Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down – In Acts 17, Paul and Silas journeyed through many cities where Paul boldly reasoned in the synagogue about Christ’s suffering, resurrection, and kingship. This message shook the established order, leading to both conversions and conflict. Some Jews, moved by jealousy, incited a mob and accused Paul’s companions of spreading teachings that defied Caesar, claiming another king—Jesus. Paul’s message challenged the world’s priorities, overturning traditions and exposing the power of true unity and the gospel’s transformative reach.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Acts 17:1-3, Acts 17:4-5, Galatians 5:17-18, Romans 8:7, Hebrews 12:26-29, Matthew 24:14, Matthew 24:29-31, Acts 17:7-9, Acts 17:10-17, Revelation 2:9, Revelation 3:9, Romans 2:28-29, Acts 17:10, Acts 17:14-15, Acts 17:16, Acts 17:17-18, Acts 17:30, Acts 17:22, Acts 17:23, Acts 17:28, Acts 17:29, Acts 17:32-34,
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Introduction
Last week, we finished our journey to Philippi. Tonight, we’re leaving Philippi and traveling to Thessalonica.
My Outline
Ministry at Thessalonica Acts 17:1-9
Ministry at Berea Acts 17:10-14
The Ministry at Athens Acts 17:15-34
We’re going to look at Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica and see how the word of God drew people and stirred up envy among the Jews. Their reaction was to accuse Paul and his companions of turning the world upside down. Later, we see Paul in Berea, where the people search the scriptures every day to examine his teaching. Then Paul travels to Athens. There, he is deeply troubled by the many idols he sees. The people he encounters—Jews, devout persons, Epicureans, and Stoics—are types we still find in our world today.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
On Mars Hill, Paul preached about the “unknown God.” Some people mock, some decide to postpone their response, and some come to believe. This pattern repeats in every city, and we still see these responses in the church world today. In Athens, Paul confronts not just man’s idols but the widespread worship of what people do not fully know. As we go through these passages, I hope that you will recognize any idols in your own life and let the unknown God become truly known to you.
Paul in Thessalonica
In Thessalonica, as was Paul’s practice, he began by meeting with Jews in the synagogue. He did this for three Sabbaths, focusing first on the Jews and then also speaking to the Greeks. Think about your own spiritual journey—at first, weren’t we all focused on outward appearances and religious behaviors? But what really matters is inward change. God looks beyond external signs and examines our hearts to see if they are truly transformed.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Throughout this lesson, I will further explore what it means to be a Jew inwardly. Just as Paul would enter a community and move from synagogue to temple, we are invited to move deeper into our understanding. We’re called to open the scriptures, examine them, and let God’s revelation bring new light into our lives. Let’s read verses one, two, and three together and see what God will show us.
Acts 17:1-3
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Paul’s Ministry Method in Thessalonica
Paul and his companions traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia before reaching Thessalonica. When they arrived, they found a synagogue and Paul, as was his custom, went in to reason with the people for three consecutive Sabbaths. He focused on teaching from the Scriptures, explaining that Christ had to suffer, rise from the dead, and that Jesus is indeed the Christ.
Paul’s style of ministry involved two key actions: opening the Scriptures and proclaiming Jesus. To “open” the Scriptures means to explain and reveal them thoroughly. Just like Jesus opened the ears of the deaf and later opened the understanding of his disciples, Paul sought to open both the ears and eyes of his listeners so they could truly receive spiritual truth.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
To “allege” means to present or set forth the truth, almost like offering food to be received. When the Scriptures are truly opened, we don’t just hear or see—they also nourish us spiritually. That’s Paul’s method, and it’s how New Testament ministry should work. This is also the approach taken in my own teaching and preaching. The goal is always to make the word clear, approachable, and nourishing, drawing applications from both Old and New Testaments so that it directly impacts our lives.
Acts 17:4-5
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Response to Paul’s Message and Unity
As we keep reading in verse four, we find that some people believed Paul’s message. They joined together with Paul, Silas, and many devout Greeks, as well as several prominent women. However, there were Jews who did not believe. These unbelievers were moved by envy. They gathered a mob and caused upheaval in the city. They even assaulted the house of Jason and tried to drag him out to the authorities.
