After a successful time in the synagogue in Thessalonica, charges are made against Paul before the local Roman authorities (Acts 17:1-9). The charges against Paul are significant: he is accused of “defying the decrees of Caesar” and “advocating another king, Jesus.” Given the recent history of Thessalonica, these are dangerous charges indeed.
First, Paul and his companions are troublemakers. This could be standard rhetoric, although it does seem that wherever Paul goes there is trouble. But Rome did not particular care for trouble-makers. In fact, this phrase (οἱ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἀναστατώσαντες οὗτοι) literally means the ones who are turning the world upside down.” Kavin Rowe uses this phrase as the title for his excellent book subtitled “Reading Acts in the Graeco-Roman Age.” As he points out in his chapter on Acts 17, to “turn the world upside down” is a grave accusation in the Roman world (p. 96). Luke used the phrase later in Acts to describe the revolutionary activities of the Sicarii, actions that will result in the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (Acts 21:38). It is possible to take this phrase not as “they are troublemakers” but rather as “they are rebels against the Roman Empire.”
Second, they subvert the decrees of Caesar. In 1 Thess 1:9 Paul says that the congregation has “turned form idols.” Obviously any pagan Gentiles saved during Paul’s time in the city would have turned from whatever idols they worshiped. But this “turning from idols” must have included the Roman cult. If this is the case, then turning from the Roman cult could be understood as an act of disloyalty. It is possible then that Gentile God-fearers still participated in some form of official cult, despite worshiping in the synagogue.
Third, they advocate another king, Jesus. In 1 Thess 4 and 5 Paul clearly teaches that Jesus is coming back in power and he will establish his own glorious kingdom (1 Thess 2:19, for example). This could easily be understood in terms of a change of emperors, that the empire of Rome was about to be supplanted with the empire of Jesus. It is clear, at least for Kavin Rowe, that “the figure to whom King Jesus is juxtaposed is beyond a doubt the Roman emperor” (p. 99).
Fourth, Paul’s preaching of the gospel challenges the truth of pax Romana. In 1 Thess 5:3, Paul says that when Jesus returns, it will be at a time when people are saying “peace and safety,” but they will in fact be destroyed. Peace and security is exactly what was promised by the Empire, pax Romana meant that the empire was a safe and peaceful place to live. Paul says there that the peace of Rome is an illusion.
All of this points to the radical nature of Paul’s gospel from a Roman perspective. After the Jerusalem Council, we are well aware of how radical the gospel is from a Jewish perspective. But now we see how dangerous the idea of Jesus can be from a Roman imperial perspective. Paul is declaring that Jesus is the Real King and that his empire of peace is going to overwhelm the so-called peace of Rome. This alternative way of viewing the world provoked violent reactions from Rome.
All this leads me to wonder how we can present this “radical” the Gospel to the world today. Does the message of the Grace of God really appear to be “turning the world upside down”?
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
I do not think it is necessarily turning the world upside down when we present the gospel to people in the United States but for many people groups that do not come from a nation where most everyone has an experience with Christianity, I could see the gospel as being extreme. To present this whole new way of believing to a group of people who are so set in their ways is difficult but I think that getting the idea into the minds of those people will give Christ a chance to show Himself to them in their lives. We very well might be seen as troublemakers because we are coming in and trying to change things and believing in this gospel might be something that would get people in trouble by their religious leaders or their group of close family and friends. Once you tell someone that what they believe in is wrong or that they are doing something wrong, they will get defensive to what we are saying and reject it. It is very important for us to go with love and compassion and integrate yourself into their mindset to be able to understand how a specific group of people will react to what you are presenting to them in love.
I would say that the message of the grace of God does “turn the world upside-down”. A prime example, ISIS which is spreading and terrorizing believers. Our own country is falling away from the Christian faith to the point that I have heard missionaries from different countries coming to the US to share the gospel. There’s something definitely wrong with that. When we share the gospel with people many times it can stir some intense feelings because we challenge their beliefs. Like Tyler said, in presenting the gospel, love and compassion needs to happen, as well as understanding where they are coming from. My dad always challenges me to know and study other religions better than those following that religion. Obviously I have not mastered that and that would take a lot of work, but if we could have more knowledge of another’s religion I believe that we could do some collateral damage (in a good way) to show that we aren’t just some arrogant/naive Christians.
I’m not sure if it’s the message of the *grace* of God that is turning the world upside down, but rather the message of the *holiness* of God. Preaching a God who loves and forgives doesn’t usually upset too many people, but just like in Paul’s day, preaching against the culture can seem to spin the world upside down and backwards. Just think of some of the more prominent “Christian” leaders in the world who have done away with the holiness of God in favor of a gracious God who ‘just wants you to be happy.’ These leaders are admired, beloved, and embraced even in the secular world. Why? Because, like the false-prophets of old, and maybe even like those who worshiped Rome, they are proclaiming “peace, peace” when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14).
Sometimes the test of authentic Christianity is whether we are turning the world upside down around us. After all, Jesus said that “if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19
This blog post explains multiple ways in which Paul defied the norm and stood up for what he believed in. I think if we as Christian’s today started living differently it would be good to be compared to Paul. Matthew 5:11 calls us Blessed if we are persecuted if we are persecuted on Christ’s account. I believe many Christians today live such safe lives and are afraid to fully commit to a relationship with Jesus Christ. This post brings up the fact that Paul did have to stand up to Roman authority and proclaim Christ’s worth. It explains that while Paul was ministering he would have begun denying idols now as well as the Pax Romana. I think that if we as Christians just stopped following the Constitution people would begin to notice. I believe there is importance in Paul’s actions and we as Christians should notice that and aim to follow in his steps somewhat.
