Date

8-6-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)

Chair

Dawn Sutherland

Keywords

Apologetics, Problem of Evil, Suffering, Evangelism.

Disciplines

Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

This thesis takes a careful look at Paul’s first missionary speech in Acts 13 and the larger narrative of his first missionary journey in Acts 14, asking two main questions: What is Paul saying in his first recorded sermon, and what can the modern church learn from it, particularly when it comes to apologetics and suffering? Through literary and exegetical analysis, this study examines how Paul’s message fits into the broader narrative of Acts, paying special attention to the historical setting, rhetorical flow, and theological implications of the speech. The research is grounded in a wide range of scholarship and engages with perspectives that challenge and refine the author's own.

The heart of the project is to uncover apologetic insights that can equip the church today, especially in a cultural moment where suffering is often misunderstood or ignored. Acts 13 and 14 reveal that suffering was not a side note in the early church; it was central to the mission. By understanding Paul’s words and example, the church can better prepare to defend the gospel not just intellectually, but through lives marked by faithfulness in hardship. This thesis aims to bring these insights to light in a way that is both academically responsible and practically useful for believers, especially those seeking to engage others with clarity and conviction in a skeptical world.

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