Jealousy and Real Unity
Why were the Jews so envious? The word “envy” here means intense feeling or zeal, sometimes linked to jealousy. The first reason is that they resented the teaching that sacrifices and offerings at the temple were no longer needed since the ultimate sacrifice had been made. This threatened the temple’s authority and its livelihood, which led to conflict.
Another reason for their envy was that many new believers chose to associate with Paul. The term “consorted” (v. 4) means to join together and throw in your lot with someone. This kind of unity upset those who opposed Paul.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Finally, there was something special happening among the believers—a harmony the Bible describes with the Greek word “homothumadon .” This means being of one mind and one passion, deeply unified. While every church desires such unity, few actually experience it. But Paul’s ministry was producing this real unity, and that also made the Jews jealous. The truth is, when people come together in genuine unity and agreement, it will always attract attention and sometimes opposition.
True Unity in the Church
For the past six months, all we’ve experienced here is real unity—what the Bible calls homothumadon. There haven’t been any big arguments or disruptions. Instead, love has been consistently shown toward each other. Not many churches can go so long without some kind of trouble among people. This atmosphere of unity attracts newcomers and changes how things operate, including the way giving and ministry grow. It all happens because people are coming together in agreement with what God is doing.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
In Thessalonica, and here in our own city, those Jews who didn’t believe were moved to envy because so many people joined with Paul. What disturbed them wasn’t the message itself, but that a growing number of people were united with Paul. That kind of deep agreement—homothumadon —is what causes opposition. People aren’t jealous just because you learn something new. They get jealous when unity forms, when a group stands together, and when growth begins.
Results of Ministry
Acts chapters 1 through 4 describe this unity with “homothumadon ”—people with one mind, one passion, and one purpose. This is what every church dreams about, but very few achieve. When some do reach that place, it usually creates envy or resistance from others. The Jerusalem church began with this unity and continued to grow, as God added more people daily, all because of homothumadon. That’s what we have, and that’s why love is flourishing among us.
Let me highlight a couple of quick points. First, in Thessalonica, Jason and some other believers were violently dragged out of their house. The Greek word used is the same one describing how Paul, after being stoned, was dragged out of a city when thought dead. This was not gentle—it was harsh and forceful. Anyone close to real ministry will face attacks. Sometimes trouble will come from religious opposition, sometimes from spiritual enemies.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Second, think about the Thessalonian church itself. The letters we call First and Second Thessalonians were written to this church. Often, these letters are taught as messages about the rapture. But we rarely mention that this church began in tribulation and persecution. Their story started with violence, not comfort. The teaching theme is not just about the rapture—it’s about standing firm in trials.
The World Shaken by the Gospel
Now, look at the phrase, “these that have turned the world upside down” (v. 6). When real ministry happens, it will either cause conflict or bring revival, sometimes both. The word “world” here means “land” or “empire,” referring to the Roman Empire. Paul and Silas were disrupting the systems and mindsets of their time. When God’s kingdom comes, everything else gets flipped. In our lives, ministry overturns whatever isn’t from the kingdom of God, so only God’s kingdom stands firm and upright. That’s the real work of the Spirit.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Galatians 5:17-18
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Romans 8:7
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Let’s go deeper with this. Galatians 5:17 tells us that the Spirit and the flesh are always in conflict. They are true opposites and will never agree. Romans teaches that our carnal minds are hostile toward God. The things that belong to the flesh, the habits and strongholds of this world, always resist God’s ways.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
God’s Spirit wants to shake those things loose in us. The instrument he uses for this shaking is the word of God. There is nothing else with the power to cut so deep—to reach between the joints and marrow, and even get to our very thoughts and motives. Nothing else but God’s word can bring that kind of real change.
Hebrews 12:26-29
26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
God’s Shaking and the Kingdom
Hebrews 12 tells us that it was God’s voice that shook the earth at Mount Sinai. His voice thundered, lightning flashed, and the land trembled. Everything that could be shaken was shaken. God promises that once more, He will shake not just the earth but also heaven. When He shakes, He removes what cannot remain so that only what is eternal stands. His word and His presence do the shaking.
