The little group continues onto Thessalonica and were gaining converts but the Jews here were on the war path, creating mobs against our guys. One of the most serious crimes of the Roman Empire: "...and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." v.7 So Paul and Silas were outta there!! They went on to Berea and were gaining converts but the Jews from Thessalonica didn't like that they were proclaiming Christ in Berea either, so they sent crowds stirring up all kinds of agitation. I don't know why they couldn't have minded their own business. This just shows you how powerful the name of Jesus is and how scared they were. If there was no strength in the name of Jesus then no one would have cared and gone to such lengths to keep it quiet. Not so for any other religious name, from Mohamed to Buddha; no other name carries the power of Jesus, or the reaction.
Paul takes off for Athens where Silas and Timothy will join him. Interesting: "Athens was home to the most renowned philosophers in history, including Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who was arguably the most influential philosopher of all." John MacArthur. It was also home to many, many idols. The philosophers in Athens called Paul an "idle babbler" meaning that they thought him an amateur philosopher...and were not taking him seriously.
Paul came across an idol alter: "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD" v.23. Wow, I guess they thought they were covering all their bases. But Paul takes this opportunity to deliver a wonderful sermon introducing them to the God who made the world and the Lord Jesus Christ. You should take the time to read this, it's great. v. 24-31
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