Paul and Silas
were rejoicing over the
00:01:36.39\00:01:38.78
church that they
have planted in Macedonia
00:01:38.79\00:01:41.50
and they were
bearing in their bodies
00:01:41.51\00:01:42.97
the marks of their ministry.
00:01:42.98\00:01:44.32
We don't know
how long they stayed
00:01:45.10\00:01:46.79
at the house of
Lydia after they were
00:01:46.80\00:01:48.71
released from
prison, but we do know
00:01:48.72\00:01:51.14
the journey they
took when they left the
00:01:51.15\00:01:52.87
Roman colony of
Philippi. "When they had
00:01:52.88\00:01:55.79
passed through Amphipolis
00:01:55.80\00:01:56.98
and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica,
00:01:56.99\00:01:59.49
where there was a
Jewish synagogue."
00:01:59.50\00:02:01.72
Yes, Paul and
Silas would have walked
00:02:01.73\00:02:04.09
the 30 miles
from Philippi down to
00:02:04.10\00:02:07.57
Amphipolis, a city
surrounded by water
00:02:07.58\00:02:10.37
on three sides. I
have often wondered what
00:02:10.38\00:02:13.44
they have talked
about as they walked along
00:02:13.45\00:02:15.51
that journey. They
must have rejoiced at
00:02:15.52\00:02:17.94
how God had worked
miraculously to save
00:02:17.95\00:02:20.65
that Spirit possessed
girl and how he turned
00:02:20.66\00:02:24.56
the tables in the very
jailor that had put them
00:02:24.57\00:02:26.55
in prison had
become a believer in Jesus.
00:02:26.56\00:02:28.98
Yes, they were
rejoicing as they walked along.
00:02:28.99\00:02:32.85
I wondered, was it
easy for them to walk
00:02:32.86\00:02:35.01
after receiving
such a severe beating.
00:02:35.02\00:02:37.43
They didn't tarry
here at Amphipolis,
00:02:38.26\00:02:40.79
they must have
left the next morning
00:02:40.80\00:02:42.96
because it was not a
Jewish Synagogue here.
00:02:42.97\00:02:45.06
They were headed down
to the great port city
00:02:45.07\00:02:47.66
of Thessalonica. And
as they left the city
00:02:47.67\00:02:50.89
they walked
under the watchful gaze
00:02:50.90\00:02:53.86
of this magnificent lion statue.
00:02:53.87\00:02:57.10
This statue had
been carved perhaps to
00:02:57.11\00:03:00.19
commemorate a
military victory of
00:03:00.20\00:03:02.15
Philip of
Macedonia. They walked under
00:03:02.16\00:03:05.64
its watchful gaze
heading down to the
00:03:05.65\00:03:08.32
great port of Apollonia.
It was here at this port
00:03:08.33\00:03:12.85
that Alexander the
Great's wife and son
00:03:12.86\00:03:15.50
were murdered after his death.
00:03:15.51\00:03:17.18
But, they didn't
tarry in this city either
00:03:18.07\00:03:19.96
because that was
not a Jewish Synagogue.
00:03:19.97\00:03:22.12
Instead they
pressed on down to the
00:03:22.13\00:03:24.77
great port city of Thessalonica.
00:03:24.78\00:03:27.59
This city was built by Cassander
00:03:29.28\00:03:31.63
and named after his
wife who was the daughter of
00:03:32.34\00:03:35.02
Philip of
Macedon and the sister of
00:03:35.03\00:03:37.42
Alexander the Great. This was a
00:03:37.43\00:03:40.09
tremendous city,
built along the Coast at the
00:03:40.10\00:03:43.41
Northern end of
the Thermaic Gulf.
00:03:43.42\00:03:45.49
Today the Gulf is
known as the Gulf of Salonika
00:03:45.50\00:03:49.42
as the name of the
town has been shortened.
00:03:49.43\00:03:52.19
This was a great
city and very strategic
00:03:52.97\00:03:55.73
for the Roman
province of Macedonia.
00:03:55.74\00:03:58.34
It was the capital
of that province in
00:03:58.35\00:04:00.84
Paul's day and had
a commercial success
00:04:00.85\00:04:04.24
approaching that of
Ephesus and Corinth.
00:04:04.25\00:04:06.73
Strabo referred
to this city as the
00:04:07.23\00:04:10.46
most important of Macedon.
00:04:10.47\00:04:12.89
The white tower
behind me is a very important
00:04:13.56\00:04:16.46
landmark for the
modern city of Salonika.
00:04:16.47\00:04:18.99
But, that tower
will be built over a
00:04:19.48\00:04:21.08
thousand years after
Paul visited the city.
00:04:21.09\00:04:23.47
Also the Arch of
Galerius is a very
00:04:24.36\00:04:27.61
important
monument. There still on the
00:04:27.62\00:04:30.72
Egnatian way.
But, this will be built
00:04:30.73\00:04:33.72
several centuries
after Paul as well.
00:04:33.73\00:04:35.68
Yet, is a
powerful testimony to the
00:04:36.53\00:04:38.77
presence of Rome
in this the capital of
00:04:38.78\00:04:41.86
Roman province of Macedonia.
00:04:41.87\00:04:44.46
This was the great
commercial shipping
00:04:45.33\00:04:47.76
center in Paul's
day as it is in ours.
00:04:47.77\00:04:50.70
But, Paul was not
attracted to this city
00:04:50.71\00:04:53.10
because of its
commercial success
00:04:53.92\00:04:55.89
or because it had a great port.
00:04:55.90\00:04:58.09
He was attracted
here because there was a
00:04:58.10\00:05:00.91
Jewish Synagogue.