I think that when Paul was bringing the gospel message in Acts 17, the message of God’s grace was turning the world upside down. It was unlike anything that the people had ever seen before, because that is what they needed. The people needed a message unlike what they had heard before and I think they needed to see someone who was willing to die for what they believed in, not someone who was forced into believing something or worshiping someone. As for today, I think that like Tyler said there are some people who need to see that too, but I also think that there is a lot to be said about people who truly believe in something so much that they go out of their way to promote it without even using words. “Being Jesus” as some would say. So I am not entirely sure if the world needs people who would turn the world upside down to bring the message,
The truth of what Jesus had done not only affected the people of God, but it affected, and still affects the world. Jesus didn’t come to seek and save the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:17). 2 Corinthians 3:18 talks about how we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. There is a transforming that takes place when someone entrusts their life to God. Titus 2:8 encourages us, as those who follow Christ, to be above reproach and that those who seek to oppose our message should have nothing bad to say about us, because of our commitment to Christ. These are just a few examples from Scripture of how the gospel is a message that changes lives and therefore changes the world – turning it upside down. “…and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:7). The truth of the Gospel transforms and it challenges the rulers and powers of this world – as we have seen recently in many different forms.
Turning the world upside down? Absolutely, since in our day and age it seems to be a trend to avoid the traditional, and to try something new. I say this carefully, because I do believe that ministry and the Gospel should not simple be performed as a ritual or read in the KJV. However, the unchanging grace of God that was given to Paul on the Damascus road is still the same grace offered to us! And yes, if opposing murder and open sin is turning the world upside down, or loving on local communities is turning the world upside down – I am all for it. As the Roman government would have worried, so will all other earthly governments that begin to realize this is beyond their control.
Grace may abound, but I also think of Malachi’s prophetic words that include the entirety of history and history to be made: “But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears? “ (Malachi 3:2a) Grace then not only can turn the world upside down, but should – as Christ’s love displayed on the cross should so easily compel us to share!!
When a person gets saved they are full of the new man and the old man is no longer there. Their world is turned upside down. From going to what it used to be to what the life of a Christ follower is. When Paul spoke to them I believe it really affected them and it caused many peoples lives to be turned upside down. Maybe even more so today, seeing how wrong is considered right, and right is considered wrong. Us Christians are to be that example of the “upside down” side. With love and compassion we show the world the difference. The world needs to have a revival and see what is the real and perfect will of God.
Firstly, the preaching of Paul is never something that is less than shocking to the people he preaches to. Though the phrase “turning the world upside-down” was used as a derogatory term, as explained in this blog, I think it may hold a different meaning altogether, aside from the usual meaning of the phrase. Though the angry Jews were yelling this phrase towards Paul, he was, in fact, relaying a radical gospel that would not only go against what a lot of prestigious Jews believed but also defied Roman rules and culture. The gospel of Christ was, and is, radical, and because Paul was preaching it, it makes sense that he would be seen as radical himself. Polhill (2016) states, “These hostile opponents spoke better than they knew, for the spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire was the beginning of a movement that would change the course of history forever” (pp. 2120-2121). Jews and Roman authorities alike were accusing Paul of his “radicalness” and Paul held no shame for “turning the world upside-down” for the sake of Christ. The Gospel is offensive, yet full of truth; Radical, yet full of a loving Christ. I think that today, we have (as Americans and otherwise) a lot of religious freedom and the ability to have the freedom of speech as well. While in America there is constant hate towards Christians and their beliefs, in this country, we are not being stoned and killed for what we believe. So, what does sharing the gospel look like today? What does it mean to share the “radical” message of Christ? Certainly, it looks different than what Paul experienced, yet it is the same gospel. While cultures change and evolve, the gospel stays the same in its stories and message of Christ. Today, sharing the message of Christ may look like standing with your Christian university because they are holding to biblical truths, or it may look like having extremely tough conversations with family members who are not believers, or it may be traveling across the world to share the gospel of Christ to cultures who have never heard of Jesus; the experience is different for everyone and their circumstances. The gospel never changes, therefore it will always defy the world and be seen as radical; something, unlike the rest.
Wherever Paul travels to, there seems to be uproar with the Jewish leaders. His normal routine is to go into the synagogue and preach, however he finds himself in the center of the lion’s den made up of jealous Jewish leaders who want him dead. They use the Roman empires rules and mob violence to cite uproar against Paul and the new followers of Jesus.
Because Paul’s preaching was proposing a whole new way to salvation, the old religious leaders did not like that. However, Paul’s boldness in sharing the gospel is what brings many to salvation, but it does also turn the world of religion upside down. The hardened hearts of the Jewish leaders bring trouble for Paul.
In today’s culture, there seems to be more and more uproar with the Christian gospel. In the western world, we can be just like the Pharisees, but instead of strict religion clouding our view of the truth, it has become workaholism/careerism. I believe we need boldness among the church in sharing the gospel. We are far from the truths this country was founded upon and we have become so distracted that we are missing the gospel. We are missing salvation. My heart aches for this world. We need to turn this world upside down even if it means being persecuted for Christ like Paul was.
I think it is interesting the point brought up here, that Paul is a trouble maker. Everywhere he goes does seem to have some kind of problem with him or some kind of trouble brought up because of him or his message. Even today we can understand that this is true with the truth that we speak where we go as Christians. People tend to have a problem with the truth that we speak of, it’s against the norm, it’s not natural, it’s also troublesome for those who are in tune with their sin nature. This message is not brand new though, it has been around since Paul went around preaching the truth, and we still see such trouble caused by our speaking up about scripture. If we encounter such trouble now, I can only imagine what kind of trouble followed Paul during his missionary journeys.
