Mar’s Hill Acts 17.16-34
Notes
Transcript
we walk from the Acropolis down 16 well polished steps. These steps are on a hill in Athens, Greece, called Mars Hill. Its Roman name is the Hill of Ares or Areopagus, meaning “rock.” Ares was the Greek god of war and according to Greek mythology, and this hill was the place where Ares stood trial before the other gods for the murder Poseidon’s son Alirrothios.
Mars Hill’s purpose in Greek Society
Rising some 377 feet above the land below and not far from the Acropolis and Agora (marketplace), Mars Hill served as the meeting place for the Areopagus Court, the highest court in Greece for civil, criminal, and religious matters. Under Roman rule at the time of Paul, Mars Hill remained an important meeting place where philosophy, religion, and law were discussed. Acts 17:21-26.
Given Over to Idols
From Acts 17:16-18, we know that Paul’s spirit was provoked when he arrived in Athens and saw that the city was given over to idols. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers learned of Paul’s proclamation of the resurrected Jesus Christ and wanted to learn about the new doctrine he was teaching. They brought him to the Areopagus to hear more.
Epicurean Philosophy and God
History shows that the Epicurean philosophy generally claimed that the main purpose of life was to gain modest pleasure from a state of tranquility, and to be relieved from bodily pain. They did not deny the existence of gods, but agreed that gods were not interested or involved with humanity.
Stoic Philosophy and God
Stoic philosophy claimed that the main purpose of life was to ascend above all things. They held a pantheistic view, which means that god is everyone and everything. Further, this view would claim that everyone and everything is god. Indeed, a slab of marble, a bird, and even human waste are all considered god from this point of view.
Epicurean, Stoic, and other philosophical schools had dramatically opposing worldviews and loved to debate philosophy and religion. They were intrigued by what they considered Paul’s “babblings” about the resurrection of Christ, and brought him to the Areopagus.
The Unknown God of Athens
Many Athenians were obsessed with their religious traditions. So much so, they made certain not to forsake any god by worshiping a deity known to them only as the Unknown God. They knew nothing of this God, but still they offered him their service and worship.
The once great City of Athens was on the decline. After the war with Rome in 164 BC, the once vibrant capitol of Greece was waning to a town of little more than 20,000, mostly poor people. Nonetheless, under Roman authority, Athens was given the status of a free city because of its widely admired schools, philosophy, architecture, art, and religion. This was the state of the city when Apostle Paul visited. Everywhere he turned, he saw statues of man-made gods.
Seemingly everywhere Paul looked he saw images of Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, and many other Greek gods. Paul was distressed because he knew that there is “only one Way to the Father.” One important monument that quickened Paul’s spirit was the Altar of the Unknown God.
In Acts, we have several examples of gospel preaching; such include...
Three by the apostle Peter - Ac 2,3,10
Two by the evangelist Philip - Ac 8
One by the apostle Paul - Ac 13
The sermons recorded thus far were to those who believed in one God...
Like Jews and Samaritans
Or Gentile God-fearers like Cornelius
What about those that are pagan philosophers who were polytheists
I Know the Unknown God
Paul began his lecture with the observation that Athenians were religious with their objects and alters of worship, and yet they were ignorant of what or whom they worshiped.
Proclaiming God on Mars Hill
Mars Hill is the location of one of Paul’s most important gospel presentations during his visit to Athens in his second missionary journey (Acts 17:16-34). There, he addressed the false beliefs of the Greeks who had an altar to an “Unknown God.” It was this altar and their religious idolatry that Paul used as a starting point in to present the gospel message to them. Paul proclaimed the one true God and taught the people how they may be reconciled.
THEME: THE GOD THEY DID NOT KNOW...
Acknowledging their devotion, he makes mention of one altar in particular - Ac 17:22-23a
An altar with the inscription: "To The Unknown God" So devout, they sought to worship a god they did not know. He uses the opportunity to preach concerning the True God they did not know! - Ac 17:23b
MAIN POINTS...
God is the creator of the universe - Ac 17:24
He made the world, He is Lord of heaven and earthAs such, He does not dwell in temples made with hands - cf. 1Ki 8:22-30God is the sustainer of life - Ac 17:25
He gives to all life their breath and what they need - cf. Jm 1:17Therefore God is not worshipped as though He needs itGod is the ruler of all the nations - Ac 17:26-27
He has created every nation and determined their rise and fall - Dan 2:20-21; 4:17Everything is designed to prompt men to seek God, who is not far from any of usGod is the Father of mankind - Ac 17:28-29
From God we come; and in Him we live, move, and have our very beingTherefore we should not think that God is like any idol of gold, silver or stoneGod is the Judge of the world - Ac 17:30-31
What ignorance He may have overlooked in the past, such is no longer the caseHe now commands all men everywhere to repent. Why? Because of the coming Judgment, in which...
God will judge the world in righteousnessGod will judge the world through Jesus Christ - Jn 5:22, 26-27; 12:48As proof such will occur, God has raised Jesus from the dead-- These five points are from "The Spirit, The Church, And The World", by John Stott
Note that his message to unbelieving people was not a message of tolerance.
