The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter
17
1. After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3. explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 1 to 3)
Oh God, my Father much more than arguing with others You have given me the opportunity to share these prayers with others. At any time through these posts and by means of any source You are able to touch our hearts and lead us to repentance. Amen.
4. Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 4)
4. Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 4)
Oh God my Father may it be through faith and not through persuasion that people turn to You in belief, for when the effects of persuasion wear off, the people will go back to their old ways, however if a person is touched by You, one grows in relationship with You and will be forever a follower, even though one experiences the trials of life. Amen.
5. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplace they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly they attacked Jason's house.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 5)
Oh God, my Father how cruel are the forces of evil! When they cannot harm us, they try to persecute us by using those we love or others making part of our inner circles in order to persecute us. This could even result in the breakdown of holy marriages and even consecrated lives. I pray that You keep on protecting us against such a powerful enemy Amen.
6. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7. and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor saying that there is another king named Jesus."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 6 to 7)
Really and truly the world is walking on its head, in the sense of calling what is good and according to Your will as bad and old fashioned, and what is totally negative is being considered to be good.
8. The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9. and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God, my Father may we all be disturbed by Your name, so much that we are concerned about You. You are the only concern of our lives and may we feel disturbed when we feel apart from You. Amen.
10. That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 10 to 11)
Oh God my Father, in life You give us both consolations and desolations, however in order to encourage us, desolations or negative situations or crisis, are followed by positive ones, called consolations as in the case of Paul who was greatly welcomed by the people of Thessalonica who based their life on the message on the 'Good News' of Your Holy Word, that is the Bible. May we all base our lives on it and meditate on it in order to find Your counsel and direction in all situations Amen.
12. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. 13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 12 to 13)
The forces of evil will stop at nothing in their quest of blocking us from receiving Your 'Good News', at times we might experience persecution from those closest to us, especially when we accepted You as being our God and Father with faith and commitment. Amen.
14. Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 14)
Oh God my Father at times when You see the going becoming, to tough and maybe even becoming too dangerous for us, you remove us from that environment that could even be a work environment to one which is more safe and secure as in my case I used to work as a social worker however when this work became unhealthy for me to keep on occupying, You created a situation leading to the termination of my employment and You gave me a new job as a Call Centre Agent where the environment is totally different and is more healthy for me. I thank You oh God for loving and caring so much for us. Amen
15. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible they left him.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 15)
As we grow in our relationship together we can do for some time without guidance in order to seek a personal relationship, with You my God and Father, however in time we realize that You do not want us to grow alone but in our interactions with others, for when talking about the issue of love You told us to love others as ourselves, therefore if we want to test our level of love we need to assess our love, for our own self, for You and ultimately for others. Amen
16. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 16)
Oh God my Father if St. Paul was to visit Malta he would also feel distressed on seeing how we have become since his last visit to Malta. Mosques are sprouting like vegetables. Moreover, the degree of faith is on the decrease. As a people although there are still many spiritual groups who are pushing on the message of the 'Good News', there are many who go to mass to receive communion, however in truth, the action is basically a habit and not out of faith. The meetings held in Church have become for some a meeting place, where one breaks the weekly routine. I am so hurt by this attitude oh God my Father please keep on loving us Amen.
17. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 17)
Oh God, my Father let us never lose an opportunity to speak about You and proclaim Your Word. Last week You gave me a golden opportunity to do this at my workplace and I did not remain mute, even though this may have caused stress because we were very busy. I thank You for giving me the right words at the right time Amen.
18. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities." (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
(The Acts o9f the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 18)
Oh God my Father, the logic of the world is totally different from Your logic:-
Loving your enemy does not make sense according to the logic of the world. Forgive those who trespass against you. This does not make sense for the logic of the world says seek revenge, do not trust the person who has transgressed you, keep distance and when, payback day comes make that person suffer more than he made you suffer. This is the logic of the world.
19. So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20. It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means."
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 19 to 20)
Oh God, my Father many people would like to know You or even believe in You for different reasons. There are those who are bored stiff, with their current lifestyle and feel that it is not giving them fulfilment and because there should be more to life, than growing up seeking a career, maybe get married, become old and finally die. Some of us realise that only You can give sense to our lives, and after a long period of experimenting with life decide to respond to Your call, make an act of faith and seek to know You by means of prayer and different sources.
Others may be with one foot set on the earth and the other one set on an area which is still unknown to them, a 'no man's land which they have not yet rationally explored, and for others, faith my simply be a concept as in other religions. I pray that we have our feet planted firmly on the ground of faith in You my, God and Father Amen.
20. It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means." 21. Now all the Athenians and foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 20 to 21)
It seems oh God my Father that Athens was like a big mainframe computer that processed all the data that was inputted into it by both locals and foreigners. It seems that many would go there and bring new ideas and current trends and others would analyse and compare and contrast. However when comparing the commandment of loving one's enemies even though they make our lives a living hell, compared to that of the rules of war or justice and retribution instead of forgiveness, Your message may indeed appear strange and difficult to understand, for it totally goes against the logic and trends of our world, which is in favour of quitting marriage if there is no hope in its improving instead of trusting in You my, God and believing that someday according to Your plan the situation will improve Amen.
22. Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, "To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 22 to 23)
Oh God my Father if You had to take a look at the images of the things, people idols that we worship, I wonder if You would find any images of You. However in our hearts even though we may not admit it we still believe in You even though we may address You by some philosophical jargon such as:-
unknown being or deity or supreme being
24. The God who has made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25. nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 24 to 25)
Oh God my Father You are not limited by time and space. Even though we have Your presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist this is not confining You to the tabernacle, for You are free to roam the world and our hearts at any time. Amen. As St. Paul said You do not need our sacrifices but on the other hand I know You appreciate giving to us more than receiving because You are so generous and loving. Amen.
26. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27. so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28. For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 26 to 28)
Oh God almighty this is our creed and not the hypotheses of evolution. As sons and daughters, we are not to be misled by false hypotheses as many have been accustomed to be influenced by. You are the Master Creator, and only in You and For You does creation exist. For creation in itself is useless having no particular purpose but that of simply being in existence, however when believing that You are the Master of Creation even nature itself gives You praise and worship and finds its meaning in You Amen.
I thank You oh God my Father for being so close to me. You are closer to me more than my own skin, therefore I need not look for You elsewhere for You are with me and in me all the days of my life Amen. When I obey Your will and decide to walk in Your ways I become an image of You, however when I decide not to I remain a sinful image of myself Amen.
6. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7. and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor saying that there is another king named Jesus."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 6 to 7)
Really and truly the world is walking on its head, in the sense of calling what is good and according to Your will as bad and old fashioned, and what is totally negative is being considered to be good.
8. The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9. and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 8 to 9)
Oh God, my Father may we all be disturbed by Your name, so much that we are concerned about You. You are the only concern of our lives and may we feel disturbed when we feel apart from You. Amen.
10. That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11. These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 10 to 11)
Oh God my Father, in life You give us both consolations and desolations, however in order to encourage us, desolations or negative situations or crisis, are followed by positive ones, called consolations as in the case of Paul who was greatly welcomed by the people of Thessalonica who based their life on the message on the 'Good News' of Your Holy Word, that is the Bible. May we all base our lives on it and meditate on it in order to find Your counsel and direction in all situations Amen.
12. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. 13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 12 to 13)
The forces of evil will stop at nothing in their quest of blocking us from receiving Your 'Good News', at times we might experience persecution from those closest to us, especially when we accepted You as being our God and Father with faith and commitment. Amen.
14. Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 14)
Oh God my Father at times when You see the going becoming, to tough and maybe even becoming too dangerous for us, you remove us from that environment that could even be a work environment to one which is more safe and secure as in my case I used to work as a social worker however when this work became unhealthy for me to keep on occupying, You created a situation leading to the termination of my employment and You gave me a new job as a Call Centre Agent where the environment is totally different and is more healthy for me. I thank You oh God for loving and caring so much for us. Amen
15. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible they left him.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 15)
As we grow in our relationship together we can do for some time without guidance in order to seek a personal relationship, with You my God and Father, however in time we realize that You do not want us to grow alone but in our interactions with others, for when talking about the issue of love You told us to love others as ourselves, therefore if we want to test our level of love we need to assess our love, for our own self, for You and ultimately for others. Amen
16. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 16)
Oh God my Father if St. Paul was to visit Malta he would also feel distressed on seeing how we have become since his last visit to Malta. Mosques are sprouting like vegetables. Moreover, the degree of faith is on the decrease. As a people although there are still many spiritual groups who are pushing on the message of the 'Good News', there are many who go to mass to receive communion, however in truth, the action is basically a habit and not out of faith. The meetings held in Church have become for some a meeting place, where one breaks the weekly routine. I am so hurt by this attitude oh God my Father please keep on loving us Amen.
17. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 17)
Oh God, my Father let us never lose an opportunity to speak about You and proclaim Your Word. Last week You gave me a golden opportunity to do this at my workplace and I did not remain mute, even though this may have caused stress because we were very busy. I thank You for giving me the right words at the right time Amen.
18. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities." (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
(The Acts o9f the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 18)
Oh God my Father, the logic of the world is totally different from Your logic:-
Loving your enemy does not make sense according to the logic of the world. Forgive those who trespass against you. This does not make sense for the logic of the world says seek revenge, do not trust the person who has transgressed you, keep distance and when, payback day comes make that person suffer more than he made you suffer. This is the logic of the world.
19. So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20. It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means."
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 19 to 20)
Oh God, my Father many people would like to know You or even believe in You for different reasons. There are those who are bored stiff, with their current lifestyle and feel that it is not giving them fulfilment and because there should be more to life, than growing up seeking a career, maybe get married, become old and finally die. Some of us realise that only You can give sense to our lives, and after a long period of experimenting with life decide to respond to Your call, make an act of faith and seek to know You by means of prayer and different sources.