Why does God shake heaven and earth? He wants only what belongs to His kingdom to endure. The writer of Hebrews explains that we are now receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved or shaken. This means there is a shaking happening right now, in us and around us. The closer we draw to God—moving deeper in relationship and obedience—the more impurities are burned out of our lives. The goal for us is to present ourselves as gold, silver, and precious stones.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
What matters most is the kingdom itself. The apostles turned the world upside down, breaking religious traditions and any practice that was not part of God’s kingdom. Only the unshakable kingdom will remain. When the gospel is preached, human traditions and fleshly thinking must be overturned. We are called to receive the kingdom that stands firm and cannot be moved.
If we are receiving a kingdom, then when does the Lord come? Let’s go to Matthew 24.
The Gospel of the Kingdom
Matthew 24:14
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
First, consider whether the world has truly heard the gospel. With global ministries on TV, satellites, and radio, it seems like the message has gone everywhere. Still, the end has not come. Why is that? Jesus explains in Matthew 24:14 that it is the gospel of the kingdom that must be preached as a witness to all nations. Only then will the end come. It’s not just any gospel, but specifically the gospel of the kingdom.
Let’s look at the focus of the New Testament. The word “kingdom” appears 162 times in the Greek New Testament, whereas “church” appears 115 times. In the four gospels, Jesus uses “kingdom” 128 times and “church” only twice. Although the church is essential, the New Testament places greater emphasis on the kingdom.
Realigning Our Focus
If you’ve primarily heard preaching about the church and very little about the kingdom, that is not the primary focus Jesus intended. He said He would build His church, but His message centered on the kingdom of God. We need to realign and recognize that the priority in scripture—and in Jesus’ ministry—is the kingdom.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
The Shaking of the Kingdom
Let’s return to the idea of “shaking.” When God’s word truly enters your life, it overturns everything that isn’t a part of His kingdom. The only thing left standing is what belongs to the kingdom—something that cannot be changed or removed. The critical question is, where is the kingdom of God? It starts within you.
People often want to know precisely when the Lord will return. That’s not about picking a date or reading charts and timelines. What’s more important is understanding what Scripture actually teaches about His coming. Let’s look closely at Matthew 24:29 to see what God’s word says, remembering that we need sound teaching and instruction rather than speculation.
Matthew 24:29-31
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
The Shaking After Tribulation
Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven. The powers of heaven will be shaken. Think about that—shaken. Then what will appear? The sign of the Son of Man. And when will it appear? After the shaking. Yes, immediately after the tribulation. That’s what the Scripture says.
Now, let me say something quickly. You have to move away from the idea that the tribulation is about atomic bombs and nuclear warfare. That’s not what this is. And even if those things did happen, it wouldn’t change what God is doing. The real shaking and tribulation the Bible talks about begins inside you. It’s the fire of God working in you, burning seven times hotter to free you from the chains that bind you. Like the three Hebrew children came through the furnace without even smelling of smoke, so will you come through your own trials with victory. That’s why we need to pray, “God, turn the fire up seven times hotter!”
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
But listen to me—don’t run out and tell people everything I’ve just told you. Let me teach and lay the foundation first, because there’s more to this than two verses of Scripture. The main point right now is this: the Word of God is shaking things in your life. It gets inside you, into your thoughts, stirring and stirring until everything that is not of His kingdom is turned upside down. What remains—what is unshakable—stands right side up. That’s how we receive the kingdom that cannot be moved.
Living in the Kingdom Now
We need to stop thinking that the “pie in the sky” is something far off in the future. The reality is here and now. We are living in it. I want to teach you so much more, but there’s only so much you can take at one time. As long as you think the mark of the beast is about a number stamped on your forehead or hand, you’ll miss the deeper truth and be afraid of what I’m saying. The Word of God teaches that the kingdom of God is within you. So where is the shaking? It’s within you.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
This is not an event that happens all at once like a lightning strike. It’s a continual process of receiving the kingdom. As His presence—the brightness of His coming—appears more and more in your life, everything that isn’t part of that kingdom will be destroyed. That’s the emphasis of Jesus’ teaching. The kingdom was always His focus. And where did He say the kingdom is? Within you.
