bereans started out as skeptics but they ended up as true believers and followers of Christ. Once they were intellectually convinced, the bowing of their wills to Christ was a rather easy step. One of the problems in modern day evangelism is an appeal to the emotions without proper understanding with the mind. Consequently the mind is passed over, and while some kind of a commitment has been made, it was not based on a persuaded mind. This, of course, sets up a terrible conflict between the mind unconvinced and the heart not fully committed to truth. This has left many so-called Christian converts in total derision. Many infidels have confessed that they had never carefully read the Bible. Thomas Payne, who wrote The Age of Reason, a book that shook Puritan New England for humanism, confessed that he wrote the first part of his book without having a Bible at hand, and without its being possible to procure one where he then was in Paris. He said, “I had neither Bible nor Testament to refer to, though I was writing against both; nor could I procure any.” (Acts 17: 1-15 Ideal Evangelism) Believed (4100)(pisteuo from pistis; pistos; related studies the faith, the obedience of faith) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To accept as true, genuine, or real. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. To consider to be true. To accept the word or evidence of.
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MacArthur has an interesting comment - A similar rich harvest was reaped in Berea, where many of the Jews, eager to understand, believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. The Thessalonians had to be persuaded (Acts 17:2, 3); the Bereans were ready and believed. Their hearts were more open to the truth, as evidenced by their eager searching of the Scriptures. The Thessalonians and Bereans typify two kinds of people encountered in evangelism. The Word of God can persuade the closed and the open; the obstinate and the pliant; because of those who seek the truth, and those who do not. (Acts Commentary) Jack Arnold - This text of Scripture tells us many Greeks were persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These Greeks found no salvation in Athena, Zeus, Plato or Aristotle. They found no salvation in the sensuous mystery cults. They were weary of humanism of all types and they turned to Christ for salvation, and they were gloriously liberated. My unsaved friends, there is no salvation in science, philosophy or psychology. There is no salvation in the new morality, free sex, libertinism, existentialism, women's lib or genetic engineering. Salvation is only in Jesus Christ, and only Christ can fill the vacuum in your soul. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Acts 17: 1-15 Ideal Evangelism Along with a number of prominent Greek women and men - Here we see the Gospel impacted both Jews and Gentiles. Joseph of Arimathea was another prominent (Jewish) individual impacted by the message of Jesus (Mk 15:43). It is interesting that prominent women in both Thessalonica and Berea received Christ (Acts 17:4, 12).
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MacArthur - Unlike the situation in Thessalonica, Silas and Timothy were able to remain behind to carry on the work in Berea. Silas and Timothy remained there - Paul again is forced to leave a place of rich ministry and break away from people he had come to love. It appears that Silas and Timothy later joined Paul in Athens, but that because of his concern for following up the Thessalonians, he is compelled to send Timothy to strengthen and encourage them in their faith (1Th 3:1, 2+). Silas apparently was also sent on a special mission somewhere in Macedonia because later both men return to Paul after he has moved on to Corinth (Acts 18:1-5+). It was upon this return that Timothy brought good news of the Thessalonians faith and love (1Th 3:6+) and this occasion prompted Paul to write the letter (most think it was his first letter) to the Thessalonians to encourage them (especially 1 Th 1-3) and to instruct and exhort them (especially 1 Th 4-5). David
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MacArthur writes that "Nineteenth-century missionary Henry Martyn expressed what Paul must have felt. He wrote concerning a discussion he had with a Muslim: Mirza Seid Ali told me of a distich (couplet) made by his friend in honour of a victory over the Russians. The sentiment was that Prince Abbas Mirza had killed so many Christians that Christ from the fourth heaven took hold of Mahomet's [Muhammad's] skirt to entreat him to desist. I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy. Mirza Seid Ali perceived that I was considerably disordered and asked what it was that was so offensive? I told him that "I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me, if He were to be always thus dishonoured." He was astonished and again asked "Why?" "If any one pluck out your eyes," I replied, "there is no saying why you feel pain;—it is feeling. It is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded." (Constance E. Padwick, Henry Martyn [Chicago: Moody, 1980], 225-26. Italics in the original.) (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Observing (2334)( theoreo from theoros = spectator = looks at things with careful observation of details) means to observe with sustained attention (as would a spectator). The present tense pictures this as Paul's continual action (for apparently he was continually confronted with idols!).
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MacArthur adds that "The literal Greek for them that met him is anybody who happened to cross his path. He just was cold turkey (Ed: See resource below). He got into the marketplace and just mixed it up....You know what most of us would do? And I look at myself. We’d say, “Well, I’ve got to reach my city.” So, we’d have a committee meeting. We’ve got to plan it out....How do you win the world? Well, you just go out there, and you just find whoever’s around, and you just tell them about Jesus Christ. See?" (God's Man Confronts Satan's City) THOUGHT - Are you on the lookout every day for those souls that the Father sends providentially across your path? (cf 1 Pe 3:15+). Related Resource: Why You Should Go Cold Turkey? Happened to be present (present tense = continually)(3909)(paratugchano from pará = near + tugchano = happen to be, chance upon) is only used here in the NT and means to happen to be near or be present, to "chance" to meet or to fall in with someone. "Whoever chanced to be by" (L-S) In context those who just "happened to be present" (God's providence superintends all "happenings" so that no individual was there by "chance" as the world defines chance!) Ray
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MacArthur observes that the famous poem "Invictus" poetically captures the essence of the Stoic philosophy (Listen to the reading of the tragic poem)... Invictus W. E. Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. MacArthur commented after reading the poem "What a bunch of baloney!" Stoicism was one of the most influential Greek schools of philosophy in the NT period. It took its name from the Stoa Poikile, the painted “portico” (stoa) in Athens where the founder Zeno of Citium (about 280 b.c.) taught. Zeno was followed by Cleanthes (about 260 b.c.), Cleanthes by Chrysippus (about 240 b.c.), who was regarded as the intellectual founder of the Stoic system. Stoicism soon found an entrance at Rome, and under the empire Stoicism was not unnaturally connected with republican virtue. The Stoics believed that people are part of the universe, which itself is dominated by reason. God is identified with the world-soul and so inhabits everything. Therefore, one’s goal is to identify oneself with this universal reason that determines destiny, to find one’s proper place in the natural order of things. Since people cannot change this grand design, it is best for them to cooperate and to take their part in the world order. Moreover, they must live above any emotional involvement with life, exemplifying a detached virtue in serving others. Above all, they must be self-sufficient, living life with dignity and pride. Individual Stoics, including the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, set a high standard of personal conduct. The ethical system of the Stoics has been commonly supposed to have a close connection with Christian morality. But the morality of Stoicism is essentially based on pride, that of Christianity on humility; the one upholds individual independence, the other absolute faith in another; the one looks for consolation in the issue of fate, the other in Providence; the one is limited by periods of cosmical ruin, the other is consummated in a personal resurrection. In Stoicism God was not a personal Being but a spiritual force or soul-power immanent in men and things. He was given many names—Logos or Reason, Nature, Providence, divine Spirit et al. His substance was the whole world and the heavens. An elaborate pantheon was developed to agree with God’s total immanence. The