"As his custom was,
00:05:00.92\00:05:04.15
Paul went into the synagogue,
00:05:04.16\00:05:06.01
and on three Sabbath
days he reasoned with
00:05:06.02\00:05:08.60
them from the
Scriptures, explaining
00:05:08.61\00:05:11.13
and proving that
the Christ had to suffer
00:05:11.14\00:05:13.45
and rise from the
dead. This Jesus I am
00:05:13.46\00:05:16.31
proclaiming to you
is the Christ, he said."
00:05:16.32\00:05:19.54
He attended the Synagogue on the
00:05:19.98\00:05:21.36
Sabbath and there
he reasoned with them
00:05:21.37\00:05:23.19
from the Scriptures.
For three Sabbath days
00:05:23.20\00:05:26.15
proving that
Jesus was the Christ.
00:05:26.16\00:05:29.74
Do you notice it says,
his source of authority,
00:05:30.51\00:05:33.34
he was proving to
them from the Scriptures.
00:05:33.35\00:05:36.81
What Scripture do
you think he used?
00:05:36.82\00:05:38.76
Matthew? Romans? Galatians?
00:05:38.77\00:05:42.17
No, that had not
been written yet!
00:05:42.18\00:05:45.04
His source of
authority was appealing to
00:05:45.05\00:05:48.13
the Scriptures
the Hebrew Scriptures
00:05:48.14\00:05:50.05
what we call today
in the Christian world
00:05:50.06\00:05:52.11
the Old
Testament. Proving from them
00:05:52.12\00:05:55.27
that Jesus was
the Christ that is
00:05:55.28\00:05:57.50
that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:05:57.51\00:06:00.32
We've come up
here to the upper part
00:06:01.74\00:06:04.04
of the city. Where
I am standing on the
00:06:04.05\00:06:07.01
Byzantine walls part
of the ancient defenses
00:06:07.02\00:06:10.56
of the city. This
spot provides a tremendous
00:06:10.57\00:06:13.92
view of the
harboring city below.
00:06:13.93\00:06:16.28
And it's a
wonderful place where I can
00:06:17.01\00:06:19.59
open to you the
Scriptures as Paul was
00:06:19.60\00:06:22.61
doing to the
Jews in the Synagogue
00:06:22.62\00:06:25.49
thousands of years
ago here in this city.
00:06:25.50\00:06:28.11
It said that he was
explaining and proving
00:06:28.80\00:06:32.57
or opening and
alleging. This word opening
00:06:32.58\00:06:36.34
is a very special
word, very rich in its usage
00:06:36.35\00:06:39.62
in the New
Testament. It was used by Luke
00:06:39.63\00:06:42.67
to describe Jesus
walking on the road
00:06:42.68\00:06:45.41
to Emmaus. They ask each other,
00:06:45.42\00:06:47.95
"Were not our
hearts burning within us
00:06:47.96\00:06:50.53
while he talked
with us on the road
00:06:50.54\00:06:53.00
and opened the
Scriptures to us?"
00:06:53.01\00:06:54.87
Jesus walked
with the two disciples
00:06:54.88\00:06:57.50
on the road to
Emmaus and as he walked with
00:06:57.51\00:07:00.00
them their hearts were downcast,
00:07:00.01\00:07:01.99
their hearts were
sadden and Jesus opened
00:07:02.00\00:07:05.28
the Scriptures to them
and they said our hearts
00:07:05.29\00:07:08.15
are burning
inside. Luke used it again
00:07:08.16\00:07:11.35
to describe when
Jesus met with the disciples
00:07:11.36\00:07:14.07
in the upper
room. "He said to them,
00:07:14.08\00:07:17.04
this is what I
told you while I was
00:07:17.05\00:07:19.09
still with you:
Everything must be
00:07:19.10\00:07:21.43
fulfilled that is
written about me in the
00:07:21.44\00:07:23.88
Law of Moses, the
Prophets and Psalms.
00:07:23.89\00:07:26.64
Then he opened
their minds so they could
00:07:26.65\00:07:30.03
understand the Scriptures.
00:07:30.04\00:07:31.31
He told them, This
is what is written,
00:07:31.32\00:07:33.40
that Christ will
suffer and rise from the dead
00:07:33.41\00:07:35.98
on the third
day, that repentance
00:07:35.99\00:07:37.72
and forgiveness of
sins will be preached in
00:07:37.73\00:07:39.81
his name to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem."
00:07:39.82\00:07:43.06
Jesus opened the
Scriptures to the
00:07:43.81\00:07:45.66
disciples and
then he opened their
00:07:45.67\00:07:47.90
understanding
about those Scriptures.
00:07:47.91\00:07:50.30
Paul followed
the same process here
00:07:50.31\00:07:52.61
in Thessalonica. He
went into the Synagogue
00:07:52.62\00:07:54.95
and he opened the
Scriptures before the
00:07:54.96\00:07:56.76
Jews and the God
fears who had gathered
00:07:56.77\00:07:58.87
for the Sabbath.
And then he opened
00:07:58.88\00:08:01.63
their
understanding by explaining how
00:08:01.64\00:08:04.04
those passages had been
fulfilled in the Messiah.
00:08:04.05\00:08:07.04
Yes, Paul
followed the same process
00:08:07.05\00:08:09.81
that Jesus did.
This word explaining
00:08:09.82\00:08:13.47
or proving is also
very, very important,
00:08:13.48\00:08:16.55
it means to
commit before someone,
00:08:16.56\00:08:19.38
to place before
someone. Paul read the text
00:08:19.39\00:08:23.90
and then he placed
along side of it the
00:08:23.91\00:08:26.15
fulfillment in
Jesus. Acts 17, verse 3,
00:08:26.16\00:08:29.99
"Explaining and
proving that the Christ
00:08:30.00\00:08:32.34
had to suffer and
rise from the dead."