It says that after the shaking of heaven and earth by the voice of the word of the Lord, He shall appear. That’s Matthew 24:29-31. The shaking comes first, and part of that shaking happens in your own life.
When the Word comes into your life, it turns the kingdom of God right side up and everything of the world upside down. Every empire, every kingdom, every part of your personal “earth” gets shaken. Are you glad you came tonight? We’re not just standing still—we’re moving deeper. Praise the Lord!
Going Deeper in the River
Now, we can stay ankle-deep, splashing in Ezekiel’s river if we want to. Or we can step out deeper—knee-deep, waist-deep—or we can swim. What do you want to do? Swim! Alright then, it’s always the same choice: Caesar or Jesus. Now, let’s read Acts 17:7 together in your Bibles.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Acts 17:7-9
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
Let’s get back to the book of Acts. Jason received men who preached that there is another King, one Jesus. That has always been the question: is it King Caesar or King Jesus? Caesar represents the beast. He demands worship, allegiance, and his mark. When Jesus was questioned about taxes in Matthew 22, He asked whose image was on the coin. It was Caesar’s. The coin was marked with Caesar’s image.
Our lives are the same way. We either carry the mark of Caesar—the world and the carnal mind—or the mark of God. Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” How do you know what belongs to Caesar? It’s marked with his image. And the things that belong to God? They are marked with His. Once you understand this, you can discern what carries the mark of the beast and what bears the mark of the Lord.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
The Spiritual Reality of the Mark
The mark of the beast isn’t a visible stamp or the number 666 written on a person. That number represents man, not the beast. You have to move beyond that surface idea and see that you are already receiving a mark now—spiritually. God is shaking everything in your life that still bears Caesar’s mark so He can place His own mark upon you and your kingdom. When you know who a thing is marked with—not what—it reveals who it truly belongs to.
The Noble Bereans
Acts 17:10-17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Synagogues and the Churches
Now, look at what the Bible says about the synagogue of the Jews. Would you agree that some of the churches in Scripture are types of these synagogues we’re reading about? Let’s see what Jesus said about them. Turn to Revelation chapter two, verse nine.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Revelation 2:9
9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Here, Jesus is speaking to the angel—or the minister—of the church in Smyrna.
Now go to Revelation chapter three, verse nine.
Revelation 3:9
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Outward Sign Versus Inward Reality
This time, He’s speaking to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. Notice again what He calls them—the synagogue of Satan.
What does that mean? It’s talking about those who claim to be Jews but are not. In other words, they have the outward sign but not the inward truth. The real Jew is not the one marked on the outside but the one whose heart is marked by God. The outward sign alone doesn’t make anyone true or faithful—it’s the inward reality that matters.
Romans 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
We’re almost there with this thought, but I want to go a little deeper into what it means to be a true Jew. The Jews who attacked Paul, and the ones who attack you or me, are what the Bible calls hypocrite Jews. That’s a strong word, but here’s why. A Jew is not a Jew just because he says he is. In the same way, a Christian is not a Christian just because he says he’s one. A confession without an inner change means nothing. A man can pray the sinner’s prayer a hundred times, but if nothing happens inside, he’s still lost.
Paul explains this in Romans 2:28-29. He says a true Jew is not one who is outwardly marked, but one who is inwardly changed. Circumcision of the heart is what matters—in the spirit, not just in the letter of the law. The one who lives that way seeks God’s praise, not man’s. Just because someone goes to church, pays tithes, or claims to be a Christian doesn’t make it real. That’s why Jesus spoke of the synagogue of Satan.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Church and Personal Application
Now, we can say that some entire churches are corrupted synagogues, but I want to bring it home on a personal level. What am I? Am I a synagogue? Am I a temple? You see, some people claim to be filled with the Spirit, and they are filled with a spirit—but not the same Spirit that comes from God. Their synagogue is filled with deception, and that’s what persecutes the truth. The important thing is to make sure that this false spirit—the false Jew—is not operating inside of you.
