Acts 17: Are You Worshipping The Known God?
Verse of the Day: (V23) “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.”
1. World (V1-9)
V5 “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.”
The unbelieving Jews conspired with wicked men and arrested Jason and the new converts, and accused them before the rulers that they had turned the world upside down. Though the Christians did not turn the world upside down, but they turned the world right side up, as lives were transformed when they repented their sins and believed in God.
V6 “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;”
2. Word (V10-21)
V11 “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.”
The new converts did not blindly follow Paul and Silas, but they diligently searched their teaching, and affirmed that it was God’s Word. However Paul and Silas and the new converts still faced persistent persecution from the unbelieving Jews from Thessalonica.
V13 “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.”
3. Worship (V22-34)
V23 “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 discovered that the people of Athens were ignorantly worshipping the unknown God. He then preached to them that there was a known God, who was not only the Creator, but also the Saviour of the world. Anyone who believes in God shall live with Him forever.
V24 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I only worship You, the known God, my Saviour.