00:08:32.35\00:08:35.15
Was Christ his name?
No, that was his title!
00:08:35.91\00:08:39.92
The word Christ
is the Greek word for
00:08:39.93\00:08:42.42
anointed one. It is
the equivalent of the
00:08:42.43\00:08:45.76
Hebrew Messiah. Paul
came into the Synagogue
00:08:45.77\00:08:49.32
and was alleging
and proving from the
00:08:49.72\00:08:51.96
Scriptures that Jesus
was the Christ that is
00:08:51.97\00:08:54.70
that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:08:54.71\00:08:56.48
The problem was at
this time the Jews commonly
00:08:56.49\00:09:00.10
believed that the
Messiah would come
00:09:00.11\00:09:02.23
and would deliver
the nation from the
00:09:02.24\00:09:04.41
occupation of the
Romans. They believed
00:09:04.42\00:09:07.40
the Messiah
would be a liberator.
00:09:07.41\00:09:09.17
Paul came to show
that the Messiah would
00:09:09.18\00:09:12.88
actually come and not
liberate his people from
00:09:12.89\00:09:16.10
the Roman bondage, but
liberate them from sin.
00:09:16.11\00:09:18.31
That he would not
be the great victor
00:09:18.32\00:09:20.47
but he would be the
one who would actually die
00:09:20.48\00:09:23.06
for the sins of
the people and indeed
00:09:23.07\00:09:25.23
the whole world and
then come back to life.
00:09:25.24\00:09:27.90
Paul following
the principles that
00:09:28.70\00:09:31.44
Jesus used, began
at Moses and all the
00:09:31.45\00:09:35.04
prophets and worked
through the passages
00:09:35.05\00:09:37.63
and then place
along side those messianic
00:09:37.64\00:09:41.36
prophecies the
fulfillment in Jesus
00:09:41.37\00:09:44.08
of Nazareth. I
wonder what prophecies
00:09:44.09\00:09:47.15
are used. I think
he probably started
00:09:47.16\00:09:49.99
with the first
messianic prophecy we read about
00:09:50.00\00:09:52.80
in Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 15.
00:09:52.81\00:09:55.96
"And I will put
enmity between you
00:09:56.76\00:09:58.48
and the woman, and
between your offspring
00:09:58.49\00:10:00.52
and hers; he
will crush your head,
00:10:00.53\00:10:03.12
and you will strike his heel."
00:10:03.13\00:10:05.21
Yes, here we
have the first promise
00:10:05.86\00:10:07.94
of Messiah. The
Messiah was to be born
00:10:07.95\00:10:10.63
in the seed of a
women and then the Messiah
00:10:10.64\00:10:13.33
would crush the
head of the serpent,
00:10:13.34\00:10:15.31
a deadly wound is
here, predicted to take place
00:10:15.32\00:10:19.18
to the old
serpent that deceived them
00:10:19.19\00:10:21.16
there in the
garden Eden. But, in the
00:10:21.17\00:10:23.16
process the Messiah's
heel would be crushed.
00:10:23.17\00:10:26.69
We share with
them Genesis chapter 49
00:10:27.46\00:10:30.55
verse 10, where
Jacob on his death bed is
00:10:30.56\00:10:33.63
blessing his sons
and as he comes to Judah
00:10:33.64\00:10:36.64
he makes this
messianic prediction.
00:10:36.65\00:10:39.89
"The scepter will
not depart from Judah,
00:10:40.61\00:10:43.21
nor the ruler's staff
from between his feet,
00:10:43.22\00:10:46.00
until he comes
to whom it belongs
00:10:46.01\00:10:48.52
and the obedience
of the nations is his."
00:10:48.53\00:10:51.69
Yes, the old
patriarch Jacob predicted
00:10:51.70\00:10:55.19
that the scepter
would not depart from Judah,
00:10:55.20\00:10:58.31
that the rule of
authority would continue
00:10:58.32\00:11:01.25
through Judah until
the Messiah would come.
00:11:01.26\00:11:04.48
The King James
uses the word Shiloh,
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.53
this was
considered to be the Messiah
00:11:07.54\00:11:11.16
by the Jews of Paul's
day. Yes, it's predicted
00:11:11.17\00:11:13.98
that Judah would
continue on the other
00:11:13.99\00:11:16.05
tribes that largely disappeared,
00:11:16.06\00:11:17.59
Israel had gone into
oblivion but Judah had
00:11:17.60\00:11:20.99
continued until
the Messiah would come.
00:11:21.00\00:11:24.18
Then Paul read to
them the passage from
00:11:24.19\00:11:27.01
numbers 21 and verses 8 and 9.
00:11:27.02\00:11:30.86
Where Moses is
instructed by the Lord
00:11:30.87\00:11:34.10
to place a serpent upon a pole.
00:11:34.11\00:11:36.73
"The Lord said to
Moses, Make a snake
00:11:36.74\00:11:39.14
and put it up on a
pole; anyone who is bitten
00:11:39.15\00:11:42.04
can look at it and
live. So, Moses made a
00:11:42.05\00:11:45.27
bronze snake and
put it up on a pole.
00:11:45.28\00:11:48.18
Then when anyone
was bitten by a snake
00:11:48.19\00:11:50.51
and looked at the
bronze snake, he lived."
