## Paul and
the Jews
+ **Persecution**:
[Acts 13-14, 17-18, 21](# "ref")
+ **Heart** for Jews:
[Romans 9-11](# "ref")

[Rembrandt, "Apostle Paul", ~1633](http://bilddatenbank.khm.at/viewArtefact?id=1514 "caption")
>>>
+ The people who **opposed** Paul were **Jews**
+ Paul **himself** was a Jew
+ Book of **Acts** has the history of persecution
+ but it's the book of **Romans**
+ that explains Paul's **heart**
+ for the people who persecuted him
+ What was Paul's **attitude** toward them?
+ Hate? **Give up**? Avoid?
---
I have great **sorrow**
My **message** and preaching
were not in
**persuasive** words of wisdom,
but in demonstration
of the **Spirit** and of **power**,
so that your **faith** would
not rest on the **wisdom of men**,
but on the **power of God**.

[1 Cor 2:4-5 (NASB)](# "ref")
[Karel Dujardin, "St Paul at Lystra", 1633](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-4922 "caption")
>>>
+ "persuasive": same root as **faith**:
+ what I find **persusasive** tells me
+ what my **faith** rests on
+ **What** is persuasive?
+ **Eloquence**, cleverness, cultural relevance?
+ or Holy **Spirit** + **power** of God?
+ Do I want to make
+ **disciples** of my personality,
+ or disciples of **Christ**?
---
[Raphael, "St. Paul Preaching in Athens", 1515](http://www.the-athenaeum.org/art/detail.php?ID=34558 "caption")
>>>
+ Most in our culture are like **Greeks**
+ Paul speaking to Athenians in Acts 17
+ Also starting from their **piety**
+ desire to do the **right** thing:
---
“Men of **Athens**, I observe that
you are **very religious** ...
I found an altar,
‘TO AN **UNKNOWN GOD**.’
Therefore what you **worship** in ignorance,
this I **proclaim** to you."
[](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/04/americans-faith-in-god-may-be-eroding/)
[Acts 17:22-23 (NASB)](# "ref")
>>>
+ Thirst for **spiritual** fulfillment
+ 89% of US adults believe in "God or a universal spirit"
+ but God is **unknown**, vague, abstract
+ so they fill **void** w/other pursuits
+ Present God as **Creator**
+ **revealed** in Christ
---
# Do I love my **pious countrymen**?