You don’t believe in God but he believes in you…
God understands you and will take you as you are…
Understand that these are a perversion and tolerance of sin is a SIN. We have to treat sin the same way that God does and his love requires that we warn sinners of their sin. And like Paul do it in such a way where God is glorified and the sinner is loved.
Paul’s Message of Christ
The apostle Paul was trying to convey to people of Athens that the unknown God was not Zeus or some other deity, but the true God, Jesus Christ. The true God who created all things and every man.
Paul explained that the true, sovereign God created all things and gives life and breath to existence. He continued by explaining that it was God who created from one individual all men and nations and even appointed the time and boundaries of their dwelling. His message continued as he explained the closeness of God and the peoples’ need to repent of their rebellion against Him. Paul completed his message by introducing them to the One before whom they would all stand one day and be judged; Jesus Christ, whom God had raised from the dead.
Many people in the audience scoffed at the idea that Christ was crucified and rose from the dead on the third day, but a few believed.
RESPONSE...
Mentioning the resurrection provoked a response - Ac 17:32
Some mocked (to many at that time, the idea of a bodily resurrection was foolishness)Others were more cordial, offering to listen again at another timeAs Paul left, some joined him and believed - Ac 17:33-34
Specifically mentioned are Dionysius the Areopagite, and Damaris, a womanOthers also joined Paul and believed
[Having considered the setting and the sermon, allow me to make some...]
The Great Commission
Though only a few believed Paul’s message, this should be an encouragement to the modern Christian. In the face of apparent rejection of the Gospel by the masses, we are still called to share the good news.
Hardened hearts will scoff, searching hearts will ponder, and believing hearts will be saved. Rather than trying to discern the state of the hearer’s heart and tailoring the message to fit the hearer’s needs, today’s Christian must, in the spirit of Paul, passionately preach the truth of the Gospel in its fullness and leave the rest up to God. This is the essence of the Great Commission and is exemplified nowhere better in all of Scripture than in the account of Paul’s speech on Mars Hill.
OBSERVATIONS
REGARDING THE SERMON...
Paul used tact - Ac 17:22-23
He acknowledges their spirituality, though misdirectedWe should not hesitate to acknowledge the devotion one might have; if in error, our task is to explain "the way of God more accurately" - e.g., Ac 18:24-26Paul began with the present spiritual condition of his audience - Ac 17:23-27
They believed in supreme beings, but didn't know the True God. With the Jews he began with the Law, with the Gentiles he began with the nature of God; we too should take into consideration where one is spirituallyPaul made use of an accepted authority - Ac 17:28-29
He quotes from one of their own prophets to make his point. When appropriate, we can appeal to an uninspired authority accepted by others. Paul led his audience to the main themes of the gospel - Ac 17:30-31
Such as repentance, the judgment, Jesus and the resurrection - cf. Ac 17:18. So our ultimate goal in preaching should be the gospel message - e.g., Ac 2:38; 3:19Paul used the resurrection of Jesus as ultimate proof - Ac 17:31
God has given assurance of the coming Judgment by raising JesusIndeed, if Jesus truly did rise from the dead, it is proof of:
The existence of God. The truthfulness of all of Jesus' claimsThe reality of sin, judgment, and the need to repent. This is why we need to develop a strong apologetic for the resurrection of Jesus
REGARDING THE RESPONSE...
People responded in three different ways - Ac 17:32-34
Rejection - "some mocked"Reluctance - "others said, 'we will hear you again on this matter'"Reception - "some men joined him and believed"Of those who responded favorably, it is only said that they "believed" - Ac 17:34
Are we to conclude from this that was all they did?Did they not also "repent", as commanded in Ac 17:30?The term "believed" encompassed more than simply acceptance of the facts that had been proclaimed
It involved a complete reception of the message preachedIt included an obedience to whatever conditions had been proclaimed by the apostles (such as repentance, baptism)Just as faith was not explicitly mentioned in Acts 2, or repentance in Acts 16, but is fairly inferred from what we know in other passages, so also with baptism here
"There is, indeed, much to be said for the contention, independently advocated by theologians of varied schools, that in the New Testament faith and baptism are viewed as inseparables whenever the subject of Christian initiation is under discussion, so that if one is referred to, the other is presupposed, even if not mentioned." - G. R. Beasley-Murray, Baptism In The New Testament, p. 272"Baptism and faith are but the outside and inside of the same thing" - James Denny (as quoted by Beasley-Murray, ibid.)"Where baptism is spoken of faith is presumed, and where faith is spoken of baptism is included in the thought" - N. J. Engelsen (as quoted by Beasley-Murray, ibid.)
CONCLUSION
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Whether Jew or Gentile, philosopher or simpleton, the gospel of Christ is for all...
Where we begin may vary with the spiritual condition of our audienceWhere we end must always be the same: Jesus is the only way to salvation!When one becomes convicted of their sinful condition and their need for Jesus, the proper response should also be the same no matter who we are...
Faith in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for our sins and was raised from the deadRepentance from sinBaptism into Christ for the forgiveness of sins through His blood.
One's reaction to the gospel will always be one of three ways: rejection, reluctance, or reception. In Athens, people such as Dionysius and Damaris exemplified the proper response.
Are you willing to imitate their example...?