00:11:50.52\00:11:53.20
Did Paul share this
passage with the Jews
00:11:53.21\00:11:56.66
in the Synagogue? Of
how in the wilderness
00:11:56.67\00:11:59.19
when the snakes were
coming out and biting
00:11:59.20\00:12:01.44
the people that
the Lord instructed him
00:12:01.45\00:12:03.38
to put a snake up on a
pole, to lift the snake
00:12:03.39\00:12:07.64
up from the earth and
that people who looked
00:12:07.65\00:12:09.92
at that snake
would look and live.
00:12:09.93\00:12:12.26
Jesus had applied
that passage to himself
00:12:12.86\00:12:15.92
and in his
conversation with Nicodemus,
00:12:15.93\00:12:18.87
as the serpent
was lifted up in the
00:12:18.88\00:12:20.39
wilderness he
said: So, the son of man
00:12:20.40\00:12:22.16
must be lifted up
and all who would look at
00:12:22.17\00:12:25.34
Jesus would live.
Yes, Paul was placing
00:12:25.35\00:12:29.14
before them the
text and explaining
00:12:29.15\00:12:31.19
how they were
fulfilled in Jesus.
00:12:31.20\00:12:32.83
There was a
misconception that the
00:12:32.84\00:12:34.84
Messiah would
come and would destroy
00:12:34.85\00:12:36.83
the deliberately
occupying armies of Rome.
00:12:36.84\00:12:39.73
Paul was showing
that indeed the Messiah
00:12:40.40\00:12:43.27
would come and he
would destroy the very power
00:12:43.28\00:12:45.88
of sin by giving his own life.
00:12:45.89\00:12:48.57
He would be
lifted up from the earth
00:12:48.58\00:12:50.46
and all who look would live.
00:12:50.47\00:12:52.54
Certainly Paul would
have shared with them
00:12:53.17\00:12:54.81
the great passage
of Isaiah chapter 53.
00:12:54.82\00:12:58.71
Isaiah is called
the Gospel prophet
00:12:58.72\00:13:00.76
because he points
forth to the Messiah
00:13:00.77\00:13:02.96
so eloquently. "He was despised
00:13:02.97\00:13:05.65
and rejected by
men, a man of sorrows,
00:13:05.66\00:13:08.45
and familiar with
suffering. Like one from
00:13:08.46\00:13:11.92
whom men hide their
faces he was despised,
00:13:11.93\00:13:15.17
and we esteemed him
not. Surely he took up
00:13:15.18\00:13:18.12
our infirmities and
carried our sorrows,
00:13:18.13\00:13:20.36
yet we considered
him stricken by God,
00:13:20.37\00:13:22.52
smitten by him, and afflicted.
00:13:22.53\00:13:24.19
But he was pierced
for our transgressions,
00:13:24.20\00:13:27.00
he was crushed
for our iniquities;
00:13:27.01\00:13:29.37
the punishment
that brought us peace
00:13:29.38\00:13:31.44
was upon him, and by
his wounds we are healed.
00:13:31.45\00:13:34.30
We all like sheep
have astray, each of us has
00:13:34.31\00:13:37.69
turned to his own
way; and the Lord has
00:13:37.70\00:13:40.47
laid on him the
iniquity of us all.
00:13:40.48\00:13:42.75
He was oppressed and afflicted,
00:13:42.76\00:13:44.85
yet he did not open his mouth;
00:13:44.86\00:13:46.66
he was led like a
lamb to the slaughter,
00:13:46.67\00:13:49.28
and as a sheep before
her shearers is silent,
00:13:49.29\00:13:51.87
so he did not open his mouth."
00:13:51.88\00:13:54.61
What a
tremendous prediction of the
00:13:55.41\00:13:58.20
suffering
Messiah that would come.
00:13:58.21\00:14:00.41
Yes, he suffered for
our sins he was bruised
00:14:00.42\00:14:04.98
for our
iniquities, he was pierced.
00:14:04.99\00:14:07.65
Certainly Paul would
have read this passage
00:14:08.20\00:14:10.53
and explained how it
was directly fulfilled in
00:14:10.54\00:14:14.54
Jesus death on Calvary's cross.
00:14:14.55\00:14:17.57
Yes, the suffering
serpent is portrayed
00:14:18.13\00:14:21.07
here like a lamb
led to the slaughter.
00:14:21.08\00:14:24.14
Jesus died for us!
Jesus gave his life
00:14:24.94\00:14:29.77
that we might
have life and it says
00:14:29.78\00:14:32.29
by his stripes
referring to the lashes
00:14:32.30\00:14:34.85
he received on his
back by his stripes
00:14:34.86\00:14:37.57
we are healed.
Certainly Paul represented
00:14:37.58\00:14:41.97
this tremendous
passage before the Synagogue
00:14:41.98\00:14:44.87
here in Thessalonica.
Did Paul read to them
00:14:44.88\00:14:48.63
Daniel chapter
9. Daniel chapter 9
00:14:49.41\00:14:53.45
verses 25 to 27,
is one of the greatest
00:14:53.46\00:14:55.96
prophecies in the
Bible. Revealing that Jesus of
00:14:55.97\00:14:59.78
Nazareth is the
Messiah. Some believed to be
00:14:59.79\00:15:03.25
the greatest
prophecy in the Bible,
00:15:03.26\00:15:05.03
pinpointing that
Jesus of Nazareth
00:15:05.04\00:15:07.10
was the Messiah.
It was so powerful
00:15:07.11\00:15:10.36
that there was a
rabbinical curse placed
00:15:10.37\00:15:13.01
upon that
portion of the Scripture.
00:15:13.02\00:15:15.87
It went cursed be
the finger of the hand
00:15:15.88\00:15:18.74
of the arm of
the man that studies
00:15:18.75\00:15:21.35
the times of Daniel
9. Why such an incredible
00:15:21.36\00:15:25.54
curse? Cursed to be the finger,
00:15:25.55\00:15:27.70
the hand of the arm of the man.
