Thematic Bible

Themes in Acts 17

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Themes in Acts 17

Acts 17:1 (show verse)

Now when they [Note: A change from the use of "we" to "they" suggests that the writer Luke remained behind in Philippi at this point] had traveled through the [Macedonian] towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to [the city of] Thessalonica where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Amphipolis » A city » A city of macedonia
Apollonia » A city » A city of macedonia
Law » Expounded by » In synagogues
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Visits amphipolis, apollonia, and thessalonica; preaches in the synagogue
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Synagogue » other cities
Synagogues » The apostles frequently taught and preached in
Thessalonica » Paul visits

Acts 17:2 (show verse)

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, [and] for three Sabbath days [in a row] he taught them from the Scriptures,

Christ » Reproves » Of Christ, a central truth of the gospel
Greece » Inhabitants of » Accept the messiah
Law » Expounded by » In synagogues
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Visits amphipolis, apollonia, and thessalonica; preaches in the synagogue
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Reasoning » Of paul from the scriptures
Resurrection » Examples of » Of Christ, a central truth of the gospel
Sabbath » Lawful to do good deeds on
The sabbath » The word of God to be preached on
The word of God » Taught by the apostles

Acts 17:3 (show verse)

explaining and declaring that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and [then] rise again from the dead. Paul was saying, "This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ."

Christ » Preaching to be concerning » Christ the theme of
Christ » Reproves » Of Christ, a central truth of the gospel
The death of Christ » Necessary for the redemption of man
Greece » Inhabitants of » Accept the messiah
Law » Expounded by » In synagogues
Leaders » Preaching » Christ the theme of
Ministers » Work of preaching » Christ the theme of
Ministers » Hospitality to » Message of
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Visits amphipolis, apollonia, and thessalonica; preaches in the synagogue
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Preaching » Christ the theme of
Preaching » Christ crucified and risen, the burden of paul's
Religious » Support of unfaithful » Christ the theme of
Resurrection » Examples of » Of Christ, a central truth of the gospel

Acts 17:4 (show verse)

Some of the Jews were convinced [that Jesus was the Messiah] and so joined with Paul and Silas. Also, a large number of devoted Greeks [i.e., Gentiles] and leading women [joined their group].

Accessions » Accessions to the church » Under paul's preaching
Church » Growth of accessions to » Under paul's preaching
Church » Accessions to » Under paul's preaching
Converts » Instances of » Greeks
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
Greece » Inhabitants of » Accept the messiah
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Visits amphipolis, apollonia, and thessalonica; preaches in the synagogue
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Proselytes » Examples of
Proselytes » Later called devout greeks
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Women » Converted by preaching of paul

Acts 17:5 (show verse)

But [other] Jews became jealous and, recruiting certain ungodly riffraff, they gathered a mob and brought the city to near-riot conditions. They [even] attacked Jason's house and attempted to bring Paul and Silas before the [assembly of] people.

Envy » Exemplified
Envy » Instances of » Jews, of paul and barnabas
False teachers » Instances of » Witnesses » Against paul
Falsehood » Instances of » Paul's traducers, falsely accusing him of treason to caesar
religious Intolerance » The jewish leaders » In persecuting paul
Jason » A Christian » Thessalonica
Jewish » Jealousy
Jews, the » Unbelieving, persecuted the Christians
Malice » Instances of » Jews toward paul
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Mob » At thessalonica
Paul » Is persecuted
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul
Unbelief » Exemplified » Thessalonian jews
Unbelief » Instances of » The thessalonian jews

Acts 17:6 (show verse)

When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, "These men have turned the world upside down [i.e., disrupted society by their preaching] and have [now] come here also [i.e., to do the same thing in our community].

