A Man on a Mission

Introduction

Paul and his companions have again been met with great success in Berea among those sincere people seeking for the truth.

Unfortunately the enemies of the gospel were still bearing down upon them to stop the spread of the Word of God and they came to Berea and incited the people against Paul and his preaching.

The other brethren sensed the danger to Paul’s life and immediately moved to send him away to safety so that he could continue the ministry God had called him to.

Silas and Timothy remained for a time we can suppose still inconspicuously instructing the new converts in Berea.

Paul was then conducted to Athens to put some distance between himself and those who sought to harm him. He would wait there for Silas and Timothy to come and rejoin him to continue their missionary journey.

As Paul awaited their arrival in Athens he could not stand idly by as he observed the city.

Paul observation of the people of Athens:

Stirred His Emotions (Vs. 16)

Paul stood in Athens and observed the city. What he saw caused a strong emotional response within him.

Paul saw a city wholly given to idolatry. There was plenty of worship in the city, but all of it was directed to false Gods who were the creation of men’s hands and had no life in them.

Paul did not intend to begin ministry in Athens until Silas and Timothy had arrived to assist him but his spirit was stirred by what he witnessed there.

Paul could not bear to see the state of this city and its inhabitants so blinded by false religion.

Are we stirred today as we observe our own world? How is it that so many professing Christians can move about in the world with no emotional response to the rampant idolatry and wickedness all around us?

Much of our society worships at the altar of humanism, atheism, pragmatism, they worship wealth, popularity, and influence without any regard for the true and living God!

It is hard to comprehend how so many believers observe the rise of false religion and humanistic philosophy in our nation and our world and appear utterly unconcerned.

What we witness in the world around us should provoke an emotional response! Our spirit should be stirred within us as we see the majority of those around us worshipping philosophy and false Gods rather than worshipping the one true God!

If our hearts are not broken by what we see happening in our nation and our world, if we are not angered and irritated by the utter disregard for God and His Word, if we are not distressed by the spirit of anti-christ that is quickly rising, what will it take?

Moved Him to Action (Vs. 17)

Paul was stirred emotionally and the strong emotions he felt led him to action!

So often believers feign outrage and frustration but their emotions never move them to action. We should have an emotional response to our observation of the world around us, but emotion alone will not change things!

Paul’s spirit was stirred and he could not stand by and do nothing as the city continued in idolatry. Paul was consumed with the desire to proclaim the truth to them!

He could have waited until Silas and Timothy arrived but he could not bear to think of those who might perish because of his delayed action.

Finally Paul’s emotions drove him to respond by entering the synagogue and the marketplace and there proclaiming the truth to the Athenians.

Our spirit should also stir us to act to change what we see. We should respond in like manner striving to seize every opportunity that God grants us to declare the truth of the Word of God.

Wherever Paul conversed with the inhabitants of Athens he was intent on sharing the Word of God and the good news of the gospel with them.

He would proclaim Christ to the religious, to the philosophers, and to the common man. May God help us to have this same desire to reach every segment of society with the gospel.

Resulted in a Momentous Opportunity (Vs. 18-21)

There were likely many who rejected outright Paul’s claims concerning Christ but there were many who were at least curious and who were willing to hear more.

It was Paul’s decisive action driven by emotion that afforded him the opportunity to stand on Mars’ hill and publish the gospel.

It is not clear if there were any who immediately converted but what is clear is that there were enough Athenians who wanted to know more that Paul would be given a broad audience to declare the gospel to the city.

What an amazing opportunity Paul had to stand in one of the most prominent places in this historic city and declare the gospel.

If you and I will faithfully proclaim the gospel and seize the opportunities that God presents to us we can be sure that He will give us the opportunity to reach many for Christ.

We may never stand on Mars Hill and preach the gospel but it may be that God grants the opportunity for us to declare the gospel among our friends and family or to our coworkers. We may have the opportunity to proclaim the gospel in ways we never imagined if we will only be faithful.

God has the ability to broaden our influence when we are faithfully and humbly yielded to His control.

Luke 16:10- faithful least also faithful in much. Luke 12:48- much given much require