Athens

Acts

Acts 17:16–34 ESV

16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 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. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 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, 27 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, 28 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.’ 29 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. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 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.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Paul and the gang are on the run. From one town to another they are preaching and being persecuted. They are always having to leave.

Athens

Cultural Center of the world? (Mcgee) Very religious/ Idolatry

Athenians were very serious about their religion. They were very pious, looking to be “right”.

Open to all ideas. (very much like today) Think of talk shows where everyone bounces their heads yes.

Differences already existed in Athens.

Stoics and Epicureans. Complete Opposite Stoics controlled themselves, denied themselves. Epicureans lived for the moment to excess. If you drink, drink til you can’t drink anymore. If it’s sex, do all that you possibly can. They came to Paul see what he thought

People are eager to know the truth but they still have to embrace it.

He isn’t putting them down, he isn’t telling them they’re wrong. He is including them.

Again, we can’t be the Holy Spirit for someone else. We can’t get them to change their behavior before we preach Jesus to them. Let Jesus change them.

Pauls message is inclusive but offensive—he is saying only ONE way but using their understanding of their gods to illustrate

looking for any possible angle to get people to listen/believe

Uses their poetry

From Aratus’s poem “Phainomena

Paul is inclusive yet truthful. And he comes to a point in verse 31 that separates. There is the point of truth that Christians cannot deny. Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead. That is the point where a decision has to be made.