It can be easily understood why the Jews in Thessalonica viewed Paul as ‘turning the world upside down’. Paul, who grew up around Jewish traditions and rituals knew all of the ‘steps’ that Jews needed to complete with the food they ate and the sacrifices they made in order to be saved. Now Paul is teaching that they only need to believe in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection in order to be saved. This is a completely different concept from Jewish beliefs and practices. This without a doubt created many struggles for Paul, or any of the apostles, to be preaching to Jews. Christianity is one of the only religions (that I know of) where believers have to do absolutely nothing when it comes to rituals and practices in order to receive salvation or ‘passing on to another life’. Even specific types of Christians (Roman Catholicism) preach that believers need to do good works to receive salvation, when in fact true believers should want to do good acts because they have received salvation. Therefore, Paul is flipping every possible religious belief on its head in saying that salvation is free to all of those who accept it. That leads to making it obvious, in understanding the religious culture, of both Paul’s era and today’s society on how this concept of receiving free grace so difficult to grasp onto. In Acts 16, Paul tells the jailer that all he needs to do to receive salvation is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This may even appear to be a trick of some sorts to non-believers in thinking that all they have to do to have eternal life is accept God’s grace and believe in the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. This concept seems all too ‘easy’ when it is broken down to the simplicity of it. Yet, this is the truth that Christians believers hold tightly and that drives how be live our lives. We simply need to understand our brokenness and our need for a Savior and understand that Christ died and rose again for each individual person to be with Him forever. So yes, Paul teaching the people in Thessalonica was a message to ‘turn the world upside down,’ but didn’t Jesus do that when He defeated Satan and death on the cross?
In a way, the message of the Gospel does “turn the world upside down” for those who have not heard it. I mean if we had not heard the Gospel and someone tells us that Jesus, who is God’s son, died on the cross and was raised from the dead, it would seem pretty crazy. From our human knowledge, it does not seem possible. A person going from believing what seemed only humanly possible to believing Jesus was raised from the dead does seem like it is an “upside down world” worthy transformation. It reminds me of the people in Ephesus when Paul talked about how God is the one true God and these people all worshiped Artemis (Acts 19). Worshipping this goddess was all they had known and was deeply rooted in their culture. After hearing what Paul had to say, it could also have felt like their world was being turned upside down. Going back to Acts 17, it could seem reasonable how the Jews reacted. Their culture was being questioned: from going against the decrees of Caesar, advocating another king, and challenging Pax Romana (Long 2015). Indeed, this mindset of “turning the world upside down” was “the beginning of a movement that would change the course of history forever” (Polhill 2121). Paul sets the stage for history to be made.
The wording here, “turning the world upside down”, is exactly what was intended. To go about living lives as they were before Christ, would mean that Christ had not changed lives. If Christ’s love and forgiveness is not a transformative experience from our old life to our new life, then what is the point? Jesus coming into the world to forgive our sins was radical and we know how he was treated at the end of his ministry. Paul did not turn from the challenge of turning the world upside down and we can learn a lot from his example. He preached the truth of Christ even when it was a risk to his life. Peter and the apostles rejoiced because “they were counted worthy to suffer” (Acts 5:41). Paul clearly has the same mindset through his own ministries as he continues to stand in situations where he is persecuted for the sake of Christ. We can learn a lot from Paul in his ministry. He was bold and spoke the truth even when it was radical. He was loving in his actions even when he spoke truth. Today, as we share the gospel, we can be bold with the truth and filled with love as we do so. The radicalness the Romans feared is what the world needs even today. When Paul was preaching the Gospel, it was new. Now as we preach the Gospel, it may not seem so radical because it’s been heard before. The Gospel is still as transformative today as it was then though.
Before reading this article on Acts 17 I rarely perceived the gospel as being radical to todays world. Although it is an important factor to look into when proclaiming the gospel. Just in the United States we are a notion turning from God. As a conservative Chriatain in today’s society speaking the gospel boldly is “Turning the world upside down”. I believe that this phrase is an accurate way of describing Christians of society today. An example of how the Gospel may “turn the world upside down” is when addressing the world in the topic of sex out of marriage. As conservative Christians we beleive that sex is meant for marraige and is a gift from God. Another common trend in today’s society there is a big movement to except that gay marriage is ok and straight from the Bible. Although an evangelical Christian believes and preaches that these are not of God which causes big uproar. Instead of us getting beaten and imprisoned from speaking the gospel in America we find ourselves being sued and publicly shamed. As Christians speak out in society they are said to be full of hate and are awful people. The gospel stands for something completely opposite of what the society believes to be true. So if you speak the gospel with passion you can become an enemy of the liberal society of today. “Turning the word upside down” seems like a phrase that would be untrue for today but when preaching the gospel in a pagan society will turn it upside down if the society is not God fearing but sin filled/influenced.
Thinking of Paul and those with him as troublemakers provides an interesting perspective. Having grown up in the church, it is more natural for me to associate Paul as the first missionary whose travel maps are printed in the back of the Bible (as a kid, bonus points if the Bible had three separate maps for each journey!). After class and reading blogs, this picture of Paul as a troublemaker makes a lot of sense. If the Thessalonians were finally back to a good spot as a free country, Paul’s words and actions do post a significant threat.