00:15:27.71\00:15:29.80
Because this prophecy pinpoints
00:15:29.81\00:15:33.07
beyond the
shadow of the doubt that
00:15:33.08\00:15:35.29
Jesus of Nazareth
was indeed the Messiah.
00:15:35.30\00:15:38.46
Let me read it to you Daniel 9
00:15:38.47\00:15:40.91
verses 25 through
27, "Know and understand
00:15:40.92\00:15:44.84
this; From the issuing
of the decree to restore
00:15:44.85\00:15:47.29
and rebuild Jerusalem
until the Anointed One,
00:15:47.30\00:15:49.60
Hey, we read that before!
00:15:49.61\00:15:51.33
The Anointed One
the Messiah the Christ!
00:15:51.34\00:15:53.85
"Until the Anointed
One the Christ the Messiah,
00:15:53.86\00:15:57.59
the ruler, comes,
there will be seven 'sevens,'
00:15:57.60\00:16:00.74
and sixty-two
'sevens. It will be rebuilt
00:16:00.75\00:16:03.85
with the streets and a trench,
00:16:03.86\00:16:05.11
but in times of
trouble. And after the
00:16:05.12\00:16:07.55
sixty-two sevens,
the Anointed One that is
00:16:07.56\00:16:10.25
Christ will be cut off
and will have nothing."
00:16:10.26\00:16:12.93
Cut off means he
would be killed he would
00:16:12.94\00:16:15.51
have nothing, the same language
00:16:15.52\00:16:17.00
that we read there
are in Isaiah chapter 53,
00:16:17.01\00:16:19.38
"The people of the
ruler who will come
00:16:20.34\00:16:22.09
will destroy the
city and the sanctuary.
00:16:22.10\00:16:24.15
The end will come like a flood:
00:16:24.16\00:16:25.77
War will continue until the end,
00:16:25.78\00:16:27.95
and desolations
have been decreed."
00:16:27.96\00:16:30.81
And then we come to verse 27,
00:16:30.82\00:16:33.04
He that is the
Messiah, the Christ.
00:16:33.05\00:16:35.47
The Anointed One will
confirm a covenant with
00:16:36.23\00:16:38.81
many for one
seven. And in the middle
00:16:38.82\00:16:41.27
of the seven he will
put an end to sacrifice
00:16:41.28\00:16:43.47
and offering."
Yes, I'm certain that
00:16:43.48\00:16:46.55
Paul would have read this text,
00:16:46.56\00:16:48.00
for in the
Galatians chapter 4, verse 4
00:16:48.01\00:16:50.32
he said, When
the fullness of time
00:16:50.33\00:16:52.32
would come God
sent forth his Son,
00:16:52.33\00:16:54.18
born of a woman
born under the law
00:16:54.19\00:16:56.31
that he might
redeem those under the law.
00:16:56.32\00:16:58.97
Yes, Paul believed
the foulness of time had
00:16:59.74\00:17:04.37
come the great
prophetic clock of
00:17:04.38\00:17:06.29
Daniel chapter 9 had struck.
00:17:06.30\00:17:08.21
The time had come
for the Anointed One
00:17:08.22\00:17:11.36
the ruler to be presented before
00:17:11.37\00:17:14.92
the people of Judah.
And indeed this prophecy
00:17:14.93\00:17:18.98
was fulfilled in a beautiful way
00:17:18.99\00:17:21.68
in the life of Jesus.
There are so many other
00:17:21.69\00:17:25.70
fantastic
prophecies that Paul would have
00:17:25.71\00:17:28.78
set before the people there.
00:17:28.79\00:17:30.72
Prophecies like Isaiah chapter 9
00:17:30.73\00:17:33.37
and verses 6 and 7,
"For unto us a child is born,
00:17:33.38\00:17:37.56
to us a son is
given and the government
00:17:37.57\00:17:39.47
will be on his
shoulders. And he will
00:17:39.48\00:17:41.04
called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
00:17:41.05\00:17:44.01
Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
00:17:44.02\00:17:46.08
Of the increase
for the government
00:17:46.09\00:17:48.16
and peace there will be no end.
00:17:48.17\00:17:49.92
He will reign on David's throne
00:17:49.93\00:17:51.77
and over his
kingdom, establishing
00:17:51.78\00:17:53.36
and upholding it with justice
00:17:53.37\00:17:54.78
and
righteousness from that time on
00:17:54.79\00:17:56.83
and forever." Yes for
onto us a child is born
00:17:56.84\00:18:01.05
and onto us a Son is
given. Paul would have
00:18:01.06\00:18:04.03
revealed how Jesus was
born of the Virgin Mary.
00:18:04.04\00:18:07.43
How that he was born
miraculously conceived
00:18:07.44\00:18:11.46
of the Holy Spirit.
He would share with them
00:18:11.47\00:18:13.76
the story of what had
happened with the priest
00:18:13.77\00:18:16.17
there in the temple
how the Angel Gabriel
00:18:16.18\00:18:18.80
appeared to them and
said, you will have a
00:18:18.81\00:18:20.15
son in your old age
and your wife was bearing
00:18:20.16\00:18:22.46
all these years she
will become pregnant
00:18:22.47\00:18:24.52
and you give a birth to a son
00:18:24.53\00:18:26.00
and you won't
call him Zachariah,
00:18:26.01\00:18:27.41
you call him John.