highest good was to follow reason or virtue, suppress the emotions, and conduct oneself according to what nature wills. In the end there was reabsorption into the world Soul, but no individual immortality. The "greatness" of Stoicism was found in its high ethical concepts and doctrine of human brotherhood. Related Resources: How has Greek philosophy influenced Christianity? Should a Christian study philosophy? What is the philosophy of ethics? What is philosophical theology? What is Aristotelianism? What was the Enlightenment, and what impact did it have on Christianity? Philosophers were conversing with him - Conversing is in the imperfect tense giving us a vivid picture of Paul in the agora, carrying on discussion with one philosopher, than another and another. It would have been quite a scene to witness! And as the context shows while Paul was in a cultural center with a difference type of audience, he continues to focus his message on Jesus and the resurrection, a good pattern for all of us to pursue. Conversing (4820)(sumballo from sun = together + ballo = throw, cast) literally means to throw together and then “to converse, to carry on a discussion,” or “to consider carefully and draw conclusions” about a certain matter which is probably the main sense of the verb in this context. Other meanings include “to dispute” or “quarrel” with someone, even to the point of engaging in a fight, which was not quite what the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were doing. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say? - The arrogant philosophers were mocking Paul expressing their contempt by calling him an idle babbler or an "ignorant show-off." MacArthur paraphrases the philosophers “Paul, you’re not telling us a philosophy; you’re nothing but a philosophical seed picker. You’ve picked up bits and pieces of philosophy and religion, slapped it all together, and you’re trying to pawn it off as knowledge....What an uneducated babble you’re trying to pawn off; bits and scraps of all kinds of random philosophies and religion being passed off as information that is true." John Polhill writes that their designation of Paul as an idle babbler "evoked images of a bird pecking indiscriminately at seeds in a barnyard. It referred to a dilettante, someone who picked up scraps of ideas here and there and passed them off as profundity with no depth of understanding at all. (The New American Commentary: Acts) Idle babbler (4691)(spermologos from sperma = seed + lego = collect or gather) literally means seed collecter and was used originally of birds picking up seed. It came to be applied in Athenian slang to one who gains a hand to mouth living in the markets by picking up anything that falls from the loads of merchandise which was carried about. Hence spermologos passed into the figurative meaning of a person who gathers bits of information and spouts them off second hand without any real knowledge of their meaning. A babbler is one who talks idly with no definite purpose. The English definition of babbler is an obnoxious, foolish, and loquacious talker. Moffatt translates it "fellow with scraps of learning". Goodspeed has "rag picker". Since it describes a person who maintained himself by picking up bits of scraps, another apropos name would be scavenger. Louw-Nida has this note on spermologos - A figurative extension of meaning of a term based on the practice of birds in picking up seeds - one who acquires bits and pieces of relatively extraneous information and proceeds to pass them on with pretense and show - 'ignorant show-off, charlatan.' (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains) Cleon Rogers on spermologos - A slang term first used of birds that pick up grain, then of men who pick up odds and ends in the market, and then applied to men who were zealous seekers of the second rate at second hand, and finally to generally worthless persons—”this character” (Borrow The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament) It is said that the Athenians applied this name spermologos to those who made their living by collecting and selling refuse they found in the market places. In short, "seed pickers" were men of no account and were considered the scum of the earth, low and contemptible. THOUGHT - Clearly spermologos was intended to mock Paul's ministry and message. Beloved, has your message (His message through you) been mocked? Have you been persecuted for the cause of Christ and His glorious Gospel? (cf 2 Ti 3:12+) Then you are in good company. Most of God's best men have at some time in their ministry been mocked, scandalized, blasphemed, etc (e.g., see Foxe's Book of Martyrs). Jesus has a word for you - "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, (both verbs in red = present imperative = make this your habitual practice when persecuted for Jesus) for your reward in heaven ("cross" before the "crown") is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:10-12+) Babble (Free Dictionary) - To utter a meaningless confusion of words or sounds: Babies babble before they can talk. 2. To talk foolishly or idly; chatter: "In 1977 [he] was thought of as crazy because he was babbling about supply side" (Newt Gingrich). 3. To make a continuous low, murmuring sound, as flowing water. Verb transitive = 1. To utter rapidly and indistinctly. 2. To blurt out impulsively; disclose without careful consideration. Noun = 1. Inarticulate or meaningless talk or sounds. 2. Idle or foolish talk; chatter. 3. A continuous low, murmuring sound, as of flowing water. John Polhill writes that spermologos "evoked images of a bird pecking indiscriminately at seeds in a barnyard. It referred to a dilettante, someone who picked up scraps of ideas here and there and passed them off as profundity with no depth of understanding at all." (New American Commentary - Acts). A T
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MacArthur explains that "Demons are the spiritual force behind all idolatry. Those who sacrifice to idols sacrifice to demons. When worshipers believe an idol represents an actual god, Satan sends one of his demon emissaries to act out the part of that imaginary god. There is never a god behind an idol, but there is always a spiritual force; and that force is always evil, always demonic. Demons can exhibit considerable power. Many cultic and pagan religious claims are faked and exaggerated; but many are true. They are evil but true. Much that goes under the name of astrology, for instance, is simply exploitation of the gullible. But many predictions come true through the work of demonic forces. Demons are not unlimited in power, but they have power to perform enough wonders and to make enough predictions come true to keep superstitious worshipers deceived and loyal (1 Corinthians. Chicago: Moody Press) A T Robertson on seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities - This view is put cautiously by dokei (seems). Kataggeleus does not occur in the old Greek, though in ecclesiastical writers, but Deissmann gives an example of the word “on a marble stele recording a decree of the Mitylenaens in honour of the Emperor Augustus,” where it is the herald of the games. Here alone in the NT. Daimonion is used in the old Greek sense of deity or divinity whether good or bad, not in the NT sense of demons. Both this word and kataggeleus are used from the Athenian standpoint. (Acts 17 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament) Because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection - Because gives the reason for something preceding. Always pause to ponder and query this strategic term of explanation. As
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MacArthur writes - Paul created enough of a stir that finally they took him and brought him to the Areopagus. The Areopagus was a court, so named for the hill on which it had once met. The power of that tribunal had fluctuated over the centuries but in Roman times was considerable. (Athens was a free city in the Roman Empire, with the right of self-government.) Paul was not formally tried before this court (which several centuries earlier had condemned Socrates), but he was informally required to give an account of his teaching. (Acts 1-12; Acts 13-28 Moody Press) Areopagus (697)(Areios Pagos) referred originally to a hill about 370 feet high west of the Acropolis of Athens. The name Areopagus translated literally means “hill of Ares” (Ares [god of war] in Latin = Mars and so "Mars Hill"). William
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MacArthur says "That God can be known is the clear teaching of the Bible (Deut. 4:35; 1 Kings 8:43; 1 Chron. 28:9; Ps. 9:10; Jer. 9:24; 24:7; 31:34; John 17:3). This God who can be known is the believer's message of hope to the lost world." (Ibid) David