The quote from Kavin Rowe about Jesus being juxtaposed against the Roman empire further supports the idea of Paul as a troublemaker. This understanding also sheds light on the Matthew 22 passage in which the Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking him if they should pay taxes to Caesar or not.
Paul’s message is radical. It’s the opposite Pax Romana and the goals of the Imperial cult. It is not as though Paul is bringing new or other ideas… he is a troublemaker who is trying to “turn the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
Today, the gospel seems less threatening and harmful. While the gospel does not lose its power, its power, the implication is on culture will change as cultural values change. In many ways the gospel still is radical and threatening to turn the world upside down; the core messages of the gospel run directly against human nature. It will be interesting to see how the world’s – particularly the US’s – perception of Christianity and the gospel changes as the landscape is shifting into a post-evangelical, faith-deconstructing state.
In Acts 17, after a prosperous experience in the Thessalonian synagogue, begins to face backlash from local citizens. Some of the local people presented charges against Paul, bringing them forth to the Roman officials. As Long notes, the charges are quite serious, as defying Caesar and promoting Jesus as the king could result in life-threatening danger. In the text, Paul and his companions are considered troublemakers, which might be a common phrase, or could be referring to how wherever Paul travels that trouble ensures. The phrase in Greek refers to “turning the world upside down”, which as Kavin Rowe acknowledges, was a serious accusation in the Roman world. The issue arises when the Romans might not have simply asserted Paul as a “troublemaker” but a rebel against the Roman empire.
When considering the offenses presented against Paul, this would not be a difficult proposition to uphold. The subversion of Caesar’s degrees would mean that pagan gentiles repented and turned away from pagan idol worship, which would have included the Roman cult religion. From a Greco-Roman perspective, this call to reject the Roman cult would indicate an act of disloyalty and a higher allegiance to someone else other than the emperor. It has been suggested that it was possible that God-fearing Gentiles would have had limited participation in cult worship, despite their activity in the synagogue. Furthermore, The advocation of another king, specifically Jesus, who had attested to His coming kingdom that would be established on earth, would have been an alarming sentiment to the Roman world. It would have seemed that Paul was advocating for the removal of the emperor and Roman empire in favor of Jesus’s kingdom and kingship. The chance of insurrection and rioting would have been promptly dealt with, swiftly looking to arrest or kill anyone to maintain order. Overall, Paul’s missionary journeys, while establishing churches and recruiting converts, often faced opposition from gentiles and Jews alike.
The Gospel message that Paul shared was extremely radical to the Romans because, as Long mentions, the belief that Jesus is the Real King went completely against their beliefs and would disrupt the peace of Rome. Paul “turned the world upside down” by sharing the message of the Grace of God, which provided an alternative worldview and belief system. I believe that Christians are called to follow the example of Paul, which is to continue sharing the radical message of the Gospel even though we might face rejection or persecution. Even though in today’s society in the United States we are allowed to have religious freedom and we will not be killed for our beliefs, I think that the Gospel is still viewed as a radical message to some. Rather than facing physical violence, we are shamed or “cancelled” for having the beliefs that we do. It took a lot of courage and boldness for Paul to proclaim the Gospel in the synagogues where many people wanted him persecuted or killed for his beliefs. I believe that the church in today’s society needs to follow Paul’s example of being willing to be bold and share our faith even though we will risk rejection by those around us. When we choose to follow Jesus, our entire lives should be transformed. Because our lives are completely changed, I believe that we should also seek to transform the lives of others, which involves “turning the world upside down” as Paul did.
I would say that the word of God does “turn the world upside down.” I say this because when someone is living a life of sin and knows nothing about God and his glory, and then one day they are taught about God and his word. It would change them forever and “turn their word upside down. So everything they knew and the life that they are accustomed to would be completely different and opposite of the life Gods word would tell them to live. So when you put this on a bigger scale and tell even more people about God who arent saved yet, it would surely change the world for the better. We would see people showing more grace to each other and far less hate. As Acts 17:28 says ” for in him we live and move and have our being.” So to me this means that we all posses Gods good nature and by diving into his word we allow his grace and great qualities to show themselves and change the world.
Paul definitely made a lot of Romans upset with the teaching of Jesus and the Gospel that he was spreading around the world, especially in the places that were under the ruling of the Roman empire. The Romans had idols that they worshiped and an emperor that was looked upon very highly by a lot of the people living in the Roman controlled areas. In fact, the Roman emperor was even worshiped by many people. The things that Paul was teaching about (Jesus, the Gospel, etc.) went against a lot of what the Romans believed in. This made it so that many of the Romans went against the teachings of Paul. I think that even though the charges against Paul are significant, they make sense. Paul was advocating Jesus rather than Caesar and Paul was not supportive of what many of the Romans were believing in. Paul did not want the Roman people to continue worshiping the idols that they had, but instead, he wanted them to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. A lot of the Romans were unhappy about this though. I think that if they were more willing to hear from Paul, then they could have understood more of what he was trying to say, rather than just ignoring him and coming up with crazy ideas based off of what Paul was trying to tell them. Paul wanted to help them, but the people were very devoted to their own religions and culture that they were not willing to consider what Paul was teaching to the people.
The Gospel, the true Gospel, does ‘turn the world upside down’. When it spreads, all worldly ways and manner of doing things dissipates and it’s only Jesus that we live in and through. The grace of God gets rid of legalism, and shakes up the ground of our tradition and certain elements of our culture.
It’s interesting to think about the relevancy of Rome not wanting to have this King destroy their empire and how that is metaphorically the same as how we don’t want to make Jesus the King of our lives. We might not physically be Rome, but we are similar in our pride and idol-worship.