For he will make the way
00:18:27.42\00:18:31.40
for the Messiah, he
will prepare the road
00:18:31.41\00:18:34.32
for Messiah to
come. Certainly Paul would
00:18:34.33\00:18:36.65
have shared that story with them
00:18:36.66\00:18:37.88
he would have shared
how that the angel appeared
00:18:37.89\00:18:40.50
to Mary there in
Nazareth. And how
00:18:40.51\00:18:42.67
that is a virgin
she gave birth to Jesus.
00:18:42.68\00:18:45.69
He would have
continued by sharing
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.35
the 16th Psalm
that describes how
00:18:48.36\00:18:51.57
the Messiah would be resurrected
00:18:51.58\00:18:52.85
from the death that
he would not be left
00:18:52.86\00:18:54.36
in the grave that
his body would not suffer
00:18:54.37\00:18:57.19
corruption that
he would come forth
00:18:57.20\00:18:58.55
from the grave.
They be resurrected back
00:18:58.56\00:19:01.24
to life, certainly
he would have shared
00:19:01.25\00:19:03.13
with them the 22th
Psalm that describes
00:19:03.14\00:19:05.67
how he would be
pierced and describes
00:19:05.68\00:19:07.66
the details of how
his life would be taken.
00:19:07.67\00:19:10.88
Yes, Scripture was full
of prophecies predicting
00:19:11.40\00:19:15.36
the suffering
aspect of the Messiah.
00:19:15.37\00:19:17.43
One day He will come
as the conquering king,
00:19:17.44\00:19:20.25
one day He will come
as the delivering king
00:19:20.26\00:19:22.90
but that will be
as a second coming
00:19:22.91\00:19:24.43
not his first
coming. Paul would have
00:19:24.44\00:19:26.57
explained all of
the passages were
00:19:26.58\00:19:29.02
fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
00:19:29.03\00:19:31.69
And it was quite
successful as Luke
00:19:32.47\00:19:34.37
notes in Acts
chapter 17 and verse 4
00:19:34.38\00:19:37.09
where he says, "some
of the Jews were persuaded
00:19:37.10\00:19:39.90
and joined Paul and
Silas, as day a large
00:19:39.91\00:19:42.67
number of
God-fearing Greeks and not a few
00:19:42.68\00:19:45.54
prominent women."
Yes there were number of
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.96
Jews who believed in
Jesus as their Messiah
00:19:47.97\00:19:51.27
here in this city.
And a large number of God
00:19:51.28\00:19:54.77
fearing Greeks.
Remember when we looked
00:19:54.78\00:19:57.41
at the God fearing
Greeks we were back in
00:19:57.42\00:20:00.00
Asia minor and we
discovered that the God
00:20:00.01\00:20:02.28
fearing Greeks
were people who had not
00:20:02.29\00:20:04.08
be circumcised, they
had not gone all the way
00:20:04.09\00:20:06.34
to become Jews
but they preferred
00:20:06.35\00:20:09.18
the monotheistic
religion of the Jews.
00:20:09.19\00:20:11.76
They were
supportive, they were sensitive
00:20:11.77\00:20:14.32
they preferred this
religion, but did not go
00:20:14.33\00:20:17.96
all the way to become Jews.
00:20:17.97\00:20:19.99
Well, a number of
the God fearing Greeks
00:20:20.00\00:20:22.19
here in this city
a large number became
00:20:22.20\00:20:24.27
believers in
Jesus as their Messiah.
00:20:24.28\00:20:27.07
And then Luke notes
that a number of prominent
00:20:27.08\00:20:31.17
women of this
city also believed.
00:20:31.18\00:20:33.84
Yes, it was a
powerful experience,
00:20:33.85\00:20:36.34
a wonderful experience,
a successful experience.
00:20:36.35\00:20:39.12
We don't know how long Paul
00:20:39.67\00:20:41.34
stayed here in the
city. Luke records that he
00:20:41.35\00:20:44.25
taught for three Sabbaths
00:20:44.26\00:20:45.88
in the
Synagogues. Apparently then he
00:20:45.89\00:20:48.54
moved to the house of Jason.
00:20:48.55\00:20:50.14
For in Philippians
chapter 4 the apostle
00:20:50.15\00:20:54.70
remembers how that
the church of Philippi
00:20:54.71\00:20:57.07
sent financial aid
to him on two separate
00:20:57.08\00:20:59.94
occasions while he
was here in this city.
00:20:59.95\00:21:02.21
Probably Paul had
spent several months teaching
00:21:03.13\00:21:06.54
the new converts, nurturing the
00:21:06.55\00:21:08.60
young church. Yes,
a large number of God
00:21:08.61\00:21:12.86
fearing Gentiles and
not a few prominent women
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.97
believed in this
city along with many Jews.
00:21:15.98\00:21:18.78
This was
powerful, it was tremendous;
00:21:18.79\00:21:21.33
it was exciting to
see a church developing
00:21:21.34\00:21:24.59
here in the Macedonian
capital of Thessalonica.
00:21:24.60\00:21:28.28
And yet the
Devil was not excited,
00:21:28.29\00:21:30.61
he was threatened.
"But the Jews were jealous;
00:21:30.62\00:21:33.97
so they rounded up
some bad characters from the
00:21:33.98\00:21:36.75
marketplace,
formed a mob and started
00:21:36.76\00:21:39.19
a riot in the city.
They rushed to Jason's house
00:21:39.20\00:21:42.25
in search of Paul
and Silas in order to
00:21:42.26\00:21:44.21
bring them out to the crowd.
00:21:44.22\00:21:45.61
But they did not find
them, they dragged Jason
00:21:45.62\00:21:49.02
and some other brothers before
00:21:49.03\00:21:50.37
the city officials, shouting:
00:21:50.38\00:21:51.78
These Men who have
caused trouble over all
00:21:51.79\00:21:53.83
the world have now come here,
00:21:53.84\00:21:55.40
and Jason has
welcomed them into his house.