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MacArthur - God sovereignly controls the rise and fall of nations and empires (cf. Da 2:36–45-note; Lk 21:24+). Appointed (4367)(prostasso from prós = to + tássō = to arrange) means to set in order toward, in regard to a person or thing, to order towards or to someone, to command, prescribe to,) means to be formally ordered with official authorization. To arrange in a prescribed manner. To appoint, to assign, to prescribe, to fix. Perfect tense indicates the abiding results. "The perfect passive participle of prostassō old verb to enjoin, emphasizes God‘s control of human history without any denial of human free agency as was involved in the Stoic Fate." (Robertson) Friberg - (1) of those who have a valid right to command order, tell, instruct (Mt 1.24 ); (2) perfect passive, of historical epochs of mankind's history as arranged by God prostetagme,noi kairoi, appointed or prescribed periods of times (Acts 17.26) (Analytical Greek Lexicon) BDAG - to issue an official directive or make a determination, command, order, give instructions, determine (Mt 1:24; 21:6; of thing order, prescribe something (Mt 8:4; Mk 1:44) Liddell-Scott - 1. to place or post at a place, 2. to attach to, assign to, to assign them to his command, 3. reversely, to appoint as commander over others, to give as a command, prescribe, enjoin, to others orders had been given to supply cavalry,orders given, orders that will be given, the order having been given me, to command, order one to do,to be ordered to do, to receive orders Gilbrant - Classic Greek - Prostassō is a derivative of tassō (4872), a common Greek verb meaning “to order, arrange, fix, determine; to station, appoint, put in charge of.” When the preposition pros is added to tassō, the resulting word prostassō is intensive and means “to command, order, prescribe” (Bauer). This term is often used of those who have the right to command, e.g., rulers, the law of God, nature, kings, etc. In such cases it means “to order,” the most predominant usage. Prostassō can also mean “to attach” or “to appoint.”....In the Septuagint the term appears in Genesis 47:11 (Hebrew tsāwâh) for the command of Pharaoh to give “the best of the land, in the land of Rameses” to Joseph, his father, and his brethren. It is often used of a command made by God, as in Leviticus 10:1; Jonah 1:17 (LXX 2:1); 4:6-8; and of Moses in Exodus 36:6; Deuteronomy 27:1; and of kings, such as in 2 Chronicles 31:13. (Complete Biblical Library) Protasso - Usage: appointed(1), commanded(5), ordered(1). Matthew 1:24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, Matthew 8:4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Mark 1:44 and He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Luke 5:14 And He ordered him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." Acts 10:33 "So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." Acts 10:48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days. Acts 17:26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, Protasso - 74x in the Septuagint - Gen. 47:11; Gen. 50:2; Exod. 36:6; Lev. 10:1; Lev. 14:4; Lev. 14:5; Lev. 14:36; Lev. 14:40; Num. 5:2; Deut. 17:3; Deut. 18:20; Deut. 27:1; Jos. 5:14; 2 Chr. 31:5; 2 Chr. 31:13; Est. 1:15; Est. 1:19; Est. 2:23; Est. 3:2; Est. 3:13; Est. 3:14; Isa. 36:21; Isa. 55:4; Dan. 2:8; Dan. 2:12; Dan. 2:14; Dan. 3:10; Dan. 3:13; Dan. 4:14; Jon. 1:17; Jon. 2:10; Jon. 4:6; Jon. 4:7; Jon. 4:8; Deuteronomy 17:3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host, which I have not commanded (Lxx = protasso), Joshua 5:14 He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to (Lxx = protasso - to give an official directive to) his servant?" Ray
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MacArthur - God is responsible for establishing nations as to their racial identity and their specific geographical locations (Dt 32:8) and determining the extent of their conquests (cf. Is 10:12–15). (Study Bible) Ray Pritchard - Guided history by His own plan. “And he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live” (v. 26). Please note the word “determined.” It speaks of God’s direct involvement in the affairs of human history. 1. He made the nations. 2. He determined the times they should exist. 3. He determined their boundaries. Many other verses teach the same truth. “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel” (Deuteronomy 32:8).“Dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28). “The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:25c). When theologians speak of this truth, they refer to “the hidden counsels of God.” This means that what God is doing in history is not directly revealed in Scripture. Many times we look at the world scene and things seem haphazard as if there were no guiding principle. But looking back we can see here and there the Invisible Hand of God at work—raising up one nation, one leader, one army—and bringing down another. History is His Story. He has the final say in every battle, every ruler rising to power, every coup, every election, and every government edict. We generally don’t see the big picture as it unfolds before us, and sometimes we don’t even see it looking back, but Scripture assures us that even in those events that seem to be out of control, God is at work behind the scenes. God arranged everything in your life so that you might seek him. Paul has now informed the men of Athens that they are just like everyone else in the human race and that God has brought their nation to prominence for a specific purpose. We learn that purpose in verse 27. (Acts 17:26-28 How God Reveals Himself to Us) Acts 17:22–31 Pride And Prejudice By David H. Roper He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. —Acts 17:26 Of all creation’s treasures rare, Not one compares in worth with man, In God’s own image he was made To fill a place in His great plan. —D. De Haan God desires that we show respect to all people, because everyone bears His image. Acts 17:22-31 Where Did I Come From? By Anne Cetas [God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. —Acts 17:26 My 7-year-old African-American friend Tobias asked me a thought-provoking question the other day: “Since Adam and Eve were white, where did black people come from?” When I told him we don’t know what “color” they were and asked him why he thought they were white, he said that’s what he always saw in Bible-story books at church and in the library. My heart sank. I wondered if that might make him think he was inferior or possibly not even created by the Lord. All people have their roots in the Creator God, and therefore all are equal. That’s what the apostle Paul told the Athenians: “[God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). We are all “from one blood.” Darrell Bock, in his commentary on the book of Acts, says, “This affirmation would be hard for the Athenians, who prided themselves in being a superior people, calling others barbarians.” However, because we all descended from our first parents, Adam and Eve, no race nor ethnicity is superior or inferior to another. Every life has been created— God’s handiwork displayed; When we cherish His creation, We value what He’s made. —Sper God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Acts 17:26 Unity In The Faith By Vernon C. Grounds [God] has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth. —Acts 17:26 Aristides, a second-century apologist for the Christian faith, wrote this to the Roman emperor Hadrian about believers in his day: “They love one another. They never fail to help widows; they save orphans from those who would hurt them. If they have something, they give freely to the man who has nothing; if they see a stranger, they take him home, and are happy, as though he were a real brother. They don’t consider themselves brothers in the usual sense, but brothers instead through the Spirit, in God.” As human beings, we all belong to the same family. Even though we are divided by all sorts of barriers and differences, “under the skin” we’re all the same (Acts 17:26). As believers in Jesus Christ, then, whatever our differences—denominations, preferences, worship styles—we are one spiritual body that acknowledges the same heavenly Father (Ephesians 4:4-6). The example of our spiritual forebears can be an instructive challenge to us as disciples of Jesus in the 21st century. Join hands, then, brothers of the faith, Whatever your race may be; Who serves my Father as a son Is surely kin to me. —Oxenham Unity among Christians comes from their union with Christ. Acts 17:26-27 A Basis For Confidence By Herbert Vander Lugt Read: Daniel 10:1-21 He has . . . determined their preappointed times . . . , so that they should seek the Lord. —Acts 17:26-27 A government official recently said we have no way of making sure that a terrorist group or a madman will not obtain nuclear weapons. Some people responded to his words by saying that the human race is on the verge of destroying itself. Most people, however, tend to be more hopeful and don’t think that such a disaster is likely. Is such a view foolish and naive? What is the proper response to doomsday predictions? Bible-believing Christians can be optimistic about the future because of their confidence in God’s Word. Daniel 10 assures us that God is always in control, so we can be confident that all will end well for those who are trusting in