The first comparison that I thought of, before expanding it to all of sinful humanity, was celebrities and Hollywood. I think it’s sad that so many of them view their way as the only way (and then they ultimately influence millions of other people to believe the same.) Their worlds are truly going to be shaken when they realize that they are not the king of their world.
This ‘turning the world upside down’ is being counter-cultural. When we live in the grace of God, everything of this world begins to fade away.
It makes sense to me that Paul’s teachings were radical and “world turning”. The things that he was preaching went against the norms of Roman culture. The gospel can appear to be “turning the world upside down” to those that don’t know both it and Jesus. For those that are struggling with sin, the gospel can help pull them out of it and help them turn their life around. Paul’s message of turning from idols and following Jesus is just as relevant today as it was in his time. People can also gain peace and security from the gospel and that can be enough to turn people’s world upside down. Paul’s message of the peace of Jesus overthrowing the false peace of Rome is just as relevant today. Another theme of the gospel that people can turn to is forgiveness. The gospel offers a message of hope and restoration and that message is the heart of the gospel. Paul’s message of salvation through faith in Jesus is just as relevant today. The gospel can be see as world flipping but it offers a vision of hope and transformation for people that didn’t have it before. The themes in the gospel can turn people’s lives around and make them better people in the end.
In Acts 17, the message of the grace of God preached by Paul and his companions is said to have caused a stir in Thessalonica and Berea. The Jews who opposed their message accused them of “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). While it may have appeared that way to some of those who opposed them, the message of the grace of God was not intended to cause chaos or disorder. Rather, it was a message of hope and salvation, proclaiming that through faith in Jesus Christ, people could be reconciled to God and receive eternal life. The impact of this message, however, was profound. Many people in Thessalonica and Berea believed and were saved, while others rejected it and became enemies. The preaching of the gospel challenged and disrupted the religious and cultural norms of the day, which is why it may have been seen as “turning the world upside down.” So while the message of the grace of God was not meant to cause chaos, it did challenge the existing order and bring a lot of change in the lives of those who believed.
Acts 17:6 goes on to explain a time when Paul was in Thessalonica and happened to be a moment where the world was turned upside down. This brings on to discuss the charges that are being made against Paul before the local Roman authorities. With the history of Thessalonica, the charges against Paul are pretty dangerous. Long (2015) discusses four points that discusses the radical nature of Paul’s gospel from a Roman perspective. First, Paul and his companions are troublemaker, which Rome does no care for. The phrase ‘turning the world upside down’ would bring on an accusation in the Roman world. Secondly, the Roman subvert the decrees of Caesar. It is discusses that turning from Roman cult could be understood as an act of disloyalty if turned from idols was considered to be a Roman cult. Third, Rome advocated another king, Jesus. This brings up an important fact that it brings on a change in emperors or those having power. Finally, Paul’s preaching brings on challenges within the ruth of pax Romana: it will be a time of peace and safety, but will also be destroyed when Jesus returns. To think of these four points, how can we present the gospel to the world today? While in the United States, we often see individuals sharing the gospel very openly and freely without having to worry about a sense of shock. However, other cultures may think hearing the gospel may be extreme or they may be shocked. I think it’s important to do a little background research on each culture that we encounter, so that we have an idea on how much detail we should be sharing with them about the gospel.
By the world’s standards, the Gospel is radical. When Jesus spread His teachings on earth they were contradictory to everything society believed, and turned the views of the world upside down. Similarly, the Gospel and all that Jesus taught and represents is contradictory to what society tells us today. Yet people came far and wide for His teachings, while some of the Jews found it to be blasphemous and persecuted Him for it. Likewise, after His death and resurrection Jews and Gentiles believed while some found the spread of the Gospel to be “turning the world upside down.” I believe that the message of the Grace of God does turn the world upside down, but for the authorities in the Roman empire, they found it to be a threat to their power and peace. For them, Caesar is their figurehead, and the message of the Gospel and the coming Kingdom of God with Jesus as King would have appeared as a subversion to that. Something I thought about when reading about Paul’s preaching of Jesus coming back to power, is that for the disciples, and possibly for Paul, they likely believed in the coming of Jesus Christ as imminent. Right away in the beginning of Acts, the disciples asked Jesus when He would return and probably continued to believe that it would be in their lifetime. I wonder if Paul had been preaching that Jesus would come back to establish His own kingdom, and thought it would be in his lifetime.
After Paul had a great turnout of adherers to The Gospel in Thessalonica, quick persecution came directly after when the Jewish people became upset with Paul. He was receiving the attention of a lot of people and converting them to Christ and some of the Jews did not like that. Trouble followed Paul and his followers at various times because the Gospel made many others angry and crowds would start to form and get riled up. As mentioned in the article, Rome did not look favorably at the people who stirred up the peace and especially those who opposed them in the slightest. Since Paul was converting individuals to Christ, a lot of the people turned from the Roman idols and gods, making Paul appear as someone who was opposing and being unfaithful to Rome. It also came off to the Romans and many of the Jews that Paul was opposing Ceasar because he was proclaiming Jesus was Christ and Messiah and therefore the true King who would establish His Kingdom someday. I can see why it came off to the Romans and some others that Paul’s main purpose was to directly oppose Rome with his teaching, but Paul was preaching The Truth, and even though that caused many issues for Rome and Paul, he didn’t stop and never wavered in obeying God which is inspirational. He referred to himself as a slave for Christ, which we all should be (Romans 1:1).
