I. The gospel preached (17:1-3)

A. Paul went to where the people were (17:1-2)
B. He patiently spent time with them (17:2)
C. He used the Scriptures to show that Jesus was the promised Messiah, against their preconceived ideas (17:3)
1. The Christ had to suffer (cf. Psalm 22:16-18; Isaiah 53)
2. The Christ had to rise from the dead (cf. Psalm 16:10)

II. The gospel believed (17:4)

A. “Some [Jews] were persuaded” (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:16)
B. “A great multitude of the devout Greeks” (cf. Luke 7:47)
C. “Not a few of the leading women” (cf. Galatians 3:28)

III. The gospel rejected (17:5-10)

A. Envy leads to more evil (17:5; cf. Mark 15:10)
B. Misunderstanding [or misrepresenting] the nature of Christ’s kingdom (17:6-9; cf. John 18:36)
C. Fleeing from danger (17:10; cf. Matthew 10:23)