16th Sep 26 | 18:33
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Reasoning the Gospel
📖 Acts 17:01-03
Acts 17 - Series 01/Episode 04 - Wed 16th Sep 2026 - Reasoning the Gospel - Acts 17:01-09 - MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA - Acts 13:42-45
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Acts 17:1-3 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. (2) Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (3) explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."
The strategy and method that Paul and the team employed in sharing the Gospel were to reason with the Jews and the Gentiles about it. Acts 17:17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
This method of reasoning with people about the Gospel caused provocation. Acts 14:1-4 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. (2) But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. (3) Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. (4) But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Paul reasoned with people about the Gospel. This led him to confront people about their sin and lead people to follow Jesus. This method of reasoning and teaching the Gospel was accompanied by miracles, signs and wonders, by which people were made to see the truth of the Gospel. Since the teaching confronted people with their sin and called them to repentance, there was resistance to the Gospel, leading to persecution. Acts 14:5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,
The method of reasoning the Gospel with people was employed also by Stephen. Acts 6:8-10 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. (9) Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. (10) And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Stephen was allowed to defend his reasoning, and this was the glorious message that Stephen preached in Acts 7. Acts 7:1 Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" Stephen concluded his defence with a strong and passionate call to repentance and submitting to God. Acts 7:51-53 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. (52) Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, (53) who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."
The defence of Stephen pierced the heart of the people. Acts 7:54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. They should have repented, but they turned against him. Acts 7:57-59 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; (58) and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. (59) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Our preaching must come out of the reasoning that we have done both before and after we defend/preach the Gospel. This implies that our life is continuously reasoning the Gospel with different audiences, and out of this reasoning emerges our defence or preaching of the Gospel.
The method of reasoning the Gospel, accompanied by miracles, that Paul and the others exercised, causes strong reactions and repercussions. This was what took place in Antioch Pisidia. Acts 13:42-45 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. (43) Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. (44) On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. (45) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
If we were to follow this pattern of reasoning the Gospel, our lives would be fully engaged in the task of the Gospel, since reasoning the Gospel with different audiences is an ongoing activity.
Learning: Let us reason the Gospel with people.
Valentine Davidarvalentinedavidar@gmail.com
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