Turned the World Upside Down

Acts 17:6

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.

 

How glorious! What a reputation to have! But did the men really turn the world upside down or did the message the men preached turn the world upside down? I am sure that the perspective of an unbeliever would be to attach significance to the person and not to the message. What was the message, and how did it affect people?

 

Paul was at the Thessalonian synagogue on the Sabbath day explaining and proving that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. No beating around the bush! Some did believe that day, but the Jews were jealous, and out of their jealousy came wickedness. They took some wicked men[ ironically they thought other men were wicked and not themselves] and formed a mob to set the city in an uproar. During which time, they attacked the house of Jason who was exposed as the man who had housed Paul and Silas. Jason was freed and only had to pay a fine.[so like bureaucracy].

 

That night Paul and Silas were sent away to Berea. Once again Paul went to the synagogue on the Sabbath to proclaim a message that did and will continue to turn the world upside down. Now these Jews were more noble than the Thessalonians. They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many believed. But into the mix came the wickedly, jealous Jews who had followed Paul and Silas and were stirring up and agitating the crowds in Berea.  

 

To answer my questions, the message was was the necessity of Christ's suffering for salvation a message that has divided many. It is a message that demands a choice, believe and accept or disbelieve and reject. Belief brings a transformed life, but disbelief brings all manner of evil responses. The Thessalonian Jews not only rejected the message, but were also jealous of the power of the Word. As if that was not enought, they wanted no one else to have it. These rabble-rousing Jews were falling into the footsteps of their leaders. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.  But at the same time there were those who embraced the Word with diligence. The Bereans received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily.

 

Father,

Give me the boldness to speak Your message so others will be brought face to face with it. Draw them. Grant them repentance so that they are eagerly reading Your words.

In Jesus name,

Amen