Acts 17:10
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true. The NIV says, “The Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” That clearly says the Bereans were noble. So, were they noble? Yes, they were!
What made the Bereans noble? That’s the key question. The answer has two parts. First, they received the Word with readiness of mind—with eagerness. They were open to what God was saying. Second, they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true. Those two qualities together made them noble.
Growing in the Word
To grow in the Word of God, you must do both. Be ready to receive the Word with eagerness, but don’t be gullible. Just because someone brings something new or fresh doesn’t mean it’s true. Don’t shut it out immediately, but always test it. Prove all things by the Word of God. That’s why He gave us Scripture—to measure everything we hear.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
It saddens me that we live in a time when knowledge abounds, yet so few people read and study. Many can read but choose not to. That’s dangerous because people become gullible. A man can stand in a pulpit, speak smooth words, and people believe him without question. And don’t say it hasn’t happened to you. In the last six months, I’ve shown you truths you’d never heard before—truths that were right there in the Bible all along. You had been taught differently, but now you’ve seen for yourself. Why? Because you took the Word and studied it.
When you first heard these teachings, you received them with readiness. That’s good. But like me, you discovered the truth only when you dug into the Word yourself. The two lessons we must never forget are these: always be willing to learn and receive new seed from the Word, for new seed produces new fruit. But at the same time, never be naive.
Testing Every Minister
Even the Apostle Paul wasn’t above being tested by Scripture. The Bereans examined his teachings daily. If they tested Paul, then no minister today is above being tested, either—not me, not anyone. So, whenever you hear a message, whether from this pulpit, another church, the radio, or television, search the Scriptures for yourself. That’s what made the Bereans noble.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
God has given us His Word as the final authority for all teaching and preaching. Everywhere Paul went, it wasn’t he who stirred up the people—it was the Jews. The ministry only declared the truth, but unbelief and opposition came from those who resisted it.
Ministry and Calling
Acts 17:14-15
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
It says they sent Paul away. As I meditated on that, I thought of Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58, where Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” That same thing was true for Paul. He had no permanent home or resting place. He was constantly moving—just like Jesus—carrying no possessions, only the message of the kingdom.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
That thought stirred my heart deeply. I began to wonder if ministry today has turned into an occupation instead of a calling. I understand that people think about their families, their future, and financial security. I’m not unaware of that. But I believe many have entered ministry for a career rather than a divine calling. That realization broke me. I wept and I prayed because I want my ministry to stay pure—to be about the calling, not the occupation.
Ministry at Athens
Acts 17:16
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Now, let’s talk about the ministry at Athens. Look at Acts 17:16. It says that while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city completely given to idolatry. That word stirred means “to sharpen alongside” or “to exasperate.” In 1 Corinthians 13:5, the word is translated as provoked. The Amplified Bible says Paul’s spirit was grieved and roused to anger as he saw the city full of idols.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
What is an idol? It’s anything that comes between a person and their relationship with God. God must be our life source. Anything that blocks that flow of life from Him to us becomes an idol. It doesn’t matter what it is. This could be a person or a thing. It could even be a minister’s own ministry, a spouse, children, a job, an affair, or a house. Anything that comes before God in your heart is an idol.
As Paul walked through Athens, his spirit was stirred and provoked to anger because of the idols all around him. And I know what he felt. When I look at lives today, I feel that same stirring in my spirit because of the things that stand between people and their Creator. It grieves me, and it frustrates me, because idols still fill the hearts of believers. I am convinced that nothing stirs the Holy Spirit to anger more than idols in God’s people.
Idols Among the Congregation
Do you think our congregation has some idols? Look around and answer honestly. It’s sad, but it’s true. We cannot grow without the Word of God. His Word is the seed that produces fruit. It is the Word that brings the shaking, and it is the Word that establishes the kingdom. You can’t grow in God apart from His Word.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
That’s why I feel stirred tonight—stirred in my spirit, provoked with righteous indignation. I may sound joking at times, but I mean this deeply. I’m not hurt, and I’m not mad. I’m stirred because of the idols that hinder God’s flow in our lives.