Him. Daniel had fasted and prayed, but for 3 weeks he had heard nothing. Finally an angel appeared and explained that he had been detained by an evil spirit until the archangel Michael had arrived to help him (v.13). He went on to show the prophet that though the battle between the invisible forces of good and evil would continue (v.20), God would surely win the war (ch. 11-12). What God is doing you may not know now; But someday you'll understand why; Questions that taunt you and trouble your mind Will one day have heaven's reply. —Hess Because God is in control, we have nothing to fear. Acts 17:27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; they Acts 15:17; Ps 19:1-6; Romans 1:20; 2:4 he be Acts 14:17; 1 Kings 8:27; Psalms 139:1-13; Jeremiah 23:23,24 Acts 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 17:25-29 Getting to Know the Unknown God, Part 2 - John MacArthur CSB so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. ESV that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, KJV That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: NET so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. NIV God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. NLT "His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-- though he is not far from any one of us. YLT to seek the Lord, if perhaps they did feel after Him and find, -- though, indeed, He is not far from each one of us, SEEKING GOD WHO IS NEAR That they would seek God - Seek him, not turn away from him as the nations had done (Romans 1:18-32-see below).(Robertson) MacArthur writes "God's providential activity as creator, ruler, giver, and controller should move men to seek Him. Reason should send them from the greatest effect (the universe) back to the first cause—God. In all that He has done in creating and sustaining the universe, God has revealed Himself to mankind. Such self-disclosure should encourage men to grope for Him and find Him. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Jack Arnold - God has placed every man where he is on the face of the earth and in the culture he lives in order to seek the true God. God did not make an arbitrary decision, but God predestinates out of a loving heart and expects men to seek Him wherever they are in this world. God is very near every man because He is everywhere present. If men will but seek Him, they will find Him. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). God allows catastrophes, wars, violence and hard times so that men will seek Him, and acknowledge their dependence on Him. It is pure self-delusion, ridiculous and absurd to think that anyone can operate without God. The reason men think they can exist apart from God is that they have placed some idol, whether physical or mental, as a substitute for God in their lives.(Sermon) Paul explains God's "nearness" in His Natural Revelation in the Creation (do you see why the debate over evolution is so crucial!!!)... because (explaining God's wrath in Ro 1:18-note) that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.(Ro 1:19-25-note) Related Resources: What is general revelation and special revelation? Can a person be saved through general revelation? What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus? John MacArthur - The Lord’s objective for man in revealing Himself as the Creator, Ruler, and Controller of the world. Men have no excuse (Ro 1:20) for not knowing about God because He has revealed Himself in man’s conscience (read Ro 2:14-15+) and in the physical world. (read Ps 19:1-6) (Study Bible) (Bold added) Gilbrant - By saying God has fixed the boundaries of mankind's dwelling, Paul did not mean mankind could not or should not move from one place to another. All people have done that throughout history to a greater or lesser extent. Rather, Paul meant God brought mankind to the places and times where they would have opportunities to seek God, "if perhaps they might touch Him and find Him," though He is actually not far away, not distant from each one. So it should not be hard to find Him. (Romans 1:20, 21 points out that "the invisible things of him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." Just looking at the greatness, the complexity, and the beauty of creation should have let the Athenians understand that it was not some little god in a corner who brought all this into being.) (Complete Biblical Library)
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MacArthur says "The Greeks certainly could not plead ignorance. Even their poets acknowledged the revelation of God in nature, though they wrongly saw it as a revelation of their false gods. The Cretan poet Epimenides noted that in Him we live and move and exist, while Aratus, from Paul's home region of Cilicia, added, For we also are His offspring. Those quotes illustrate the universal revelation of God as Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer. While Paul could easily have documented those truths from the Old Testament, he chose instead illustrations familiar to his pagan audience, who were unfamiliar with Scripture. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Jack Arnold - Paul, being a good preacher, quoted from two Greek poets, Aratus and Cleanthes, who were Stoics, to show that the Greeks believed that men were the creatures of God, and not the creation of man. Man is a sinner but he was originally created in the image of God; therefore man has value and worth as a human. It is not biblical to say that man is nothing. It is true he can do nothing to save himself because he is a sinner, but he is not “nothing.” He is a creature of God, created in the image of God, and of great value, even though he is sinful because of the Fall. (Sermon) A T Robertson on some of your own poets - Aratus of Soli in Cilicia (ab. b.c. 270) has these very words in his Ta Phainomena and Cleanthes, Stoic philosopher (300-220 b.c.) in his Hymn to Zeus has Ek sou gar genos esōmen. In 1Corinthians 15:32 Paul quotes from Menander and in Titus 1:12 from Epimenides. J. Rendel Harris claims that he finds allusions in Paul‘s Epistles to Pindar, Aristophanes, and other Greek writers. There is no reason in the world why Paul should not have acquaintance with Greek literature, though one need not strain a point to prove it. Paul, of course, knew that the words were written of Zeus (Jupiter), not of Jehovah, but he applies the idea in them to his point just made that all men are the offspring of God. (Robertson) For we also are His children - Be careful in this verse. First note that Children is probably better translated "offspring." Not all of mankind can refer to themselves as sons or daughters of God. The only way to eternally join God's intimate family as a son or daughter is by believing in the Gospel. John is quite clear writing But as many as received ( = believed in) Him, to them He gave the right (exousia) to become children (teknon) of God, even to those who believe in His name," (John 1:12+; cf 1 Jn 3:1+) Children (offspring) (2085)(genos from ginomai - to become) means a descendant, a person descended from some ancestor or race. Friberg give four sense of genos - (1) of common ancestry posterity, descendant, family (Rev 22.16); (2) of common identity as an ethnic group race, people, nation (Acts 7.19); of common identity of believers nation, people (1Pet 2.9); (3) of members of a family circle kindred, relatives, (extended) family (Acts 7.13); (4) of a distinctive species of something kind, class (1Cor 12.10) (Analytical Lexicon) BDAG - 1. ancestral stock, descendant 2. a relatively small group with common ancestry, family, relatives (Acts 7:13) 3. a relatively large people group, nation, people (Acts 7:19, Gal 1:14) 4. entities united by common traits, class, kind (Ge 1:11 same species). Genos - 20v - Usage: birth(2), children (1), countrymen(2), descendant(1), descent(1), family(2), kind(3), kinds(3), nation(1), native(1), race(3). Matthew 13:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind; Mark 7:26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Mark 9:29 And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer." Acts 4:6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. Acts 4:36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), Acts 7:13 "On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family was disclosed to Pharaoh. Acts 7:19 "It was he who took shrewd advantage of our race and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. Acts 13:26 "Brethren, sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. Acts 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' Acts 17:29 "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Acts 18:2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, Acts 18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 2 Corinthians 11:26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; Galatians 1:14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. Philippians 3:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Revelation 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." Genos - 118x in 106v in the Septuagint - Gen. 1:11 ("after