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“And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,” Acts 17:6
To “change the world” - is the ultimate goal of a revolutionized mind. History tells us that many people brought in ideas that had uplifted things from the way they were. Some strived to change cultural views, others discovered new technologies, while a number of them pioneered genres in music, sports, and fashion. Change might have come, but it didn’t really come throughout the world. Influences might have been great but not too great to affect the whole world, in all its areas and all people.
Except for a time in history, when two men from Israel, namely Paul and Silas, came to Thessalonica for a purpose that would change the world, not just in their time, but through all time. They were marked as “men who have turned the world upside down,” (Acts 17:6) which proved to be true at a later time, despite having the statement’s initial intentions to mean in a dissentient way. Both Paul and Silas were early converts of Christianity, who with other disciples, traveled around the world for a divine purpose.
Christians are called to make a difference in this dying world, which is to become salt and light in it. Corporately, as His church, we must take part in this calling. It would be hard, wearisome, and could be lingering, too. Take the case of Paul and Silas, they were driven out, threatened, and mocked when they took a step of faith. But God has come before any persecutions they would ever encounter. He promised that He “will be with them always.” Certainly, He had prospered their mission despite opposition. Soon enough, people in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria have come to know the faith. And as these Christians live and die for their faith, the gospel was preached and believed to the ends of the earth.
But how did they do it? The whole book of Acts narrated it all. However, chapter 17 pieced it into two initial but major tasks:
- Proclaiming Jesus is Christ. The Scriptures say that for three Sabbath days, Paul reasoned with both Jews and Gentiles in Thessalonica, "explaining and proving to them that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead,” and that this Messiah was Jesus. People were expecting a Messiah, but a very different one from what God has prepared. They were expecting a great and glorious king, but not someone who will have to suffer and die. But as Paul establishes through the Scriptures that this suffering and triumphant Messiah is Jesus (RSB commentary), many were persuaded and believed. From that moment on, Jews and Gentile God-fearers, including "leading women”, became those earliest Christians who joined Paul in this gospel quest.
- Standing against all ungodliness. Paul’s zealousness in proclaiming the gospel was not restricted to that task alone. But it was also tied with admonishing wrong beliefs and practices of religion. Paul even went as far as feeling provoked (Acts 17:16) on the idolatry of Athens. Sadly, getting “provoked” to unbiblical practices nowadays is negatively received even in evangelical circles. Most Christians dispose of tolerance even to those absolute, obvious disobedience, which then they interpret as the more “Christian way” than laying down reproof and correction. Paul expressed an unambiguous point when he brought up Athen’s idolatry. His tone is straightforward. He has but one clear objective, and that is to turn their eyes to Jesus. His provocation was turned into an instant gospel-preaching session. He did not delay and withhold anything. He toppled their objects of worship brazenly and proved their “wise quotes” (v. 28) untrue unless it is directed to the Lord of heaven and earth. He did not play safe— never ever. Instead, he was always discerning and deliberate. He delivered God’s message for what it is.
Are we called to change the world? No. But just like Paul and Silas, we were called to proclaim the gospel that brings salvation to mankind. The world may be subject to vanity (Romans 8:20) but the message that we have brings hope for future, eternal glory to a spiritually dead damned soul— there’s no other change in the world ever more needed than that! This is the mission and purpose of every Christian. It is not simply a challenge but a command to obey. Our Lord has given us the power to perform this task (Acts 1:8). So it is not whether you can do it, but will you do it? Will you join us in turning this world upside down?
