Turning the World Upside Down
Does anyone in here have a nickname? Sometimes we’re given nicknames because of something we’ve done in our past. I called my wife Bruce the first two years I knew her. She showed up late to something first week of freshman year in college and someone gave her a Bruce nametag because they got an extra one for the Bruce Lee on their shirt. When I was flirting with her two years later and passed her a Taco Bell hot sauce packet that said “Marry Me,” she said, “I won’t marry anyone who doesn’t call me by my real name.” I said, “Ok, Sara.” She was Sara from that moment forward! And she married me! My Dad was given the nickname Teber after dancing to Teaberry gum commercials as a little kid. To this day that name has stuck from what he did long ago in the past.
What we do follows us around, sometimes it’s for good, but sometimes it’s for bad. Sometimes people mischaracterize you and then they won’t shake that mischaracterization. Sometimes it’s true and godly, and people just don’t want the truth or are led astray. That’s what we see in today’s text. There’s a line where accusations are thrown at Paul and Silas, but it’s something I do want associated with my name and with this church. They call them “these men who have turned the world upside down.”
We’re going to see that the way we turn the world upside down is by letting loose God’s Word. We’re also going to see two different responses to the teachings of God’s Word.
Defend the truth of the gospel. (Acts 17:1-4)
Our passage begins with the apostle Paul arriving in Thessalonica, proclaiming the Gospel. He goes straight to the synagogue, as was his custom, and preaches Jesus to the Jews. Notice what Paul's central focus was on(2-3) — the suffering and resurrection of Christ. He wasn't just sharing a nice story; he was laying out the very heart of our faith. He reasoned, explained, and proved from the Scriptures why Christ's suffering and resurrection were absolutely necessary. This wasn't just about making an argument; it was about revealing the truth that turns lives upside down.
“The Greek word translated “reasoned” is the root for our English word dialogue. There was exchange, questions and answers. He dialogued with them “from the Scriptures.”[1]
What is the content of Paul’s reasoning, explaining, and proving? First, it is from the Scriptures. It’s not some new theology. It is in the very Scriptures the Jews used. And from that, the content Paul is proclaiming and defending is the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. That’s the core of our faith.
Do you wonder what Scriptures he walked them through to reason, explain, and prove? There are many passages Paul likely took them to. Certainly he would have included Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Let’s read some of them here.
Psalm 22:1, 16-18
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?...
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
Isaiah 53
These passages are proof in themselves of who Jesus is and what He did. For a long time people said Isaiah 53 must have been written after the crucifixion of Jesus because it so closely resembles what Jesus went through. In 1947, in Qumran, amidst the Dead Sea Scrolls, a scroll containing the entire book of Isaiah was found, known now as the Great Isaiah Scroll. You can go look at it in high definition online.[2] Guess when it dates to? 100BC. Nobody can say that Isaiah 53 was written after Jesus, because you can go look at it in high definition from before Jesus.
This is what Paul did. He walked them through the Scriptures and taught them the truth, even though it contradicted what they already believed. And you know what? Some believed (4). Praise the Lord! That is our hope every time we teach and proclaim. But also, some didn’t. They didn’t want to change, even when Scripture said opposite of their belief.
We can’t make anyone believe, but we must proclaim. (Acts 17:5-9)
Some were persuaded by the gospel and believed. They recognized the truth and embraced it wholeheartedly. But not everyone was that way. There were those who reacted with jealousy and opposition (5). Their status quo was being challenged, and some couldn't handle it.
Don’t we do the same today? When the way things have always been is challenged, it never happens quietly. But sometimes things need to change! And the same thing that leads to life in one person, another person wants to crucify you for.
Persecution and opposition ensued. There was mob violence against a Christian named Jason's house, and accusations were hurled against Paul and Silas (6). But amidst the chaos, the Gospel continued to spread. The accusations were true, by the way. They were letting loose the word of God, and it was indeed turning the world upside down, to the glory of God!
The accusations they faced are no different than what Jesus faced. They are accusing them of bowing down to another king, king Jesus (7). By the way, we bow our knee to King Jesus when we bow to His Word. Remember when Jesus stood before Pilate. What were the accusations Pilate was questioning Jesus about? “Are you the King of the Jews?”[3] Hear the rest of their exchange:
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.”
Jesus is the King! The sovereign King of the cosmos! These Christians are proclaiming the Truth. But those who don’t want to bow their knee to Jesus wage war. That’s what happens when two kingdoms clash. War ensues.
Reflecting on his ministry at Thessalonica, Paul commented on his trials and God-given boldness:
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Thess 2:1-2, 13)
In Thessalonica, some believed the Word of God, but many fought against it. We see a different response from those in Berea.
We must be Bible-centered in all things. (Acts 17:10-12)
In Berea, we see a completely different response than the church at Thessalonica. The Bereans had a receptive attitude toward the Gospel. They eagerly listened to Paul's teachings and diligently examined the Scriptures daily. They were open to new ideas but grounded in the truth of God's Word.
“The Bereans had a teachable attitude. Their hearts were open, not hardened. Here is the first step in becoming a student of the Bible: approach God’s Word with humility, saying, “Teach me, oh God.” Psalm 119 is filled with similar cries (e.g., vv. 12, 18, 27, 33-36, 66, 125). James told the Christians, “Ridding yourselves of all moral fifth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).”[4]
Here's how we should study God’s Word…with open Bibles and humble hearts.
The example of the Bereans teaches us the importance of diligent study and examination of the Word. They didn't just accept things at face value; they searched the Scriptures for themselves, seeking truth with open hearts and minds.
“The Bereans provide us a positive example of examining what is being taught (cf. 1 Tim 4:1-5; 6:2-10; 2 Tim 3:1-9; 2 Pet 2:1-22; 1 Jn 2:18-27; Jude 3-23).”[5]
We need a Berean revival! Christians claim to believe the Word of God, but there is a biblical literacy problem within the church. Only 45% of Christians read the Bible more than once a week. Almost 1 in 5 say they never read their Bible.[6] We have so many people who know very little about the God they say they love. Imagine if we were that way with our spouse!
There will always be opposition to the work of God. (Acts 17:13-15)
Even in Berea, opposition arose. Jews from Thessalonica traveled there to stir up trouble.
“The Word of God is central in these stories. Paul and his companions turned the world upside down by turning the Word loose!”[7] When something is turned upside down, it sometimes makes a mess. But, when we’re not in line with the Word…the Truth…we need our lives turned upside down!
I sometimes need to turn my daughter’s car seat upside down. And shake it. Not with the baby in it…And when I do, all kinds of things come pouring out. Long lost toys, Cheetos, Cheerios, you name it. I have to turn it upside down to get the junk out. That’s what God’s Word does to us, if we allow it.
When we’re already upside down, what happens when we get turned upside down? We’re put right side up. That’s what aligning ourselves with the Word of God does.
There was a day when Jesus turned my world upside down. Can you point to such a day in your life? If you can’t, you need to heed the words of Paul. Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead to give you life. To change you. To recreate you. To make you new. And today is your day to bow your knee before Him.
Which side are you on? Are you fighting against God’s Word? Are you diligently searching the Scriptures and aligning your beliefs and life with what it says?
[1] R. Kent Hughes, Acts, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1996), 222.
[2] http://dss.collections.imj.org.il/isaiah
[3] John 18:33
[4] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2017).
[5] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2017), 240.
[6] https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2017/bible-engagement/epidemic-of-bible-illiteracy-in-our-churches.html
[7] Merida, 240.