00:21:55.41\00:21:57.72
They're all
defying Caesar's decree,
00:21:57.73\00:22:00.21
saying that
there is another King,
00:22:00.22\00:22:01.99
one called Jesus.
When they heard this,
00:22:02.00\00:22:04.47
the crowd and the
city officials were thrown
00:22:04.48\00:22:06.79
into turmoil.
Then they made Jason
00:22:06.80\00:22:09.31
and the others post
bond and let them go.
00:22:09.32\00:22:11.72
Satan's kingdom was
threatened here in the
00:22:13.07\00:22:15.04
Roman capital of Macedonia.
00:22:15.05\00:22:16.70
So, he stirred up
the people against
00:22:16.71\00:22:19.90
Paul and Silas here in the city.
00:22:19.91\00:22:21.78
It's interesting
that in Philippi was the
00:22:22.59\00:22:25.12
Roman citizens who
accused Paul and Silas
00:22:25.13\00:22:28.33
of being Jews and have
coming in to their city
00:22:28.34\00:22:31.23
advocating customs
not lawful for Romans
00:22:31.24\00:22:34.03
to accept. You see, it
was not permissible for
00:22:34.04\00:22:37.69
Jews to
proselytize Roman citizens
00:22:37.70\00:22:41.12
and thus they were
accused of proselytizing
00:22:41.13\00:22:44.15
in the city of
Philippi. But, here in
00:22:44.16\00:22:46.76
Thessalonica it was
the Jews who accused
00:22:46.77\00:22:49.76
Paul and Silas
of advocating a King
00:22:49.77\00:22:55.09
other than Caesar.
Yes, that's right they were
00:22:55.10\00:22:57.92
accusing them of
sedition of presenting
00:22:57.93\00:23:00.77
another King other than Caesar.
00:23:00.78\00:23:02.79
It is very interesting that the
00:23:03.68\00:23:05.22
public officials
see beneath their
00:23:05.23\00:23:09.17
base accusations.
They recognize that
00:23:09.18\00:23:12.42
this envy that is
motivating the Jews
00:23:12.43\00:23:14.61
here in the city to
reject the teachings of
00:23:14.62\00:23:17.34
Paul and Silas.
So, they allow Jason
00:23:17.35\00:23:20.05
and some of the other
believers who had been
00:23:20.06\00:23:22.01
brought before them to
post bond and to leave.
00:23:22.02\00:23:25.28
It's very
interesting that the tactic
00:23:25.95\00:23:28.72
used before
Pontius Pilate against
00:23:28.73\00:23:32.00
Jesus worked. But,
it did not worked here
00:23:32.01\00:23:36.13
in the city of Thessalonica.
00:23:36.14\00:23:37.75
"As soon as it was
night the brothers sent
00:23:38.83\00:23:41.19
Paul and Silas away to Berea.
00:23:41.20\00:23:43.12
On arriving there,
they went to the Jewish
00:23:43.13\00:23:45.76
synagogue." Luke
says that they had to live
00:23:45.77\00:23:49.26
the city of Thessalonica under
00:23:49.27\00:23:50.78
the cover of
darkness. And they had traveled
00:23:50.79\00:23:53.13
the 50 miles in land to Berea.
00:23:53.14\00:23:55.87
This was the area of
the home of Philip of
00:23:55.88\00:23:59.91
Macedonia and
Alexander the Great.
00:23:59.92\00:24:02.65
Here they received a
very different reception
00:24:03.35\00:24:06.33
than they received
here at Thessalonica.
00:24:06.34\00:24:08.21
As we shall see in
the future episode.
00:24:08.22\00:24:10.71
Paul left Timothy here
in the city to encourage
00:24:12.46\00:24:16.52
the new church, to strengthen
00:24:16.53\00:24:18.67
the new church.
He loved this church,
00:24:18.68\00:24:21.54
later he would talk
about when he had to
00:24:21.55\00:24:23.81
live prematurely that
it was like being orphaned
00:24:23.82\00:24:26.56
because he was taken
away from his children.
00:24:26.57\00:24:29.02
When Paul and
Timothy were down in Athens,
00:24:29.65\00:24:33.06
Paul's heart was
concerned about the
00:24:33.76\00:24:36.37
church here in
this city. And he had
00:24:36.38\00:24:39.05
Timothy return here
to capital of Macedonia,
00:24:39.06\00:24:42.42
to be with the
church even though it meant
00:24:42.43\00:24:45.00
that Paul would be alone there
00:24:45.01\00:24:46.98
in the great city of Athens.
00:24:46.99\00:24:48.81
Paul writes to the
church and reminds them
00:24:48.82\00:24:51.83
of this in First
Thessalonians chapter 3
00:24:51.84\00:24:54.58
verses 1 through 3.
"So when we could stand it
00:24:54.59\00:24:58.39
no longer, we
thought it best to be left by
00:24:58.40\00:25:00.85
ourselves in
Athens. We sent Timothy,
00:25:00.86\00:25:03.54
who is our brother
and God's fellow worker
00:25:03.55\00:25:06.00
in spreading the gospel
of Christ, to strengthen
00:25:06.01\00:25:08.61
and encourage you in your faith,
00:25:08.62\00:25:10.33
so that no one
would be unsettled
00:25:10.34\00:25:12.28
by these trials.
Paul was concerned
00:25:12.29\00:25:14.96
about the church
and so he sent Timothy
00:25:14.97\00:25:17.46
from Athens back
up to the city here in
00:25:17.47\00:25:20.60
Macedonia to
encourage the church,
00:25:20.61\00:25:22.99
to pastor and
nurture the church.