Four Groups in Athens
There are four groups of people in Athens, and four groups in every city. Let’s read verses seventeen and eighteen.
ACT 17:17-18
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Paul disputed in the synagogue with the Jews—that’s one group. Then he spoke with the devout persons—that’s two. And in the marketplace, he met with others every day. Then came the philosophers—the Epicureans and the Stoics. Altogether, there are four groups: the Jews, the devout, the Epicureans, and the Stoics.
Characteristics of Each Group
Now we know who the Jews represent. They are the religious ones who preach the teachings of Moses and legalism. Every city has its Jews, and Scripture confirms it. Acts 15:21 says that Moses is preached in every city. Then there are the devout persons. These people believe, but they’re not legalistic. They’re more liberal-minded, much like those in mainline denominations who will come out in the last days.
Next are the Epicureans. They were a sect of philosophers named after Epicurus. Their teaching was a practical guide to happiness. They believed happiness came from pleasure, and that pleasure was the measure of good. Does every city have Epicureans? Yes, they do—people who live only for comfort and satisfaction.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Then we have the Stoics. They got their name from “Stoa,” a porch or meeting place in Athens. Their belief system centered on pantheism—the idea that God is the soul of the world. They emphasized self-sufficiency, independence, and the strength of the individual. These are the people who say, “I don’t need anyone. If God wants me, He knows where I am.” Every city has its Stoics, too.
But here’s the truth that hits home. The real battle isn’t with the Stoics out there or the Epicureans out there. It’s not even with the Jews or the devout people out there. The problem is when those attitudes live inside of me. I can’t be legalistic or liberal. I can’t chase pleasure or live in self-sufficiency. The Word teaches against all of that. My sufficiency must be found in Him—only in Him.
Paul as the Fifth Person
And then there’s a fifth person in Athens—Paul himself. That’s good, isn’t it? There were five kinds of people in Athens, and there are five kinds of people in every city today. They even called Paul a “babbler” in verse 18. The Greek word used there is spermologos, which comes from “sperma,” meaning “seed.” Paul wasn’t just talking randomly—he was sowing seed. And that’s what a true preacher does.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
We have not been given the right to be babblers—born of corruptible seed—but of the incorruptible Word of God. The word babbler means “seed picker.” It refers to someone who picks up words or ideas here and there like a crow—someone who sponges, loafs, gossips, or trifles in talk. That’s what people said about Paul. They accused him of going around picking up bits of teaching and spreading them. But what they didn’t understand was that Paul truly carried the seed of life. And if they had listened to him, that seed could have been planted in their hearts.
So, in one sense, he was a babbler—and in truth, so am I. I pick up the seed of the Word wherever God gives it. Glory to God! This isn’t gossip; it’s revelation. The words we share are seeds of life meant to grow and produce fruit in the hearts of those who receive them.
Scripture says they spent all their time doing nothing but telling or hearing some new thing. There’s a big difference between people who come to learn the Word of God and those who come out of curiosity. Some people come with hungry hearts, ready to hear and grow. Others come only to see what’s happening, driven by intellectual curiosity. They want to hear something new, but they don’t want a transformation.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
The Effect of the Word
These people will come, and we’ll see plenty of them. But they won’t stay. And the reason they won’t stay is simple—they don’t want to change. To remain in this assembly means to change. You can’t sit under the Word and stay the same. The Word will either stir you or drive you away. To stay here means your life is being renewed and transformed.
Let’s get to Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill. I am going to change your thinking tonight. Is that okay? Do you know what the word repent means? Let me go ahead and get that one anyway.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Acts 17:30
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
This is part of Paul’s sermon. Let me ask—does that mean repentance is a one-time thing? Do we repent once, and that settles it? No, repentance is ongoing.
