But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
5 sermons cite this verse
… down. That's why we're calling this the upside down life. In fact, there's an interesting statement given to us in Acts chapter 17, verse 6. It was a criticism when the religious leaders said, Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they're entering our city. That criticism was, in effect, the greatest compliment of all. These guys, they're turning the world upside down, and now they're entering our city. This is what you call a complisult. Do you know what a complisult is? It's when someone compliments you, but really it's kind of an insult. A few days ago I was at the Orange County Fair with my family and Levi Lusko and his family. So there was the thing where you bring the hammer down and ring the bell, right? So we went to that and Levi says, Greg, you want to do it? I said, sure. So he went first. He didn't ring the bell. Then it was my turn. I rang the bell. Then Levi went again. He still didn't ring the bell. …
… They start to bring him out to the people. verse 6 of chapter 17, when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, I love this phrase, these who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Now that's the assessment and the accusation of the lewd fellows of the baser sort, of this mob. The accusation was not meant to be a compliment. It was meant to be a complaint. These people who have turned the world upside down, they're trying to do it here. It was not meant to be a compliment. But, considering the shape the world is in, it actually is a compliment. Because the world by itself is upside down. So if you take something upside down and turn it upside down, now it's right side up. So they meant it as a complaint. It's actually an inadvertent compliment. oh that we would get that kind of complaint from the world around us you guys are turning this city upside down praise god it needs that because it is upside down needs to be turned right side up so that was their accusation they've come here to jason harbored them they continue and are all acting contrary to the decrees of caesar saying there is another king jesus and they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. …
… felt like the apostles were staying and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason, because if we can't get you, we'll take whoever's connected to you, and some brethren to the rulers of the city crying out, these who have turned the world upside I down have come here too. Spirit of the living God, I need you. I ask that you would rest in me, God. That you would allow me to become one with you, that I may deliver only what you desire to be said. I've done my studying, but this is your people. This is your moment. And so I ask that you would align my heart with what you want to see happen in this room. And God, I pray that you would open the hearts of those who are meant to receive what is in this room. That just for a moment you would silence doubt, worry, and distraction. And that you would allow them to receive from you. …
… Praise God, the disciples did this and they multiplied the gospel. Acts chapter 17, verse 6, they turned that generation upside down with the gospel. People are our dreams and the world is our goal. The world is our goal. make disciples of all nations. Pantata ethne. This is used four different times in Matthew. Beautiful phrase talking about the gospel going to every nation without distinction. It's really interesting. You do a little study in the Jewish roots of Matthew, which is, it's heavily Jewish book. The very beginning starts off with a picture of Abraham. And you go back and you look at Genesis, the picture of Abraham there, and you see God's blessing on Abraham. And what does he say in Genesis chapter 12, very beginning of God's blessing on Abraham, I'm going to bless you. I'm going to bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. And all nations of the earth will be blessed through you. It's the same picture there. Genesis 18, 18. …
… two thousand years later and all the other guys philip thomas bartholomew andrew james and how they scattered out to literally turn the world upside down acts chapter 17 verse 6 that's what these guys did their whole lives this process was a testimony to his glory jesus designed it so that In the end, only His power could be the answer for why they were used like that. And this is good news for us. Here's why. I am convinced that across this room, there are men and women, students, who the adversary has convinced you that you have too many shortcomings and too many weaknesses, too many failings to be used mightily for the kingdom of God. And they render you useless. Maybe not useless, but at least not as useful as some other people in the church. And I want to remind you that if that's what you believe, it is a lie straight from the devil. Because the beauty of the truth of God's word is that it is our shortcomings and our weaknesses and the things that we're not good at that are actually the exact tool that God uses to show his power and his glory and his strength most clearly through you. …