False teachers » Instances of » Witnesses » Against paul
Falsehood » Instances of » Paul's traducers, falsely accusing him of treason to caesar
Jason » A Christian » Thessalonica
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Is persecuted
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul
Unity » Prophesied, as a mark of the progress of true religion » Of evil
Witnesses, false » Examples of
FALSE » Witnesses » Examples of

Acts 17:7 (show verse)

Jason has welcomed them and [now] all of them [i.e., Paul, Silas, Jason and the others] are going against the [Roman] laws of Caesar by saying that someone else is [our] king; that Jesus is [king]!"

false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against paul
False teachers » Instances of » Witnesses » Against paul
Falsehood » Instances of » Paul's traducers, falsely accusing him of treason to caesar
Indictments » Instances of » Paul
Jason » A Christian » Thessalonica
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Is persecuted
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Slander » Exemplified » Enemies of paul
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul
Treason » Instances of » Paul falsely accused of

Acts 17:8 (show verse)

When they heard [these charges], the crowds and [even] the city officials became very disturbed [by the situation stirred up by the Jews].

Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Is persecuted
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul

Acts 17:9 (show verse)

They made Jason and the others post bail, then released them.

Bond » To keep the peace
Jason » A Christian » Thessalonica
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Is persecuted
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica

Acts 17:10 (show verse)

The brothers [then] immediately sent Paul and Silas away at night to Berea [i.e., a town in Macedonia]. When they got there they went into the Jewish synagogue.

Berea » A city » South » Macedonia
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Escapes » Berea
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Silas » Driven, with paul, from thessalonica
Synagogue » other cities

Acts 17:11 (show verse)

Now these people [in Berea] had more character than those in Thessalonica because they [not only] received the message with an open mind but [also] examined the [Old Testament] Scriptures every day to see if what they had heard was really true.

Eagerness for the truth » The bereans
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Escapes » Berea
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Reading » Of the word of God » The study of encouraged
Spiritual receptivity » General references to
The scriptures » Everything should be tried by
The scriptures » Should be » Searched daily
The scriptures » They who search, are truly noble
Search the word » The study of encouraged
Spiritual » Receptivity » General references to
The bible » Purpose » The study of encouraged
The word of God » Searched
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul
Toleration » Religions
Truth » Eagerness for » The bereans
Word » Sealing of search the » The study of encouraged
Word » Study of » The study of encouraged

Acts 17:12 (show verse)

Many people therefore became believers [in Christ], including a number of leading Greek women and also a number of men.

Converts » Instances of » Greeks
Greece » Inhabitants of » Accept the messiah
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Escapes » Berea
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Women » Converted by preaching of paul

Acts 17:13 (show verse)

But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was proclaiming the message of God at Berea also, they went there too, and incited and upset the crowds.

Berea » A city » South » Macedonia
religious Intolerance » The jewish leaders » In persecuting the disciples
Jewish » Jealousy
Jews, the » Unbelieving, persecuted the Christians
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Persecution
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Thessalonica » People of, persecute paul

Acts 17:14 (show verse)

So, immediately the brothers sent Paul clear over to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained there [at Berea].

Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Persecution
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Silas » Left by paul at berea
Timothy » Left by paul at berea

Acts 17:15 (show verse)

But those who escorted Paul took him to Athens [i.e., in Greece] and, after being directed to have Silas and Timothy join him there as soon as possible, they left.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Persecution
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Prudence » Instances of » Paul » Paul and silas, in escaping from berea
Silas » Rejoins paul at corinth
Timothy » Rejoined paul at corinth

Acts 17:16 (show verse)

Now while Paul was waiting for them [to arrive] in Athens, he was deeply stirred in his spirit when he saw the city so full of idols.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas

Acts 17:17 (show verse)

So, he debated in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing people [i.e., Gentile proselytes], as well as in the open shopping market with others who met with him there.

Acts 17:18 (show verse)

Also certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers approached him for discussion. Some asked, "What will this know-it-all have to say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating [a belief in] some different gods." [They said this] because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection [of the dead].