The word repent in the Greek is metanoeō (Strong’s 3340). It means “to think differently afterward,” or “to reconsider.” The lexicon explains that repentance is a change of mind that comes after knowledge. It expresses regret for a wrong direction, leading to a wiser view of both the past and the future. So true repentance touches both where you’ve been and where you’re going.
What Repentance Truly Means
Repentance is not just saying “I’m sorry.” It means your thinking changes. You start seeing things from a higher perspective. Afterthoughts come, bringing understanding, and you begin to think differently. That’s repentance.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
How many of you have changed the way you think over the last six months? That’s right—you’ve been repenting. And you’re still not finished. Repentance keeps working as you keep growing. So tonight, let’s do it again. Who wants to repent tonight? Who wants to think differently—really reconsider some things? Then let’s get repentant in heart and mind and let God keep renewing our thinking.
True Worship Versus Superstition
Acts 17:22
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill and said, “You men of Lafayette, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.” Now, what does that word superstitious mean? In Strong’s Concordance, it’s number 1174. It means “more religious than others.” The lexicon says it’s a piety that leads to fear instead of worship. The Amplified Bible puts it this way: “I perceive that in every way and on every hand you are most religious.”
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
So Paul was saying, “I see that you are very religious.” Everywhere he looked in Athens—every street, every corner—there was some form of religion. And I see the same thing today. Everywhere you look, there’s a church. Every corner, every block. And many are filled with people who are religious, but not necessarily spiritual. They’re most superstitious. Now, I’m not going to tell you the word superstitious means religious—you might not like that—but that’s exactly what it means.
The lexicon adds this: “piety that leads to fear instead of worship.” And I want to show you something. Much of what you and I have heard, much of what we’ve been taught in religion, has been nothing more than superstition—traditions of man, not the gospel of Jesus Christ. How many people have “come to the Lord,” so they say, out of fear? A preacher stood before them, preached hellfire, judgment, and tribulation, and scared them into making a decision. They came out of fear, not out of love or worship.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Worship from Love, Not Fear
And think of how many have been told, “If you don’t get right with God, you’ll miss the rapture, face plagues, diseases, and atomic war.” That’s fear. That’s not worship. But that’s what’s been preached. You’ve never heard me preach fear. I preach worship. Because if a man comes to God because he loves Him, I don’t have to worry about him backsliding. But if I scare him into coming, I’ll have to keep him scared just to keep him here.
I want people to come to God out of love. Because they recognize who He is—the Creator of the universe, our Savior, our Redeemer. That’s why I want them saved. That’s why I want them to worship Him—not out of fear, but out of love.
Everywhere you look—on every corner, in every direction—you see believers who are too superstitious. Christians today can be just as religious as those in Athens. We need to learn the difference between true worship and empty religion. Yes, there is a hell, and yes, there will be a rapture, but those truths are not meant to scare people—they are meant to warn them. You don’t come to Jesus out of fear; you come because you love Him. And you stay with Him for the same reason.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
A woman won’t stay long with a man she’s afraid of. She might for a while, but fear won’t hold her heart. The only lasting reason she stays is love. And it’s the same with us. We stay with Jesus because we love Him. That’s what worship is—love, not fear. I perceive that most Christians are too religious, too superstitious in their faith. So when I say on the radio that the answer is not religion, now you know what I mean.
The Unknown God
Acts 17:23
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Paul mentions the altar “to the unknown God whom you ignorantly worship.” The word ignorantly means “not to know,” because of a lack of understanding or information. The lexicon explains it as “not to recognize, not to be acquainted with.” Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” It continues, “Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you.” God says if we forget His law, He will forget our children. Why are people destroyed? Because they lack knowledge of God.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Let me ask you—do people today truly know the Lord? I mean know Him in the way Adam knew Eve—with intimacy and relationship? Or are they like the Athenians, always trying to learn something new to ease their conscience? Are they like the Jews who wanted an outward sign to appear holy but never knew God inwardly? Many in the church are playing a role. They have religion, but not a relationship.
I believe that’s what Paul saw in Athens, and it’s what I see today. People ignorantly worship the unknown God. They don’t honestly know Him. As long as they believe they’re not going to hell and won’t miss the rapture, they think it’s fine to keep their idols. But that’s not knowing God. That’s religion without relationship.