their kind" - same for all uses in Genesis 1); Gen. 1:12; Gen. 1:21; Gen. 1:24; Gen. 1:25; Gen. 6:20; Gen. 7:14; Gen. 8:19; Gen. 11:6; Gen. 17:14; Gen. 19:38; Gen. 25:17; Gen. 26:10; Gen. 34:16; Gen. 35:29; Gen. 40:17; Exod. 1:9; Exod. 5:14; Lev. 20:17; Lev. 20:18; Lev. 21:13; Lev. 21:14; Lev. 21:17; Jos. 4:14; Jos. 11:21; 2 Chr. 4:3; 2 Chr. 4:13; 2 Chr. 16:14; Est. 2:10; Est. 3:7; Est. 3:13; Est. 6:13; Est. 8:12; Job 8:8; Job 41:6; Isa. 22:4; Isa. 42:6; Isa. 43:20; Isa. 49:6; Jer. 29:32; Jer. 31:1; Jer. 31:36; Jer. 31:37; Jer. 36:31; Jer. 41:1; Dan. 1:3; Dan. 1:6; Dan. 3:5; Dan. 3:7; Dan. 3:10; Dan. 3:15; Dan. 6:28; Dan. 7:14; Holman Apologetics Commentary on we also are His children - Mormons believe this verse teaches that God is literally our biological Father, and that he begot us with a Mother God, but such an idea is foreign to biblical revelation. Rather, it is a way of saying that we are God’s children made in his image, as Genesis 1 teaches. It also is a way of saying that every child of God is accountable to the Father for their response to him. Norman Geisler - ACTS 17:28—Does Paul’s quotation support the pantheistic belief that God is everything? MISINTERPRETATION: The apostle Paul told the philosophers on Mars Hill, “In him we live, move, and have our being.” Christian Scientists see in this verse support for their pantheistic belief that “as a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being” (Eddy, 361). CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: There is no reason here or anywhere else in the New Testament to believe that the apostle Paul was teaching pantheism. First of all, he was by training and conviction an orthodox Jew—a Pharisee (Phil. 3:4–6)—and accordingly a strict monotheist (Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6). Second, Paul referred here to the “God who made the world and everything in it” (Acts 17:24 NIV), whereas pantheists believe that God is the world and everything in it. Third, Paul only asserted that we have our life and being “in him” (God), not that we are him, as pantheists claim. That is to say, God is the sustaining Cause of all, as well as the originating Cause (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17). (When Cultists Ask) Acts 17:19-31 Becoming Bilingual By Bill Crowder In Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring.” —Acts 17:28 Is it possible—in a society that seems increasingly indifferent to the gospel—to communicate the Good News to people who don’t share our faith? One way to connect with people who are unfamiliar with the things of Christ is to become culturally “bilingual.” We do this by communicating in ways people can easily relate to. Knowing about and discussing music, film, sports, and television, for example, can offer just such an opportunity. If people hear us “speak their language,” without endorsing or condoning the media or events we refer to, it could open the door to sharing the timeless message of Christ. Paul gave us an example of this in Acts 17. While visiting the Areopagus in Athens, he spoke to a thoroughly secular culture by quoting pagan Greek poets as a point of reference for the spiritual values he sought to communicate. He said, “In Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” (Acts 17:28). Just as Paul addressed that culture by knowing what they were reading, we may have greater impact for the gospel by relating it to people in terms they can readily embrace. To earn your neighbor’s ear And prove you really care, Use terms he understands To show you are aware. —Branon The content of the Bible must be brought into contact with the world. Acts 17:28 'No God, No Potatoes' By Dennis J. De Haan In Him we live and move and have our being. —Acts 17:28 It’s been said that in the former Soviet Union the peasant farmers often enjoyed telling a humorous story to lighten their dreary lives. It seems that one day a government official came to a farmer and inquired about the year’s potato crop. “Oh, it was wonderful,” the farmer replied slyly. “It was so big it reached up to the very foot of God.” The commissar’s countenance quickly changed. With a scowl, he said, “But comrade, this is a communist state and we are atheists. You must not forget, there is no God!” “Ah, that’s my point,” the farmer replied. “No God—no potatoes!” Yes, whether we believe it or not, God is the source of all things (Psalm 136:25). The apostle Paul told a pagan audience, “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). And in Colossians 1:16-18, he focused on the great creating and sustaining work of God in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Without Him, we couldn’t draw a single breath, and our bodies could not function. Part of God's name divinely stands On every work impressed; Each is the labor of His hands, By each His power confessed. —Anon. God is the first link in our life's chain of events. Acts 17:28 Our Dependency By Anne Cetas Read: 1 John 2:24–3:3 In Him we live and move and have our being. —Acts 17:28 While enjoying the arrival of a new great-niece, I was reminded of how much work it is to take care of a newborn baby. They are needy little creations who want feeding, changing, holding, feeding, changing, holding, feeding, changing, holding. Totally unable to care for themselves, they depend on those older and wiser people surrounding them. We’re dependent children too—reliant on our Father in heaven. What do we need from Him that we can’t provide for ourselves? “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He supplies our very breath. He also meets our needs “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). We need our Father for peace in our troubles (John 16:33), love (1 John 3:1), and help in time of need (Ps. 46:1; Heb. 4:16). He gives victory in temptation (1 Cor. 10:13), forgiveness (1 John 1:9), purpose (Jer. 29:11), and eternal life (John 10:28). Without Him, we “can do nothing” (John 15:5). And from Him, “we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16 NIV). We are dependent on the Lord Who showers us with blessing; He gives us everything we need— Without Him we are nothing. —Sper Depending on God isn’t weakness; it’s acknowledging His strength. Acts 17:29 Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. we ought Psalms 94:7-9; 106:20; 115:4-8; Isaiah 40:12-18; 44:9-20; Habakkuk 2:19,20; Romans 1:20-23 graven Exodus 20:4; 32:4; Isaiah 46:5,6; Jeremiah 10:4-10 Acts 17:29 Warning Against Modern-Day Baal Worship - Sermon by Ray Pritchard Acts 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 17:25-29 Getting to Know the Unknown God, Part 2 - John MacArthur BGT γένος οὖν ὑπάρχοντες τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ὀφείλομεν νομίζειν χρυσῷ ἢ ἀργύρῳ ἢ λίθῳ, χαράγματι τέχνης καὶ ἐνθυμήσεως ἀνθρώπου, τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον. CSB Being God's offspring, then, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination. CJB So, since we are children of God, we shouldn't suppose that God's essence resembles gold, silver or stone shaped by human technique and imagination. ESV Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. KJV Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. GWN So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like an image made from gold, silver, or stone, an image that is the product of human imagination and skill. NET So since we are God's offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. NAB Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. NIV "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. NLT And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. YLT 'Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man; THE FOLLY OF IDOLATRY
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MacArthur comments - Because God created them, He is Lord of heaven and earth, and their rightful ruler. Genesis 14:19 describes God as "possessor of heaven and earth," while David says in Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it." The psalmist wrote: "The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all" (Ps. 103:19). Humbled by God's devastating judgment on him, the pagan king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was forced to admit - "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ " (Da 4:34-35) (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) ESV Study Bible has an interesting thought noting that "it is easy to imagine him gesturing toward the magnificent temple, the Parthenon, that stood just above him and his hearers on the Acropolis. Paul was claiming that the true God of heaven and earth does not live in temples like the Parthenon and is not served by the sacrifices which the Athenians regularly brought to their temples." As Jack Andrews says "He does not need a temple to reside in because He is everywhere present. He does not need light to see with because He is the Light of the world! He does not need rest because He does not get faint or grow weary! He does not need food for strength because He is all powerful." Lord of heaven and earth - Mt 11:25, Lk 10:21, Acts 17:24. .