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Babbler » A sarcastic epithet applied to paul
Epicureans » Worldly pleasure sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Epicureans » Dispute with paul
Infidelity » Doubters » Materialism, instances of
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Philosophy » Greek schools of
Pleasure, worldly » Results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life
Resurrection » Doubts concerning, on the part of worldly men
The Resurrection » Preached by the apostles
Reviling and reproaching » Exemplified » Athenian philosophers
Stoicism » School of, at athens
Worldly » Pleasure results of a pleasure-seeking life » Sought by the epicureans as the chief aim of life

Acts 17:19 (show verse)

So, they led him to the Areopagus [i.e., an elevated assembly place called "the Hill of Mars"] and asked him, "Could we learn [more] about this new teaching you are speaking of?

Areopagus » Mar's hill
Athens » A city » A city of greece
Curiosity » Instances of » Of the athenians, to hear some new thing
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas

Acts 17:20 (show verse)

You are telling us some very unusual things and we would like to know what they mean."

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Curiosity » Instances of » Of the athenians, to hear some new thing
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas

Acts 17:21 (show verse)

(Now the local people of Athens, along with foreigners who lived there, spent [about] all their time telling about or listening to some new idea.)

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Curiosity » Instances of » Of the athenians, to hear some new thing
Curiosity » The levite looked with indifferent curiosity upon the man who was » The athenians
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas

Acts 17:22 (show verse)

Then Paul stood up in the Areopagus and said, "You men of Athens, I noticed that you are an extremely religious people in all your ways. [See verse 16]

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
God » Where the lord God is not
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Worship » How God should not be worshipped

Acts 17:23 (show verse)

For as I traveled along [your streets] and observed what you are worshiping, I saw an altar with the inscription: [DEDICATED] TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So, what you are worshiping ignorantly is what I am telling you about.

Altar » Used in idolatrous worship
Altars » Idolatrous altars
Altars » Mentioned in scripture » Of the athenians
Athens » A city » A city of greece
Children » Who are the children of God
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
God » Where the lord God is not
Ignorance » Man's » Of God
Ignorance of God » Ministers should » Labor to remove
Life » Jesus Christ giving life
Life » The lord being the creator of all life
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Nations » God making all nations out of one blood
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Predestination » The lord predestining
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural
World » The lord creating the world
Worship » How God should not be worshipped
false Worship » Brazen serpent places devoted to idolatry » Idolatrous altars

Acts 17:24 (show verse)

The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in hand-made temples.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Children » Who are the children of God
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
God » Remember » Spirit, a
God » Where the lord God is not
Life » Jesus Christ giving life
Life » The lord being the creator of all life
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Nations » God making all nations out of one blood
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Predestination » The lord predestining
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural
Spirit » God a
World » The lord creating the world
Worship » How God should not be worshipped

Acts 17:25 (show verse)

Neither is He waited on by men's hands as though He needed anything, since it is He who gives to all people their life and breath and everything [they need].

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Breath » Of life
Children » Who are the children of God
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
Life » Jesus Christ giving life
Life » The lord being the creator of all life
Life » Of man from God
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Nations » God making all nations out of one blood
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Predestination » The lord predestining
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural
World » The lord creating the world
Worship » How God should not be worshipped

Acts 17:26 (show verse)

He made every race of people living throughout the earth from one [family] and determined when [they would rise in history] and where they would live.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Blood » Of all men the same
Brotherhood of man » To regard all men as brothers » A blood relationship
Children » Who are the children of God
Destiny » Ruler of
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
Man » Equality of
Man » Of every nation, made of one blood
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Nations » God making all nations out of one blood
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Predestination » The lord predestining
The Providence of God » Is exercised in » Determining the period of human life
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural
Social life » Social duties to regard all men as brothers » A blood relationship
Time » All events of, predetermined by God

Acts 17:27 (show verse)

He wanted these people to search for God in hope that, by groping for Him, they might [eventually] find Him, even though He is not [really] very far from [any of] us.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Attributes of God » Omnipresence
Children » Who are the children of God
Closeness » The lord being near
Gentiles » Unclassified sciptures relating to
God » Mercy of » Nearness of
God » Mercy of » Omnipresence of
God » Remember » Search for
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Nearness to God » General references to
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural

Acts 17:28 (show verse)

For in [the strength of] God we [all] live, move around and have our [personal] identity, just as a certain one of your [Athenian] poets [once] said, 'For we too are His children.'

