God in the Marketplace

“When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,” – Acts 17:1,2 On one of the Apostle Paul’s ministry journeys, he arrives at the Agora — the marketplace — a bustling hub that still exists today. Paul needs to eat and support himself, so he sets up shop among the other merchants, doing what he knows: making and repairing leather tents. During the week, Sunday to Friday, he works. On Saturdays, he heads to the synagogue to speak and enter into discussions about the gospel, attempting to convert both Jews and Greeks. The rest of the time, right there among the merchants and crowds, he works with his hands and shares his faith. When Paul first walks