These that have turned the world upside down…

Acts 17:1-7

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.

4And 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.

5But 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;

7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

This passage is more commonly known for the last half of the chapter concerning Paul preaching in Athens and their unknown god; however, the first half of this chapter holds a great message as well!

I have read this passage several times in the past, and it still amazes me how God can reveal new truths from His word! The Word of God is alive!

We see here that Paul is preaching the gospel; the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In verse 4 the Bible say that a great multitude believed and in verse 5 the Jews that believed not became angry. (In today’s culture; sounds a little like what Tim Tebow is facing to an extent.) It should never strike us strange that the world will hate us if we preach Christ! Jesus said that they hated him, and they will also hate us (Jn.15:18.)

In verse 6 we see that the unbelieving Jews gather a mob and bring the brethren before the rulers of the city. What they say next is what amazes me! The accusation brought, the words that were declared were; "These that have turned the world upside down…" and "saying that there is another king, one Jesus." WOW! Stop right there and shout a while!

The accusation brought before them, the reason they were even there was because the preaching of Christ made such an impact that the world had been shaken to it’s very core! The message that was brought; Jesus Christ, the King!

I pray that the Lord would use my life in such a way, that multitudes might believe, that when accusations come, and unbelievers become angry that the message of Christ would be what shakes their very foundation!