7th Oct 26 | 04:00
Studies by Book
Keeping our eyes on Jesus
📖 Acts 17:09-09
Acts 17 - Series 01/Episode 25 - Wed 07th Oct 2026 - Keeping our eyes on Jesus - Acts 17:01-09 - MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA - Malachi 03:03
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Acts 17:9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Jason and the brethren, citizens of Thessalonica, were made responsible for the social disturbance that happened there. The unbelieving Jews fuelled the disturbance in Thessalonica. Acts 17:5-7 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."
This false accusation, driven by the personal agenda of envy of the unbelieving Jews against Jason and the brethren, was validated by the rulers of Thessalonica, and they took action. In Philippi, the apostles were stripped, beaten with rods in public and then thrown in prison. The entire episode was unjustified. Acts 16:37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."
Jesus told us plainly, repeatedly, and consistently that hostility, suspicion, legal pressure, social rejection, and suffering for the Gospel are not accidents but are expected for disciples of Christ. Across cultures and centuries, what happened to Jason and the brethren in Thessalonica is exactly what Jesus said would happen to His messengers.
Matthew 10:16-20 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (17) But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. (18) You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. (19) But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; (20) for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.
John 16:1-3 "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. (2) They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. (3) And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.
It is intriguing to note here that those who accuse us falsely and get away with implementing injustice on us will consider that they have done God service.
Paul appealed to Caesar when he saw that there was injustice that was being done to him. Acts 25:5-12 "Therefore," he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him." (6) And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. (7) When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, (8) while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all." (9) But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?" (10) So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. (11) For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." (12) Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!"
We see the same template of injustice against the church, repeating over generations. The Lord loves His church, and through persecution, He is perfecting us. Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.
Learning: Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, for He loves His church.
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