The apostle Paul had presented God’s Word in Thessalonica’s synagogue during three consecutive Sabbaths. Luke reports that Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, which indicates that the apostle interacted with his audience as he read and interpreted the Scriptures: “Explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead.” Explaining means that Paul was “opening up” Scripture in a thorough way. Demonstrating implies he placed before his hearers a deposit of things that are certain and cannot be denied.

God’s program for His Anointed is clear from many Scriptures: He must suffer and rise from among the dead. The apostle presented to his audience a Person—not a new philosophy, but the Messiah. The despised Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah (Christ) according to the Scriptures. He is the blessed Son of God, who is God and Man in one Person. Unfathomable, divine, yet perfectly human, without any flaw or sin, different from all other humans since Adam and Eve’s fall (Gen. 3). Paul also explained that Messiah’s death on the cross was needed to resolve the sin question. God had the victory over the power of death by raising Jesus from among the dead. In fact, Jesus raised Himself, while it is also true that God raised Him from among the dead. Only One was worthy to be raised: God’s anointed One, whom He lifted to the highest heaven, the place of honor at His right hand (Heb. 1:3)! Some accepted Paul’s message and joined his company, whereas others rejected it and even caused a riot (Acts 17:5–10). What is our response?