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MacArthur says, "It is utterly devoid of any recognition of personal guilt, any intent to obey God, or any desire for true righteousness."5 In order to determine who is right, there are several questions that should be explored. First, does repentance necessarily involve sorrow for sin? Second Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Strictly speaking, sorrow and repentance are different entities, because people may have sorrow without repentance. However, can people have repentance without sorrow? "Godly sorrow leads to repentance." Would persons desire to be saved without first realizing they are sinners and lost? Before realizing that fact they may be quite happy in their sin. After being convicted by the Holy Spirit that they are sinners and as a result lost, can they desire to be saved (go to heaven), put their faith and trust in Christ for eternal life, and still be happy about their life of sin? Can people be repentant toward God and unrepentant toward sin and self? The answer is, people could if God would let them. But the same Holy Spirit who causes persons to see the error of their ways and desire to come to Christ is the One who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. If the Spirit truly convicts people of sin, it would be impossible for them not to have a changed attitude toward their sin, a sense of sorrow at having sinned against God. That change is called repentance. Another question that should be asked is, What does repentance toward God involve? Does it involve receiving Jesus as Savior only, or must one acknowledge Him as Lord also? It is argued by some that it is necessary to receive Jesus as Savior only in order to be saved. However, several Scriptures seem to indicate that the two ideas go together. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Romans 10:9 says, "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Peter declared at Pentecost "that God has made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36). Some argue that this use of the word "Lord" simply means to acknowledge that Jesus is God. Yet, if He be God, then He is certainly Lord. Persons do not have to "make Jesus Lord" because He is Lord. What it does mean is that when individuals repent in their attitude toward Jesus, they are changing from unbelief to faith in two facts: (1) that Jesus is who He claims to be—Lord and God; and (2) that He in fact did what He said He would do—die for our sins on the cross and offer us forgiveness based on that sacrifice. The rest of the Christian life, then, is the struggle to practice daily what we have professed at the beginning. Since Jesus is Lord, believers are to allow Him to be Lord of their lives. The final question concerning the meaning of repentance is, What affect does it have on the will? Can people put their faith in Christ and never intend to make any change in the direction of their life? It is obvious that the changes in life-style are the fruits of repentance and come as a result, not a cause of salvation. However, what about intentions? One thing is sure: this decision is not a pre-salvation work that is required to set life in order so persons can be saved. Such an attempt at self-reformation is not true repentance. It involves trusting one's own works in-stead of Christ's. But can individuals trust Christ as Savior and never have any intention to change the direction of their lives? To put it another way, can people be true believers in Christ and not followers of Christ? There are three lines of evidence that indicate it is not possible to do so. First, there is the evidence from the ministry of Jesus. In His dealing with people who came to Him, He never offered anything less than a new way of life. One very clear example is that of the rich young ruler. He wanted to know what to do "to inherit eternal life" (Lk 18:18). Jesus answered, "One thing you lack. Sell all that you have, and distribute unto the poor, ... and come, follow me." The man refused to do so, but Jesus made no other offer to the man. The parable of the two sons demonstrates that it is not what people profess but what they actually do that counts. One son said he would obey his father, but did not. The other refused, but later repented and did the will of his father (Matt. 21:28-31). Another line of evidence is that found in 2Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are be-come new." The point is, people cannot be saved without being changed from the inside out. They do not change themselves; it is God who recreates persons. This work of God in believers' lives leads us to a third line of evidence, the fruit of repentance. If people have truly believed and been converted, there must be evidence of a new life. John the Baptist demanded fruits of repentance (Luke 3:8ff.). John also said that this is how we know that we know Christ, "if we keep His commandments" (1John 2:3). (See Gal. 5:21 and Jas 2:14ff. also.) Because of this, it must be concluded that repentance also involves the decision to make a radical change in the direction of our lives. It represents a new departure, the beginning point of a different attitude toward life. The new purpose is to become a follower of Jesus. The proof of repentance is people's deeds. There is no reason to think people have repented if there has been no change in their lives, because words alone do not save. (Salvation Word Studies) John MacArthur in his book The Gospel According to the Apostles has a poignant defense of REPENTANCE as an intrinsic, necessary component of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (especially in light of some modern so-called "evangelical" writings stating that repentance is not part of the Gospel! Specifically be wary of writings by Robert Wilkin in this regard! See note on his "strange teachings") Over the past five years or so, I have had opportunities to minister in many of the nations that we used to call “Iron Curtain” countries. There I have encountered a surprisingly vigorous evangelical church—solidly biblical, doctrinally orthodox, and alive. Western Christians generally do not comprehend or appreciate the vitality of Eastern European churches without visiting them firsthand. The churches are full—often uncomfortably packed—with crowds standing outside looking through windows. The people are earnest in their commitment to Christ in a way that is rare among Western Christians. Their services are worshipful, subdued, yet intensely passionate. Spontaneous weeping is as common as laughter. Prayer for the lost and personal evangelism are on the hearts and minds of these people more than social activities and sports. The focus of their message to the world is a clear call to repentance. Eastern European Christianity typically refers to new Christians as “repenters.” When someone comes to Christ, fellow believers say the new Christian has “repented.” Usually new believers are given the opportunity to stand before the church and verbalize their repentance. In nearly every church service I have attended in the former Soviet Union, at least one new convert has made a public confession of repentance. It is entirely biblical for the church to make repentance the chief feature of its message to the unsaved world. After all, the gospel calls people to come to the One who can deliver them from sin. People who don’t feel guilt and want to be delivered from the power and penalty of sin wouldn’t even want a deliverer. Did you realize that our Lord’s Great Commission demands that we preach repentance? Luke alone of all the Gospels records the content of the message Jesus commanded His disciples to preach: “that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations” (Luke 24:47). As we shall shortly see, repentance was the substance of the church’s message to a hostile world throughout the Book of Acts. The Bible is clear: Repentance is at the heart of the gospel call. Unless we are preaching repentance we are not preaching the gospel our Lord has charged us to preach. If we fail to call people to turn from their sins, we are not communicating the same gospel the apostles proclaimed. The Western church has subtly changed the thrust of the gospel. Instead of exhorting sinners to repent, evangelicalism in our society asks the unsaved to “accept Christ.” That makes sinners sovereign and puts Christ at their disposal. In effect it puts Christ on trial and hands the judge’s robes and gavel to the inquirer—precisely opposite of what should be. Ironically, people who ought to be concerned about whether Christ will accept them are being told by Christians that it is the sinner’s prerogative to “accept Christ.” This modified gospel depicts conversion as “a decision for Christ” rather than a life-transforming change of heart involving genuine faith, repentance, surrender, and rebirth unto newness of life. A. W. Tozer wrote, " The formula “Accept Christ” has become a panacea of universal application, and I believe it has been fatal to many.