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Children » Who are the children of God
Creator » God as » Creator of man
God » Creator » Of man
Greece » Poets of
natural Life » God is the author of
Man » A social being » Creation of
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Poet » Greek
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Religion » Natural

Acts 17:29 (show verse)

Since therefore we are God's children, we should not think that the Deity is like gold, silver or stone, to be carved [into an idol] by the design and skill of men.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Children » Who are the children of God
Common delusions » Thinking the deity is represented by idols
God » What the lord God is not
Idolatry » Described as » Irrational
Idolatry » Is changing the glory of God into an image
Idols » Vanity of
Ignorance of God » Leads to » Idolatry
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Repentance » Repenting
false Worship » Idols characterized, as » Vanity of
false Worship » Idols characterized, as » Unworthy of worship of intelligent beings
FALSE » Idols characterized, as » Vanity of
FALSE » Idols characterized, as » Unworthy of worship of intelligent beings

Acts 17:30 (show verse)

Now God made allowance for the times when people were still uninformed [about His complete will], but now [in the Gospel age] He requires all people everywhere to repent [i.e., change their hearts and lives].

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Forbearance » Divine
God » Pillar of » Forbearance of
Ignorance of God » The wicked, in a state of
Ignorance of God » Leads to » Idolatry
Judgment » The certainty of, a motive to » Repentance
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Ordination » Jesus Christ being ordained
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Repentance » Repenting
Repentance » Commanded to all by God
World » The lord judging the world

Acts 17:31 (show verse)

For He has appointed a [certain] day when He will judge the people of the world according to [a standard of] true justice by the man [i.e., Jesus] whom He has appointed [as Judge, See II Tim. 4:8]. [And] He has given assurance to all people [that He will do this] by raising Jesus from the dead."

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Christ » Joy of » Judge
Judge » Christ as
Judgment » Last, the » Universal
Judgment » A day appointed for
Judgment » Shall be in righteousness
Judgment » The certainty of, a motive to » Repentance
God, Justice of » Exhibited in » The final judgment
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Ordination » Jesus Christ being ordained
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Select readings » Paul on mars' hill
Jesus Christ, Resurrection » An assurance of the judgment
Righteousness » Christ » Shall judge with
God, Righteousness Of » Exhibited in » The final judgment
the future » The judge, at the great day » Christ as judge
Universal » Blessing, possible » Judgment
World » The lord judging the world

Acts 17:32 (show verse)

Now when the people heard about the resurrection from the dead, some of them made fun of it, but others said, "We would like to hear [more] from you about this again."

Athens » A city » A city of greece
causes of Delay » Causes of » Unbelief
Infidelity » Doubters » Materialism, instances of
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Mocking » Of Christ » Of good men
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Procrastination » Causes of » Unbelief
Resurrection » Doubts concerning, on the part of worldly men
The Resurrection » The preaching of, caused » Mocking
Ridicule » Of Christ » Of good men
Scoffing » Instances of » The athenians
Scorning and mocking » The wicked indulge in, against » The resurrection of the dead

Acts 17:33 (show verse)

So, Paul left [the Areopagus].

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas

Acts 17:34 (show verse)

But certain men continued to listen to him and became believers [in Jesus]. Among them was Dionysius, [an official] of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Athens » A city » A city of greece
Damaris » Female » Convert » Athems
Dionysius » Convert » Of paul
Greece » Inhabitants of » Accept the messiah
Mar's hill » Hill » Athens
Missionary journeys » Ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Paul » Debates » Mar's hill
Paul's » First - with barnabas and john mark ac 13-14 » Second - with silas
Women » Converted by preaching of paul