Daily Archive

As a Pharisee, Paul was quite familiar with the synagogue.  According to his own testimony, Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, blameless in righteousness under the law.  He was “extremely jealous” for the tradition of his fathers, advancing in Judaism more than anyone else.  This was a man who was undoubtedly well known in the synagogues of the leading cities of the Roman Empire.  And it is these very synagogues that Paul went back into after having his life transformed by Jesus whom he was persecuting.

It is no small thing to consider that Paul entered into such familiar territory with such an unfamiliar message of Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one, risen from the dead.  Consider the account of Acts regarding the placement of the synagogues in gospel advance:

@ Salamis:

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
Acts 13:5

@ Antioch:

but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
Acts 13:14-16

@ Iconium:

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
Acts 14:1

@ Thessalonica:

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”
Acts 17:1-3

@ Berea:

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Acts 17:10

@ Athens:

So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
Acts 17:17

@ Corinth:

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Acts 18:1-4

@ Ephesus:

And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:19

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19:8-10

In some examples, Paul is said to address Jews only (Salamis, Antioch, Thessalonica, Berea, and Ephesus); other times he address a mixed audience (Jews and Greeks in Iconium and Corinth, Jews and “devout persons” in Athens). Luke states the main action of Paul was to “reason” (explain, prove, and persuade), although at Salamis he “proclaimed” the word of God. From here we see that teaching (especially biblical theology) and the importance of truth (life of the mind) are foundational to Paul’s evangelism and apologetic.  In other words, he wasn’t just winning hearts, but he was convincing minds and thus affecting hearts with the truths of the gospel.

What I find intriguing is that even in predominately Gentile regions, Paul first entered the synagogue. Not only that, but Paul explicitly states that his apostolic mission is to reach the Gentiles with the gospel. So why the synagogue, Saint Paul? Why not the coliseum or marketplace?

I am inclined to believe that the synagogue was a place where he could leverage his influence and position for the sake of the gospel.  It was a familiar place with familiar faces.  And it was there Paul reasoned with them–an approach that connotes coming alongside an explaining as opposed to direct confrontation (though the truths were confrontational no doubt!).  Paul was also one to argue that, while his mission was to the Gentiles, the gospel was the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

I think there are some redemptive-historical observations to glean from Paul’s missionary strategy, but also believe there are some practical approaches we can learn as well.  For example, Paul went back into an environment he was very familiar with, knowing that his message and transformed life would not be well received.  He knew that his fellow men were also zealous for the law and jealous for the Jewish tradition.  In their eyes, he was a traitor.  Nevertheless, he had both the courage to withstand their charges and criticisms and the compassion to deliver the good news of Jesus Christ.  He was one who testified that “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

May God grant us the passion and purposeful pursuit of sinners with a re-entry that where our limp reveals that we have been staggered by sovereign grace.  Let us never hide behind the sovereignty of God and fail to mourn for lost souls as seen in Paul.  But may we sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts and be prepared to give a reason for he hope that is within us with gentleness and respect.