… The trouble is that the whole “Accept Christ” attitude is likely to be wrong. It shows Christ [appealing] to us rather than us to Him. It makes Him stand hat-in-hand awaiting our verdict on Him, instead of our kneeling with troubled hearts awaiting His verdict on us. It may even permit us to accept Christ by an impulse of mind or emotions, painlessly, at no loss to our ego and no inconvenience to our usual way of life. For this ineffectual manner of dealing with a vital matter we might imagine some parallels; as if, for instance, Israel in Egypt had “accepted” the blood of the Passover but continued to live in bondage, or the prodigal son had “accepted” his father’s forgiveness and stayed on among the swine in the far country. Is it not plain that if accepting Christ is to mean anything there must be moral action that accords with it? -- The “moral action” Tozer was referring to is repentance. (Excerpt from MacArthur's book "The Vanishing Conscience" which is actually 3 books "The Gospel According to the Apostles" being the one with the quote on "repenters") Trench's Discussion of Repent... metanoeo (3340) Repent; metamelomai (3338) Reformation theologians frequently argued that metanoia (3341) and metameleia and their verbs metanoein and metamelesthai are quite distinct. On the one hand, metameliea and its verb express a desire that an action might be undone, express regrets or even remorse, but do not imply an effective change of heart. On the other hand, metanoia and its verb refer to a true change of heart toward God. According to Chillingworth: To this purpose it is worth the observing, that when the Scripture speaks of that kind of repentance, which is only sorrow for something done, and wishing it undone, it constantly useth the word metameleia, to which forgiveness of sins is nowhere promised. So it is written of Judas the son of perdition (Matthew 27:3), metameletheis apetrepse, he repented and went and hanged himself, and so constantly in other places. But that repentance to which remission of sins and salvation is promised, is perpetually expressed by the word metanoia, which signifieth a thorough change of the heart and soul, of the life and actions. Before proceeding further, let me correct a slight inaccuracy in Chillingworth's statement. Metameleia does not occur in the New Testament and is found only once in the Septuagint (Hosea 11:8). Since this is a work on New Testament synonyms, the comparison and distinction can be made only between the verbs, though what is true of them also will be true of their nouns. But still another qualification needs to be made. Jeremy Taylor remarked: The Greeks use two words to express this duty, metameleia and metanoia.Metameleia is from metameleisthai, post factum angi et crucian,"to be afflicted in mind," "to be troubled for our former folly"; it is dysarestesis epi pepragmenois, saith Favorinus, "a being displeased for what we have done," and it is generally used for all sorts of repentance; but more properly to signify either the beginning of a good, or the whole state of an ineffective, repentance. In the first sense we find it in Matthew, hymeis de idontes ou metamelethete hysteron tou pisteusai auto,"and ye, seeing, did not repent that ye might believe Him." Of the second sense we have an example in Judas, metameletheis apestrepse, he "repented" too, but the end of it was he died with anguish and despair.... There is in this repentance a sorrow for what is done, a disliking of the thing with its consequences and effect, and so far also it is a change of mind. But it goes no further than so far to change the mind that it brings trouble and sorrow, and such things as are the natural events of it.... When there was a difference made, metanoia was the better word, which does not properly signify the sorrow for having done amiss, but something that is nobler than it, but brought in at the gate of sorrow. For he kata Theon lype,"a godly sorrow," that is metameleia, or the first beginning of repentance, metanoian katergazetai, "worketh this better repentance," metanoian ametameleton [278] and eis soterian (4991). Later Taylor admitted that "however the grammarians may distinguish them, yet the words are used promiscuously" and that it is not possible to distinguish them in a rigid fashion. Although this is partially true, it is possible to show that each word has a predominant use. There was a well-known conflict between the early Reformers and the Roman Catholic theologians over whether paenitentia (repentance), as the Catholics held, or resipiscentia (reformation), as Beza and others affirmed, was the better Latin translation of metanoia. There was much to be said on both sides. Had metameleia and not metanoia been the disputed word, the Catholics would have had a more favorable position. Augustine stated: "Paenitentia is a certain defense of one grieving, always punishing himself for having committed what pained him." Properly speaking, metanoein is "to know after" as pronoein (4306) is "to know before"; metanoia is "after knowledge," as pronoia (4307) is "foreknowledge." As Clement of Alexandria said: If he perceived afterwards [metenoesen] what he had done wrong, if he has understood where he had made a mistake and has had a change of heart, that very thing isafter he has realized these things metanoia or late knowledge. And Stobaeus stated: "The wise man must not know after [metanoein] but know before [pronoein]." The next step that metanoia signifies is the change of mind that results from this after knowledge. Thus Tertullian wrote: "In the Greek language the word for repentance is not derived from the admission of a fault but from a change of mind." The third stage of metanoia results from this change of mind and consists of regret for the course of action that was pursued and of dysapestesis (displeasure) with oneself. Tertullian defined it as "a certain suffering of the mind which comes from a displeasure about a previous opinion," for this was all that the heathen understood by it. At this stage of its meaning, metanoia was associated with degmos, aischyne, and pothos.Last of all metanoia signifies a resulting change of conduct. This change of mind and consequent change of action, however, may be a change for the worse or a change for the better. The change signified by metanoia does not necessarily imply a resipiscentia (reformation) as well. That idea is a Christian addition to metanoia. Thus A. Gellius stated: We are accustomed then to say we regret [paenitere] when the deeds which we ourselves have done, or have been done through our will and plan, begin to displease us and we change our opinion about them. Similarly, Plutarch told of two murderers who spared a child but who afterwards "repented" (metenoesan) and sought to slay it. Plutarch used metameleia in the sense of repenting of something that is good, thus validating Tertullian's complaint: What the pagans irrationally might include under the act of regret will be sufficiently clear from that fact alone that they apply it also to their good deeds: one regrets loyalty, love, sincerity, patience, mercy when any of these has fallen on the thankless. The regret that is part of the meaning of metanoia may be (and often is) quite unconnected with any sense of wrongdoing, with any sense of violating a moral law. This type of regret may simply be what our fathers used to call "hadiwist." Sometimes, though rarely, metanoia has an ethical meaning, as is the case in two