Others may be with one foot set on the earth and the other one set on an area which is still unknown to them, a 'no man's land which they have not yet rationally explored, and for others, faith my simply be a concept as in other religions. I pray that we have our feet planted firmly on the ground of faith in You my, God and Father Amen.
20. It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means." 21. Now all the Athenians and foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 20 to 21)
It seems oh God my Father that Athens was like a big mainframe computer that processed all the data that was inputted into it by both locals and foreigners. It seems that many would go there and bring new ideas and current trends and others would analyse and compare and contrast. However when comparing the commandment of loving one's enemies even though they make our lives a living hell, compared to that of the rules of war or justice and retribution instead of forgiveness, Your message may indeed appear strange and difficult to understand, for it totally goes against the logic and trends of our world, which is in favour of quitting marriage if there is no hope in its improving instead of trusting in You my, God and believing that someday according to Your plan the situation will improve Amen.
22. Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, "Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, "To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 22 to 23)
Oh God my Father if You had to take a look at the images of the things, people idols that we worship, I wonder if You would find any images of You. However in our hearts even though we may not admit it we still believe in You even though we may address You by some philosophical jargon such as:-
unknown being or deity or supreme being
24. The God who has made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25. nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 24 to 25)
Oh God my Father You are not limited by time and space. Even though we have Your presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist this is not confining You to the tabernacle, for You are free to roam the world and our hearts at any time. Amen. As St. Paul said You do not need our sacrifices but on the other hand I know You appreciate giving to us more than receiving because You are so generous and loving. Amen.
26. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27. so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28. For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 26 to 28)
Oh God almighty this is our creed and not the hypotheses of evolution. As sons and daughters, we are not to be misled by false hypotheses as many have been accustomed to be influenced by. You are the Master Creator, and only in You and For You does creation exist. For creation in itself is useless having no particular purpose but that of simply being in existence, however when believing that You are the Master of Creation even nature itself gives You praise and worship and finds its meaning in You Amen.
I thank You oh God my Father for being so close to me. You are closer to me more than my own skin, therefore I need not look for You elsewhere for You are with me and in me all the days of my life Amen. When I obey Your will and decide to walk in Your ways I become an image of You, however when I decide not to I remain a sinful image of myself Amen.
29. Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verse 29)
Oh God my Father in the Roman Catholic Church there are many statues that portray You and even the saints, however, the intention of such images are not that of replacing You, or the adoration that is only to be given to You. Such images help us to create a mental and spiritual image of You and this is very important especially when considering that if You do not show Yourself directly to us or by means of others we cannot see You.
30. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31. because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 30 to 31)
As found in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, oh God my Father, the command to repent is not only for those whom we consider to being unbelievers or those who for some reason have left the Roman Catholic Church in protest and create other churches or maybe with reference to Muslims or people of other religions or maybe the atheists or homosexuals or people in same-gender marriages, but for all. We are all called to repent of our sins and our ways and refresh the lifestyle that we are living to one that is according to the will of God. This is a Universal Call to all humanity. Amen.
32. When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, scome scoffed; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." 33. At that point Paul left them. 34. But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 32 to 34)
Oh God my Father not all people react the same to Your Word. There are those who accept it and there are those who scoff in rebellion to it. On the other hand, there are those who decide only to accept parts of Your Word or Bible that support what they already believe in or which they can use to support their arguments against You and Christianity. Amen.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter of the book of Acts with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father, I would like to offer this chapter as a prayer for all missionaries around the world who in obedience to You have abandoned the ways of the world in order to preach, give a living testimony of Your Word by means of what they preach and the way they live. I also pray for Pastors who in great numbers and with great sacrifice spread the Gospel and are of help to many people. I also pray for You to bless all their works with Your grace, so that the fruit shall continue to multiply and many people are drawn to You. I also pray for the catechists who explain Your Word to children such as my daughter Maria and many others. Please continue to shed Your talents and mercy and grace, so that there will be nobody in the world who has not heard of You and the Gospel Amen.
32. When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, scome scoffed; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." 33. At that point Paul left them. 34. But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
(The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 17 verses 32 to 34)
Oh God my Father not all people react the same to Your Word. There are those who accept it and there are those who scoff in rebellion to it. On the other hand, there are those who decide only to accept parts of Your Word or Bible that support what they already believe in or which they can use to support their arguments against You and Christianity. Amen.
Oh God my Father I would like to end this chapter of the book of Acts with the following prayer:
Oh God my Father, I would like to offer this chapter as a prayer for all missionaries around the world who in obedience to You have abandoned the ways of the world in order to preach, give a living testimony of Your Word by means of what they preach and the way they live. I also pray for Pastors who in great numbers and with great sacrifice spread the Gospel and are of help to many people. I also pray for You to bless all their works with Your grace, so that the fruit shall continue to multiply and many people are drawn to You. I also pray for the catechists who explain Your Word to children such as my daughter Maria and many others. Please continue to shed Your talents and mercy and grace, so that there will be nobody in the world who has not heard of You and the Gospel Amen.
