Be Bold to Reason with Unbelievers and Explain the Scriptures to Them
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Rev. Tse Amable | September 30 2025 | Acts 17:1-5
KEY VERSE: “... as his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days HE REASONED WITH THEM FROM THE Scriptures, EXPLAINING AND PROVING THAT THE CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER AND RISE FROM THE DEAD. ...,” Acts 17:2-3 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
We are staying with what Apostle Paul did on three Sabbath days when he arrived in Thessalonica. We find that from our key verses for today, St. Luke (the recorder of the events) let us know that in this synagogue were Jews and God-fearing Greeks, some of whom were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, because “HE REASONED WITH THEM from the Scriptures, EXPLAINING AND PROVING that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead . . . .”. If Apostle Paul had shied away from engaging these precious souls by reasoning and explaining the scriptures to them, they would not have understood the scriptures and might not have been won for Christ. While we are called to engage our emotions and worship God through singing and dancing, we have a duty to prepare ourselves for mental engagement, to acquire knowledge, and learn how to present our faith in reasonable discussions.
Most of us, believers, are not able to engage our unbelieving friends and family members in explaining our faith to them. One reason is that we have not studied the scriptures ourselves to understand what we believe and why we hold these beliefs. We must heed the exhortation Apostle Paul gave to his spiritual son Timothy, which says “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV). Apostle Peter also exhorted the saints to be always prepared “to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV).
If Apostle Peter, who was an unschooled and ordinary fisherman, could preach that powerful sermon on the day of Pentecost, quoting from Prophet Joel and King David in the Psalms, then God can use any of us to confront philosophers and unbelieving theologians of today. APPROVED WORKMEN AND WOMEN ARE NOT ASHAMED TO REASON AND EXPLAIN THE SCRIPTURES TO UNBELIEVERS.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
The reason you find it difficult to reason out and explain the scriptures is that you have not been a good Bible student. Make time to study the word. Invest in Bible study books and resources. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you utterance.
PRAYER:
Father, I confess that I have been a poor witness of Jesus Christ. Please help me spend time studying your Word. Take away fear and make me bold to be confident when I have to reason with unbelievers and to explain your Word to them. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 273 Isaiah 56–58 — A Call to Justice and True Worship
DAILY word study: REASONED The word “reasoned” in Acts 17:2 is translated from the Greek “dialegomai,” which means “to discuss, argue, or engage in dialogue.” It gives us the English word dialogue.
Paul didn’t simply lecture the people in the synagogue. He entered into discussion with them, explaining, answering, and persuading them from the Scriptures. His goal was not to debate for its own sake, but to lead people to the truth about Christ’s suffering and resurrection.
Reflect on this:
Reasoning from the Scriptures reminds us that faith is not blind. It is grounded in God’s Word and can be explained with clarity to anyone willing to listen.
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