Paul was in a period where everyone concurred with Caesar. If one did not believe or do what Caesar said, they would be known as “rebels against the Roman Empire,” and once known as rebels, it resulted in a grave situation for whoever received that title (Long, para. 2). Before the people would be terrified to do anything to rebel against Caesar, except now, “they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” specifically because Paul throws out the Gospel and other thoughts about the truth into their closed-off environment (17:7). I believe because the Romans could tell Paul was speaking the truth, that they really did feel that Paul’s speaking “was the beginning of a movement that would change the course of history forever” (Polhill, 2008, 2121). Hence, Paul is “turning the world upside down” because all they knew at that time was what Caesar believed, and the people’s views are changing, and they knew it would affect the generations after them because they will speak to their kids this new truth they believe. So, the Grace of God’s message seems to turn the world upside down for them. In today’s world, I think it can turn some people’s worlds upside down. If one is living a life of a lie, believing in something else, or not living in the correct ways, it would be a big adjustment for them. In a way, they would feel like their world is being turned around because they will have to start living their life opposite of what they normally would after hearing the news of the Gospel. Because of this effect, we should be careful in how to present this radical idea of the Gospel to others, so we should do so with understanding and patience, and without treating them with respect in response to their backgrounds in what they might already know about the Gospel. This is what Paul did while in Rome.
This is awesome. I think that the gospel today when presented in its truest form should and does “turn the world upside down.” Unfortunately, we don’t see enough turning the world upside down in western culture these days, especially with prosperity gospel, the incorporation of worldly ways into the church, the straying away from preaching against sin, and the failure to live out a radical faith. We do see more of the gospel turning the world upside down in places like middle-eastern regions or countries like china. People radically stand for their faith despite the prominent cultures being opposed to it, for their salvation and the salvation of others. While this is one way we see the gospel turning the world upside down, I do think there are other ways we can see it happen even in the western world, even if we don’t face persecution. Following Jesus’s teachings on how to live does this in itself. For instance, he teaches humility and that the last shall be first. When we live humbly instead of proudly as the world encourages, we turn the world upside down. He teaches giving generously. When we live generously and in community instead of independent and and selfishly, we turn the world upside down. I am also reminded of how the world has peace with sin, just like Rome did. When we declare by our lifestyle and preaching that there is no peace in sin, we turn the world upside down. The ways of the gospel are completely opposite to the popular ways of this world.
The gospel is as radical today as it was 2000 years ago. While Paganism may not be popular as it was then, and our elected officials don’t expect us to worship them, we still have idols. Self, money, pleasure, happiness. The Gospel–the message that we must turn from our idols, that we are awaiting the return of Jesus, the true King–is in many ways as unpopular today as it was then.
The key is that Paul was not being purposefully subversive. It’s not as if he approached a new town and went “what trouble can I stir up today?” He was simply speaking the truth with boldness. He is not trying to emotionally manipulate the crowd, but rather he is simply “presenting an argument and debating the meaning of the text of scripture”–he is reasoning with the men there, engaging with them (Long notes, p. 104).
In the same way, we should not purposefully aim to be troublemakers. If we see someone living a life not honoring to God, our motivation to confront them should not be from a place of “I just want to see them squirm,” but rather “this is the truth of the gospel.” The reality is that people *will* react harshly (even today), whether that is because they are “losing power and influence,” or simply because they are being confronted with the reality of their sins (Polhill, p. 2120). However, we should not aim to frustrate others.
At the same time, I think we have grown complacent in how we share the gospel today. We worry that we will lose friends, that people will be pushed away, that we will make people feel bad. We forget how many of the prominent voices in the New Testament were martyred for spreading the gospel. Paul was beaten on more than one occasion, and yet he continues to push on, to fight the “good fight.” He recognizes that the truth of who Jesus is, the reality of God’s grace, has the ability to “turn the world upside down,” and he is not afraid to share, even upon penalty of beatings or death.
Today we may not face the same kind of physical violence for preaching the gospel, but there are still significant challenges in presenting this “radical” message to the world. Our society has become increasingly secular, and many people see religion as a personal matter that should not be imposed on others. Therefore, it is crucial we present the gospel in a way that is relevant and relatable to people’s lives. The message of the grace of God may not appear to be turning the world upside down, but it has the power to transform individuals’ lives and change communities for the better. As we present this message, we must do so with humility and respect for people’s beliefs and backgrounds. We must also be willing to listen to people’s concerns and questions and engage in meaningful conversations that can lead to a deeper understanding of the gospel. Ultimately, the gospel is a message of hope and redemption that can bring healing to a broken world. As we share this message with others, we must do so with love and compassion, knowing that it has the power to change lives and bring about lasting change.
The fact that you say that Paul and his companions wrap up who Paul is and what he did from city to city. The phrase turning the world upside down is exactly what he was doing. He is challenging everybody and their beliefs and changing the way of life for many. As said in the first paragraph Paul is accused of “defying the decrees of Caesar” the fact that Paul was coming and stating that Jesus is the king challenged many authorities but specifically in this scenario he challenged Caesar. This blog post does a great job walking through what turning the world upside down really meant and overall it helped me gain a deeper understanding of what all Paul did for them to make this claim against him.
It’s strange how many comments say that it’s his teaching on the “grace” of God or the “holiness” of God that is so disruptive by Paul. It’s as if people are just inserting their own favorite Bible themes into the text. But the text tells us what Paul is saying that is so disruptive. This is the problem with how abstractly many of us talk about God and the Bible. We lose track of the actual impact of what is said. Issues of economy, politics, ethnicity… these are what made Paul so offensive. There were plenty of mystery cults and opinions on philosophy and ethics and God. Part of the reason that many Americans aren’t offended by Christianity is that white churches in America have largely served the interest of the status quo rather than turning things upside down like Paul did. We should just “spiritualize” it away as if it was just the rage of influential theologians hounding Paul.
