Acts 17:16-33 - Paul in Athens

Introduction

Last Week:

Paul in Thessalonica and Berea

Jews in Thessalonica ran Paul off

Jews in Berea received him and examined the scriptures to see if what he was saying was true.

Jews from Thessalonica travelled to Berea and ran him off

Paul goes to Athens

Thesis for today:

“God, the creator and sustainer of all things, has revealed himself to all through creation and providence and now calls all to repentance through the spiritual conquering of the gospel.”

Our Text Today - Acts 17:16-33

Part 1: Paul in Athens (v.16-21)

Verse 18: Epicurean Philosophy

Believes everything came from atoms or particles of matter.

Cosmos are a result of an accident

Shunned divine intervention and life after death

Verse 18: Stoic Philosophy

Panentheists = God was in all things

Path to happiness was by not allowing oneself to be controlled by pleasure or pain.

Verse 18: Ressurection

Greeks would have been baffled by the ressurection

Verse 19: Areopagus

“Hill of Ares”

long-established body of authority over civil and religious life.

Part 2: Paul Addresses the Areopagus (v.22-34)

One point of understanding: Paul attacks the presuppositions of the greek philosophers

This is why it is important to understand the worldview of those who we are trying to minister to

Verse 23: Jewish God weird to greeks

To the greeks the jews worshipped a nameless deity who had no idols.

Verse 24: See Isaiah 42:5-9

Isaiah 42:5–9 ESV

5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Application

How will you react to the “city full of idols?” (In your heart & in your town)

God has revealed himself to YOU! How will YOU respond?

What will you do knowing that God calls all to repent and that a day of judgement is coming?