He reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

Acts 17:1-5, Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

We shouldn’t be surprised if the good news of Jesus Christ stirs up some people to abandon reason and refinement and to turn to rabble rousing. In the first place, we know that no one can even hear the good news unless their ears are opened, and our part is to lift them up in prayer that the father may open their ears. He is sovereign, and we don’t know who he will call until they hear his voice. The other part we play is like that of Paul, to reason with others from the Scripture, explaining and proving that Christ is who he says he is, the suffering servant, the Savior of all who receive him! And it may be that we have to endure some rabble rousing results as well!

We pray for those who do not know you, that you would be pleased to open ears; give us boldness to reason with them from the scriptures, that they might receive Christ!

ESV Lectionary