27th Oct 26 | 04:00
Daily Study
Opposition to the Gospel
Acts 17 - Series 02/Episode 17 - Sun 25th Oct 2026 - Opposition to the Gospel - Acts 17:10-15 - MINISTRY IN BEREA - John 15:18-20
Acts 17:13-14 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. (14) Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there.
The Jews had instigated and created much trouble for the apostles in Thessalonica. Acts 17:5-8 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. (6) But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. (7) Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king-Jesus." (8) And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.
The Jews had succeeded in putting Paul and Silas in prison, but we know that the Lord delivered them. Acts 16:26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. The magistrates had to come and release Paul and Silas from the prison. Acts 16:39 Then they came and pleaded with them and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
The Jews of Thessalonica were not satisfied. Hearing that the Gospel had reached Berea, they came there and stirred the crowds against Paul and the team and against the Gospel.
Why is there this relentless hatred and violence against the Gospel and the messengers of the Gospel? The central truth is that the Gospel confronts the darkness of sin, exposes the devil's works, calls people to repentance, and proclaims Jesus Christ as Lord. Consequently, those who reject Christ also oppose His messengers. John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
People do not want to come out of sin. Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, The world hates Jesus because He convicts it of sin. John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
This is what our Lord said. John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (20) Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
The devil does not want the seed of God's word sown in the hearts of people to germinate and bear fruit. Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
What has been the primary difficulty and unwillingness of the Jews to receive the Gospel? Romans 10:2-4 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. / Romans 9:31-33 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. (33) As it is written: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STUMBLING STONE AND ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME."
For all of these reasons, the people of the world and especially the Jews have opposed the Gospel. Acts 4:17-18 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." (18) So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. / Acts 5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
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