other passages in Plutarch. In the former passage, Plutarch's use of metanoia is in harmony with its use in Romans 2:4; in the latter passage, Plutarch used metameleia and metanoia interchangeably. Only in Scripture and in the works of those who were dependent on Scripture does metanoia predominantly refer to a change of mind, to taking a wiser view of the past, to "the soul's perception of the wicked things it has done" (Favorinus), to a regret for the illdone in the past that results in a change of life for the better, to "a turning about of one's life." Or as Plato had already described it, metanoia refers to "a turning from shadows to light" and to "a turning about, a turning around of the soul." This meaning was neither an etymological component of the word nor its primary meaning but was imported into it. This usage did not occur frequently in the Septuagint or in the Apocrypha but is common in Philo, who related metanoia and beltiosis and who explained metanoia as a "change to the better." In the New Testament, metanoein and metanoia are always used in an ethical sense to refer to "a radical transformation in the lifestyle of people, accompanied by painful remorse" (Delitzsch). The meanings of metanoein and metanoia gradually expanded until they came to express the mighty, Spirit-wrought change in mind, heart, and life known as repentance. A similar honor was partially bestowed on metameleia and metamelesthai. Plutarch called the first word "a saving demon," explained it as "the shame from pleasures which are contrary to law and uncontrollable," and associated it with barythymia, heaviness of heart. Metamelesthai is used five times in the New Testament, metameleia not at all. In one case, metamelesthai is used to refer to Judas Iscariot's sorrow (Matthew 27:3), which resulted in his death. On another occasion (Hebrews 7:21), metamelesthai does not refer to man's repentance but to God's change of mind. Metanoia occurs twenty-five times in the New Testament and metanoein thirty-five times. Those who deny any discernible difference between these words (either in profane or in sacred Greek) point to passages in secular Greek where metameleia is used in all the senses claimed for metanoia and to other passages where the two are used interchangeably to refer to remorse.In sacred Greek they point to passages in the New Testament where metamelesthai implies all that metanoein would (Matthew 21:29; Matthew 21:32). Although all of that is true, there is a distinct preference in sacred and profane Greek to use metanoia as the word that best expresses the nobler form of repentance. This is in keeping with what we would have expected from the relative etymological force of the words. The one who has changed his mind about the past is on the road to changing everything, but the one who has an after care may have little more than a selfish dread of the consequences of his actions. We may sum up the long dispute on the relation of these words by quoting from Bengel, who distinguishes them but who does not push the distinction too far. From its origin metanoia is properly of the mind and metameleia is of the will, since the former would indicate a change of opinion and the latter a change in anxiety or in eagerness.... Either term therefore is used for a person who repents of an act or a planwhether the repentance is good or bad, whether for a good thing or a bad thing, whether it occurs with a change of deeds in the future or without it. However if you consider the use, metameleia generally is a middle term and refers usually to individual actions, while metanoia especially in the New Testament is used in a good sense, which denotes the reformation of the whole life and of ourselves in a measureor it is the entire happy reminiscence after error and sins, with our beloved ones joining in, which produces worthy fruits. Hence it happens that metanoein often occurs in the imperative mood, metameleisthai neverbut in other places where metanoia is read one may substitute metameleia, but not the reverse. (Repent - Trench's Synonyms of the New Testament) REPENTANCE - To repent means to turn. In the N.T. repentance means to turn from sin. We were called by God to turn from sin. In fact, all men everywhere are commanded by God to repent of their sins (Acts 17:30). God's longsuffering leads us to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9) as does His kindness (Rom. 2:4). There is true and false repentance, "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor. 7:10). Sorrowing over and forsaking sin, a wholehearted turning away from all that is evil. This is more than regret or remorse, attitudes that point to sorrow over sin but no more. Repentance was looked for in Old Testament times (Ezek. 14:6; 18:30). It was the first item in the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:1-2), Jesus (Matt. 4:17), and the apostles (Mark 6:12; cf. Acts 2:38). Beyond repentance, faith is needed. But repentance is indispensable. Sin must be forsaken decisively. (The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), p. 355) Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. he hath appointed Acts 10:42; Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:22,23; Romans 2:5,16; 14:9,10; 1Corinthians 4:5; 2Corinthians 5:10; 2Timothy 4:1; 2Peter 3:7; Jude 1:14,15 given assurance or, offered faith. in that. Acts 17:18; 2:23,24,32; 3:15,16; 4:10; 5:30-32; 10:39-41; 13:30,31; Luke 24:46-48; 1Corinthians 15:3-8 Acts 17:31 Here Comes the Judge - Sermon by Ray Pritchard Acts 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Acts 17:30-31 Getting to Know the Unknown God, Part 3 - John MacArthur THE CERTAINTY OF JUDGMENT Paul has no fear in speaking about the coming inescapable day of judgment, and boldly proclaims Jesus' resurrection from the dead, for that is the absolute crux of the Gospel. No resurrection means no "Good News!" (Read 1 Cor 15:13-19) Because - term of explanation - Paul explains why all men, be they Athenians or not, need to repent! Judgment is coming on the entire world! Repentance is not optional but imperative! You may have said "I believe in Jesus," but does your life exhibit the "fruit of repentance?" If not than you need to solemnly read 2 Cor 13:5+ while today is still called "Today." (2 Cor 6:2)! Reformation Study Bible - Rejection by the Athenians of the Man whom God appointed will result in Jesus finally and justly rejecting them on that Day of Judgment. Paul stresses that God’s call to repentance and faith is not an invitation but a command. J
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MacArthur explains that "The resurrection of Jesus Christ showed God's approval of Him, and qualified Him as judge. There are no excuses now—the proof of the Word of the Lord is all in. Sinners will be judged by what they do with that truth." (SEE Acts 13-28 MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Page 142) Christ’s RESURRECTION is the Father’s “AMEN” to His Son's declaration “IT IS FINISHED.” (See Tetelestai) Furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead - Death has always been man's greatest, and finally victorious, enemy (1Cor 15:26), and only the Creator of life, the Judge who imposed the sentence of death because of sin (Ge 3:17-20+), can conquer death. The founders and leaders of all other religions and philosophies eventually die, but Jesus Christ is alive! His tomb is empty, and He has ascended in His resurrection body to the Father in heaven. His bodily resurrection, which is the best-proved fact of biblical history, is the certain assurance that He is the Creator and Judge of all. And it is also the greatest assurance that we too will be raised bodily to walk in newness of life in His very presence some day (soon) - see 1 Cor 15:20-22. Swindoll says with the resurrection Paul dropped a bombshell into their philosophical systems - For the Epicureans, who believed death was the disassembly and dissemination of one’s atoms—which became parts of a billion other things—resurrection required the destruction of those other things in order to be reassembled. For the Stoics, who embraced death as one’s reunification with the logos, resurrection re-created the problem death had solved. (SEE Insights on Acts)