Chapter 17:1-9 - Against the Decrees of Caesar

The gospel will face opposition. The gospel has an order of things that is an afront to other orders of things. As Paul and Silas speak the gospel, two groups of people recognize the threat. The gospel is a threat to religious systems that have their own arrangement of control and hierarchy. So, in the time of Paul and Silas, some Jewish leaders oppose what they are saying. Luke, the author of this account says that a mob, ruffians, are stirred up to carry the force of this opposition. The second group threatened here by the gospel being declared is the Gentile order of that time and place, the Romans. Paul and Silas are accused of being “against the decrees” of Caesar. 

Willie Jennings makes an important point here. He reminds us to never dehumanize those who make opposing arguments. The religious leaders, the Gentiles and even the “mob” are people. Jennings says that argument does not ultimately present gospel if opponents are in any way dehumanized. You can see this today. How many people have been convinced of anything by argument on social media? Instead, people become entrenched in views. If you feel that you are being dehumanized or mocked, you will not consider the argument of the one who doing the mocking. The gospel is presented in word, but more so in the life of those doing the presenting. If God is for us, then we ought not to be against people.