What did Paul say: “There is another king.”
The United States of America is not the “city on the hill”. It is not the “last best hope of earth.”
With a high view of the inspiration of Scripture, I think Revelation teaches theology congruent with the rest of the new testament. The kingdom of God will clash with the kingdoms of the world over issues of worship, allegiance, economics, and social relations in general.
If this kind of reading of the New Testament is offensive to the reader, there is a good chance you know how the accusers of Paul were feeling when they said “they are turning the world upside down.”
All of this is grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ, dying for the sins of the world according to Scripture, and rising again. This isn’t about a “social gospel” of the 19th or 20th century. It’s about a full gospel that encompasses all of human life, in fact the whole cosmos.
Clearly the gospel message in the first century subverted many of the norms of Judaism and also had a stark contrast to the Roman way of life as well. As Long says, the gospel message that Paul preached subverted the degrees of Caesar and called people to turn away from Roman idols, something that could have been seen as rebellion (para. 3). Paul also proclaimed that Jesus was the true king and that he was going to return someday, which would pose a threat to Rome and its emperor (para. 4). And additionally, Paul proclaimed that the peace that the Roman empire provided was an illusion (para. 5). In regards to this idea that the gospel was going to turn the world upside down and cause all of these things to happen, it would seem that this is a slight overgeneralization. Polhill says that when the Jews made this statement they “spoke better than they knew” because certainly the Roman empire was fundamentally changed by Christianity within the centuries following Paul’s message of the gospel which in many ways changed the course of history for much of the world (p. 2120). While it was true that the Roman empire would be fundamentally changed as a result of the gospel message I think there could be a few other applications as well. A more general application is that in the long run, the entire world will be fundamentally changed by the gospel message. This is at the very least true in the sense that someday this world will pass away and a New Creation will take its place. Personally, I think a more modern day application of this analogy of the world being turned upside down would be that Christians who go out and spread the gospel have the ability to subvert the evil and dark consequences of sin. This does not mean that the whole world will be turned upside down at the same time, but it would mean that one step at a time we, as Christians, bring the world closer to the New Creation where all things will be made new.
The charge against Paul and Silas is particularly significant within the socio-political context of Thessalonica. As a Roman city with a degree of autonomy, Thessalonica had a vested interest in maintaining imperial loyalty. The claim that the missionaries were promoting another king besides Caesar (Acts 17:7) had significant social and political ramifications. Rome’s imperial cult was deeply ingrained in civic life, and any suggestion of allegiance to another authority could be seen as seditious. This accusation echoes similar charges brought against Jesus himself (Luke 23:2), linking Paul’s mission to the broader narrative of the gospel’s challenge to earthly power structures.
From a cultural perspective, it is important to consider how Christianity was perceived as a disruptive force. The Greco-Roman world was deeply hierarchical, with social order maintained through patronage, honor, and religious syncretism. The Christian proclamation of Jesus as Lord directly undermined the authority of the emperor and introduced an alternative community where identity was not bound by ethnicity or social status (Gal 3:28). This radical inclusivity, coupled with the rejection of traditional pagan worship, posed a threat to existing power structures.
The phrase “turning the world upside down” is a fitting description of the Kingdom of God as Jesus preached it. The Sermon on the Mount shows how the values of God’s kingdom invert worldly priorities (blessed are the poor, the meek, and the persecuted). The gospel Paul preached, rooted in the cross and resurrection, subverted Greco-Roman values of power and honor (1 Corinthians 1:18–31). The accusation in Acts 17:6 reminds us that the gospel is not merely a private belief system but a transformative force that unsettles and reorients the world.
I think that comparatively the message of Jesus is always ‘radical’. Even though today our culture has heard of the Gospel. It does not align with what culture says how we should live our lives. When people at this time are talking about the wrongdoings of Paul, they are highlighting pieces of their culture that Paul is speaking out against. These are part of their culture that the Gospel does not align with. The Roman perspective is always about power, and their emperor is the one and only they should follow. However, Jesus’ message was to be humble and give up the worldly wants. When Paul is preaching these things then it would feel like he was turning the world upside down, he was calling them away from the very culture they lived in. So, for today, I believe this would still be seen as a message that would turn the world upside down. The Grace of God is not something that can be a small piece of someone’s life. When you talk about someone who was living in the world but then accepted Jesus their whole life is changed. Jesus comes into the heart then there is a change that happens. This would be radical if this were to come into our cities and spread like it was when Paul was traveling and doing his preaching.
The accusation that Paul and his companions are “turning the world upside down” is not merely a complaint about causing local unrest; it’s an accusation that directly challenges the Roman Empire itself. As you mentioned, the phrase “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) carries a weighty connotation in the Roman context, signaling rebellion or insurrection. This is far more than just disrupting the peace; it’s suggesting that Paul is promoting a rival kingdom to Rome, which would have been perceived as a political threat. The fact that Paul’s message includes the proclamation of another king, Jesus, only heightens the danger. The Roman Empire was fiercely protective of its political stability, and any hint of alternative authority or subversive movements would be met with swift and harsh opposition. To the Romans, the worship of Jesus as King was not just a religious issue; it directly challenged the emperor’s authority and the Pax Romana, which upheld the empire’s peace and power. It’s fascinating how Luke portrays the tension between the gospel and the Roman Empire. On the one hand, Paul is preaching peace and the coming of God’s Kingdom, which contrasts with Rome’s imperial power. But on the other hand, the proclamation of Jesus as King could be seen as a political statement, one that defies the rule of Caesar.