Living in Him
Acts 17:28
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
I’ve got Paul’s sermon broken down into ten parts for you. Let’s look at verse 28, where he says, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” How many Christians today can honestly say that? That in Him they live, and in Him they move, and that He is their very life source? God must become our life.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Colossians 3:3 says, “You are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” That means our whole being—our thoughts, actions, and purpose—must flow out of Him. But I often wonder, as I look at the Christian world, how many are truly in Him? How many live and move in His life, and how many still worship an unknown God because they don’t really know Him?
Now let’s look at this another way. If in Him we live and move, then in us He lives and moves as well. It’s Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27-28 shows how Paul moves between these two truths: Christ in me, and me in Christ. Both are necessary. He lives in us, and we live in Him. You can’t separate the two. His life flows through us, and our lives are hidden in Him.
The Idols of Today
Acts 17:29
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
So, where is the Christian world today? Many are like the Jews Paul spoke of—those who had the outward sign of religion but no inward change of heart. Their circumcision was only of the flesh, not of the spirit. And when I look around, I see that the idols people worship today are the same as in Paul’s time—gold, silver, and stone. The same spirit still works through man’s mind and hands. That’s why Revelation speaks of the mark being in the forehead and in the hand—because our thoughts and actions reveal who we belong to. What we think about and what we do shows whose mark we carry.
That’s why repentance matters so deeply. Repentance means to think differently—to change your mind. Are you thinking differently now than you did before? You should be. That’s what growth in God looks like. Be noble like the Bereans. Receive the Word eagerly, and then test everything by Scripture. Let the Word shake everything in you that isn’t of the Kingdom until your life stands firm in what cannot be moved.
The Three Responses to the Word
Acts 17:32-34
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
And, as always, when the Word is preached, three types of people respond—just like in Athens. Some mock. They mocked on the Day of Pentecost, too. Others say, “We’ll hear more about this later.” But thank God, some believe. And those who believe are the Kingdom people.
The New Testament ministry always opened the Scriptures, explained them thoroughly, and presented them as food and truth for God’s people. The envy that comes will not be because of what you learn, but because of your connection with this assembly. People will be jealous of what God accomplishes through us for His kingdom.
Those close to the ministry will face attack, just as the church at Thessalonica did. It began in persecution and tribulation when the Jews assaulted the house of Jason. And even then they cried, “These that have turned the world upside down have come here also.” Ministry will always shake the earth, and in that shaking, the mark of Caesar or the mark of the Lord will be revealed.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Growing Like the Bereans
In Berea, we learned to be noble like the Bereans. That means receiving the Word eagerly and then searching the Scriptures every day to see if the things we hear are true. True nobility in the Spirit implies openness, hunger, and discernment.
At Athens, we saw four types of people—the Jews, the devout persons, the Epicureans, and the Stoics. We must make sure none of those attitudes live in us. Athens wasn’t impressed with Paul, and Paul wasn’t impressed with Athens either. If Paul came to our city today, would he be impressed? If he came to our church, would he find true worship or just religion? I believe, like in Athens, his spirit would be stirred. He’d walk through our town, see all the churches, and say, “You worship the unknown God—you really do not know Him.”
Would Paul be impressed with our city? Or would our city even be impressed with Paul? Some would mock. Others would say, “We’ll hear you again later.” But thank God, some would believe—and those believers would be the ones who truly know Him. Oh God, bring us to that place—not a place of fear stirred by superstition, but a place of love, worship, and adoration for the One who created all things.
Acts Series Chapter 17: How to Turn the World Upside Down
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray.
Lord, your Word is so rich. As we open it, taste it, and hear it, we feel its power. We know the kingdoms within us are being shaken and everything inside us is being turned upside down so that Your Kingdom can be made right side up. Thank you, Lord, that this is no longer just words on a page—we are living what we’re reading. Amen.
Acts Series Chapter 17 Audio: How to Change Lives
Acts Series Chapter 17 Audio: How to Change Lives
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