00:25:23.00\00:25:24.79
This meant that Paul
would be alone in the
00:25:24.80\00:25:27.17
Great University City of Athens.
00:25:27.18\00:25:29.15
Where he would witness
there on the Areus Pagus
00:25:29.16\00:25:31.81
the supreme court of
Athens where his faith,
00:25:31.82\00:25:35.40
he would be
alone there but he was
00:25:35.41\00:25:37.20
encouraged to know
that Timothy was here
00:25:37.21\00:25:39.07
in this city
with he young church.
00:25:39.08\00:25:40.50
Yes, Timothy
returns from Thessalonica to
00:25:41.17\00:25:46.07
join Paul in the
great city of Corinth
00:25:46.08\00:25:49.15
and there he
brings a report of how God
00:25:49.16\00:25:51.97
had blessed the
church here in this city.
00:25:51.98\00:25:54.17
Paul is so
encouraged that he takes out
00:25:54.18\00:25:56.54
of his pen and his
paper and he writes a letter
00:25:56.55\00:25:59.82
a pastoral letter
to the church here.
00:25:59.83\00:26:02.31
This would be
the first of Paul's
00:26:02.91\00:26:05.13
thirteen Pastoral Epistles.
00:26:05.14\00:26:07.50
And many believed
that there would be the
00:26:07.51\00:26:09.13
first document of
what we know today
00:26:09.14\00:26:11.44
is the New Testament.
Yes, this church where
00:26:11.45\00:26:15.00
Jews had accepted
Jesus as their Messiah.
00:26:15.01\00:26:18.58
This church where
Greeks had turned from idols
00:26:18.59\00:26:23.13
to accept Jesus
as their Messiah.
00:26:23.14\00:26:25.22
This city had
been transformed by the
00:26:25.23\00:26:28.63
power of the Gospel
as people had accepted
00:26:28.64\00:26:31.77
Jesus as their
Christ, as their Messiah.
00:26:31.78\00:26:35.42
Like Paul we've
gone back and looked at
00:26:36.01\00:26:38.88
many of the great prophecies
00:26:38.89\00:26:40.71
of the Messiah. Found
in the Hebrew's Scriptures
00:26:40.72\00:26:43.60
and we've seen how
they had been minutely
00:26:43.61\00:26:46.23
fulfilled and the life death
00:26:46.24\00:26:48.57
and resurrection of
Jesus. I wonder perhaps
00:26:48.58\00:26:52.44
for the very
first time you've seen
00:26:52.45\00:26:54.65
this prophesies filled in Jesus.
00:26:54.66\00:26:56.91
And perhaps the
Holy Spirit had spoken
00:26:58.29\00:26:59.97
to your heart and it's
prompting you to accept
00:26:59.98\00:27:03.48
Jesus as your
Christ as your Messiah.
00:27:03.49\00:27:06.92
For some of you,
this may be the very
00:27:07.52\00:27:08.99
first time, you
made a choice like that.
00:27:09.00\00:27:11.07
For others you
reaffirming a choice
00:27:11.08\00:27:13.63
that you've made
before. But, I want to encourage
00:27:13.64\00:27:16.70
all of you to take
this most important step
00:27:16.71\00:27:19.72
of all to accept
Jesus as your Christ
00:27:19.73\00:27:22.82
as your Messiah
and as your Lord.
00:27:22.83\00:27:25.78
Join me as we
pray! Father in heaven,
00:27:25.79\00:27:29.01
we thank you so much
for the tremendous story
00:27:29.02\00:27:31.74
of Paul and Silas
coming down from Philippi
00:27:31.75\00:27:34.05
to the Roman
capital of Macedonia
00:27:34.06\00:27:36.75
and how they
presented in the Synagogue
00:27:36.76\00:27:39.16
that Jesus of
Nazareth was indeed the Christ,
00:27:39.17\00:27:42.70
the Messiah. And
like those early believers
00:27:42.71\00:27:45.14
we want to accept
you as our Messiah
00:27:45.15\00:27:47.58
as our Lord and we
pray that you will bring
00:27:47.59\00:27:50.30
to us the same joy
that you brought to them.
00:27:50.31\00:27:52.80
Thank you for this
wonderful confidence
00:27:52.81\00:27:55.22
that we could have in you,
00:27:55.23\00:27:56.27
we pray in Jesus name, amen.
00:27:56.28\00:27:59.07
Yes, it's thrilling to
have confidence in Jesus
00:27:59.08\00:28:02.43
as our Messiah,
our Christ, our Lord.
00:28:02.44\00:28:05.68
Timothy had brought
an encouraging report to
00:28:05.69\00:28:08.74
Paul down in
Corinth of the church
00:28:08.75\00:28:10.47
here in this city. But,
he also shared a concern
00:28:10.48\00:28:13.38
tragedy had taken
place here in this city,
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.12
one of the early
believers had died
00:28:16.13\00:28:18.78
and it shattered
the peace and security
00:28:18.79\00:28:21.60
of the community.
Paul from his pastor
00:28:21.61\00:28:24.82
heart writes a
beautiful teaching
00:28:24.83\00:28:26.64
about the blessed
hope that the believers
00:28:26.65\00:28:28.85
have in Jesus, that
even death can not take
00:28:28.86\00:28:33.03
that hope away. The
next episode would be
00:28:33.04\00:28:35.94
"The Blessed
Hope" that Paul shares
00:28:35.95\00:28:38.28
with the church
here in Thessalonica.
00:28:38.29\00:28:41.16