I don’t see Paul and his companion as troublemakers as they are doing what they believe is right and they’re just trying to talk about their beliefs, they aren’t seeking places out knowing they are going to cause unrest just to cause it. They went to places that they thought needed to hear them but knew it was against their laws, they were less so rebelling against the empire not just saying Caesar is no one and the Roman empire is terrible, maybe they could be called Roman blasphemers. I’m curious why they couldn’t wholly accept the Roman Empire as their rulers but still Seen God as tier god, where Roman rule still got the control, they wanted but allowed the freedom of religion. Zeus was the main God for Greeks, and he was worshipped, I’m sure more so than the Roman empire but that was accepted for some reason. Could Paul and company not just tell such a delicate society about God and Jesus without calling him King, I believe it would have been better well received and had been able to impact the lives of more with leaving out the singular word but still being able to emphasize the power, love, and importance of God and Jesus. I can see how Paul can be seen as radical and trying to turn the empire upside down, with some of his choices of words directly challenged Roamn rule which would scare the people of the empire failing them and the empire losing its people. I think it’s good to most but needs to be discussed differently with sensitive groups and society.
The Gospel and the teachings of Jesus do have many elements that turn the world upside down. I have always been a Christian, but there are still some things that I doubt or am confused/amazed with. One example is God’s forgiveness. It is not natural for me to want to forgive someone who has betrayed my trust or done something horribly wrong to me. But we do it to God every single day when we sin. I sin knowing that it is a sin, yet I do not stop. And somehow, after stabbing God in the back, he still forgives me through Jesus’ sacrifice?? Praise the Lord. For atheists, I think this is especially confusing. I’ve heard some of them say that it is immoral too. Revenge is glorified in movies and throughout our culture. You hurt somebody I love? I am going to make you pay. Jesus denies this. He says to turn and offer the other cheek to the person that hates you! Similar to how some people receive this idea of forgiveness, Paul’s opponents in Acts 17 (and many, many earlier chapters in Acts) do not understand or like that he is serving another king and bringing people out of the Roman cult. The Gospel today does not have the same radical effect as it did on first century folk. Almost everyone has heard of Jesus and formed an opinion on him. As evangelistic Christians, we should aim to share the Gospel in a way that highlights the craziness of his forgiveness and grace, pointing towards the loving sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
Acts 17:6 shows the intensity of the early Christian message which is “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” This statement also reflects the nature of the gospel in the first century. This statement shows how it challenged social norms, cultural values, and religious practices. Polhill states “Jesus claimed a kingdom not of this world, and Paul and Silas spoke of the same. But to a Roman, the charge sounded very much like a breach of the oath of loyalty that every person in the empire was required to render to Caesar” (Polhill, 1992). The Gospel was seen as radical by the people around him. However today, in a world that may seem more familiar with Christianity, the gospel can still be seen as radical. Yes, the message of God’s grace can still “turn the world upside down”. This happens through things like challenging the structures of power. Just like in the first century, the gospel continues to challenge systems of power that oppress others. Jesus’ message flips the traditional social scale in Mark 10:31 which states “the first shall be last and the last shall be first”. When we as Christians live out the gospel by showing love, humility, and justice, it disrupts systems around us that only rely on inequality, discrimination, and oppression. This is so important throughout today’s society everywhere you look. Another way God’s grace “turns the world upside down” is through him telling us to love our enemies. One of the most “radical” aspects of Jesus’ teaching is the command he gives us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). This goes against our traditional human nature and is seen as extreme in a world that often emphasizes revenge. When we practice unconditional love and forgiveness, it shows the strength of God’s grace. The grace of God remains a powerful force for transformation. Not just for individuals, but for our world as a whole. It’s our calling to live this message and trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to work through us to change the world.
The phrase “turning the world upside down” has many connotations to it when it is stated by the angry mob to the magistrates in Acts 17. This accusation implies three heavy charges that Polhill highlights. The first is directed at Paul and Silas for causing trouble, the second is directed against Jason for allowing Paul and Silas to stay with him, and the third is directed against Paul and Silas for staying with Jason (1992). The accusation directed against them reflect the how religion and politics of state were closely related to one another in those days. It meant that these proclamations that Paul had given was a threat to their foundation of established order and customs. As for the message of the gospel in today’s world, there can be varying reactions to it. The gospel often challenges us in our ways of wealth, statues, and nationalism. This can be presented differently and reacted differently depending on the culture and context. I don’t think the message of God’s Grace appears to be “turning the world upside down”, rather people from different cultures and backgrounds may be new to the word of God and his grace.
There has always been a very interesting notion that God’s Grace is something that has turned the world upside down and that has been extremely countercultural. We see that Jesus himself in how he treats the religious and the unreligious has been extremely counter cultural. We see as well that Paul took these steps to be able to be bold in his faith and spread the gospel. I fear we may have lost a lot of this boldness in our faith. The gospel message needed to be radical against the beliefs that are so widely accepted. Most of Paul’s teachings in general have been a complete shock to the world. We see a general uproar and upset nature from those Jewish leaders who believe they hold this prestigious position within the church and do not appreciate being questioned. I think that it may be a good thing that Paul goes around stirring up trouble and is the one who is constantly questioning those in higher authority. Altogether, we need to be constantly ‘fact checking’ those in religious places because we cannot just get our information from these religious leaders but instead have to pick apart and understand the Bible for ourselves.