Acts 17:2-3 records FIVE specific things that Paul employed to turn Thessalonica and through them every place right side up for the Lord.
• Vs. 2a “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them”: Paul went, as he always did, to a place where there was already an interest in spiritual truth, the synagogue where the Jews met to study the Word of God. I find it interesting that the place throughout church history that is the flash point of revival has always been the Church. You could call the 119th Psalm the revival passage of scripture.
Here is how the Psalmist puts it:
•Revive me according to Your word (three times)
•Revive me in Your way
•Revive me in Your righteousness
•Revive me according to Your lovingkindness (twice)
•Revive me according to Your justice
•Revive me according to Your judgments
•Vs.2b “reasoned with them from the Scriptures.”Paul had a discussion with folks based upon the truth of the Word. The word “reasoned” is where we get our English word dialogue. It describes not a formal sermon but rather a discussion during which Paul answered questions from those who were interested in truth.
• Vs. 3 “explaining”: This is the same word that is used twice in Luke 24. First in verse 32 where it says concerning the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. the word means to “expound” (Luke 24:37 gives us the definition) or to explain the word of God. If we want to turn our world right side up we can not be sharing “sermonettes for Christianets”. No, there must be a clear teaching of the Word, which has to be explaining the passage.
• Vs. 3 “demonstrating”:The word literally means to place alongside of. Paul was not only expounding he was propounding. In other words Paul did not just explain the passages of scripture to them he offered for their consideration the truth of the word of God by placing scripture next to scripture. He proved that what he was saying was not mere speculation or man’s opinion but was in fact TRUTH!
• Vs. 3 “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”: This word preach means to proclaim. What is interesting is that in this statement we see that Paul pushed for a decision. Paul identified Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies he had explained and proved and then said, “What are you going to do with Him?”