Scripture: Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Acts 17:16-34 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Paul, Silas, and Timothy leave Thessalonica with Timothy at nightfall under the cloak of darkness. Upon arrival, they encountered a much more hospitable welcome from the Bereans, who Luke notes were eager to examine the Scriptures daily to ascertain the validity of Paul’s claims. Consequently, many came to faith in Christ, including Greek women of high standing and Greek men. But when the Jewish leaders from Thessalonica heard the news, they hurried to Berea to stir up resistance. So the brothers sent Paul by sea to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy behind. Upon arrival, Paul directed those who escorted him to tell Silas and Timothy to meet Paul in Athens, which they did as soon as they received his message.
Today’s reading chronicles the next leg of Paul and Silas’ second missionary journey: Athens. While waiting for Silas and Timothy’s arrival, Paul wandered the city observing the plethora of idols, which greatly distressed his spirit. Nevertheless, he followed his usual mission protocol of reasoning the evidence of Scripture revealing Jesus as the Christ with the synagogue leaders on the Sabbath while publicly proclaiming the Gospel to the Gentiles daily (marketplace in this instance). Because Athens attracted philosophers who spent most of their time sharing and listening to new worldviews, Paul seized the opportunity to engage with a gathering of Epicureans and Stoics. Some deemed Paul’s Gospel as nothing more than babble, while others were intrigued by his claim to a superior foreign deity. The latter took him to the Aeropagus to better understand the one called Jesus and his resurrection.
Obliging their interest, Paul employed diplomacy, citing an altar he had observed to the unknown god. Paul revealed that this supposed unknown god is the Lord of heaven and earth, who created the world and everything in it. But this true God does not live in humanly constructed temples, nor do human hands serve him. Instead, he instills in us the desire to seek him. Still, he is closer to us than we might suppose. Then, paraphrasing two maxims from Greek poets (Epimenides and Aratus), both of which refer to Zeus, Paul reasoned that the divine cannot be limited to the artistry and imagination of man. Indeed, God graciously overlooked such foolishness but will no longer do so since he has given us the righteous man Jesus, whom he raised from the dead as judge of the world at the appointed time. So now is the time to repent. Some mocked him regarding the resurrection, while others charged him to speak again about this new teaching; at this point, Paul parted company.
Luke then provides an epilogue to Paul’s time in Athens, noting that some believed in and joined his fellowship, citing specifically the Areopagite Dionysius and a woman named Damaris.
Takeaway: The obsession with new ideas contributed to the downfall of the Athenians. Five centuries earlier, Athenian politician and general Cleon wrote regarding fellow citizens, “You are the best people at being deceived by something new that is said” (Thucydides History 2.38.5). The fourth-century Athenian orator Demosthenes also chastised his people for continually seeking new ideas, even under the threat of invasion by Philip II of Macedon (Philip 1.10).
Thus, to reach these self-absorbed, pontificating philosophers infatuated with “new ideas,” Paul appeals to their intellectual pride by noting an Athenian altar to the unknown god and then arguing that this so-called “unknown god” is knowable. He wisely uses non-biblical language to reveal the God who created all things and thus is supreme over all creation, including their supposed Greek gods. Paul then proclaims a message of hope: the one true God reveals himself through creation to humankind so we can seek and find him, backing his position by citing two recognized poets (see above). Lastly, Paul challenges these prideful philosophers to repent—to consider what they worship, for the man (Jesus), whom God resurrected, will return at the appointed time to judge the world. Still, as mentioned above, only a few believed and joined the fellowship of Christ’s followers.
Our takeaway? Four points relate to us, while two relate to our Triune God. As for our part, we must first do our homework and develop an understanding of the audience. Paul’s approach to the Philippians, Bereans, and Athenian philosophers is markedly different based on their socioeconomic backgrounds, level of education, and degree of humility. The Philippian Jewish leaders were prideful and jealous; the Bereans were curious and teachable; and the Athenian philosophers were arrogant and pretentiously teachable. Secondly, we must find a hook to be relatable. Paul cited an altar to an unknown god and quoted from revered poets. Thirdly, we must speak the language of our audience. Paul communicated as a learned man using non-biblical language to appeal to a biblical illiterate audience. Fourth, we must present a call to repent, for it is unloving to circumvent the reality of our sinfulness and need for a Savior.
Lastly, as it relates to God, and as is often revealed in the Gospels and Acts, we must entrust the outcome to him—not measuring success based on the number of nickels and noses but on whether we faithfully proclaimed the Gospel. Tragically, during these darkened days of Roman rule, just a few Athenians would earnestly seek the truth of Paul’s Gospel that would bring them lasting peace and joy. Still, in Luke’s accounting, two were worthy of mention by name. And as in the other cities, both genders were represented. Moreover, if we consider the small number of Jesus’ disciples to spread the Gospel throughout the Greco-Romand world, Spirit-filled Dionysius, Damaris, and their associates would undoubtedly be enough to influence this godless capital city.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who faithfully proclaimed his Gospel, focusing on faithfulness rather than numbers. And we thank you for Paul and the other apostles who did likewise. And we thank you for Paul’s example of making the Gospel relevant to his audience. Still, we confess that we can quickly become discouraged or puffed up by the numbers rather than focusing on our faithful presentation of the Gospel. So would you please help us turn to your Holy Spirit in prayer and discern our audience and how they need to hear the Gospel so that your Holy Spirit might open their minds and hearts to receive the Good News? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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