Paul Preaches in Athens

Topic: Ridiculing

Passage: Acts 17:22–34

August 20, 2022

Commentary

As we read through Paul’s sermon in Athens, keep in mind the beliefs held by those to whom he was addressing and observe how Paul interacted with those beliefs. The Epicureans in the crowd were more materialistic and non-religious, believing that life was for pursuing pleasure, while the Stoics were very religious (believing in many gods), self-disciplined, and quite prideful. Paul correctly observed that the people of Athens were very religious (v. 22). Idols for each and every Greek god could be found all throughout ancient Athens. But Paul had also seen an alter dedicated “to the unknown god”. The Greeks were vehemently concerned with earning favor with the gods, and they feared the possibility of an unknown god being displeased with them. Paul used their superstition as a jumping off point. There was a God they didn’t know about, the one true God.

The God of the Bible is Lord of all. He doesn’t have just one or two domains like the Greek gods. He is the Creator of all, Lord of heaven and earth (v. 24a). He doesn’t live in man-made temples, nor is He reliant on man’s worship (vv. 24b-25a). He is the giver of life, breath, and everything (v. 25b). The Greeks, especially the Athenians, prided themselves on being better than the rest of humanity. Paul confronted their false belief, stating the truth found in Genesis that all men come from one man (Adam), and it is the Lord who decides the boundaries of the nations both in time and in space (v. 26). The Lord is in direct control over what happens in His universe, and He is orchestrating events so that people should seek Him and possibly find Him (v. 27). Paul quoted two Greek writers who had been close to the truth about God (v. 28). It doesn’t make sense logically that the Creator God would need to be made by the art and invention of men (v. 29). Up to this point, God allowed the Gentiles to wander in ignorance of the truth, but now He is calling all to repent and come to Him (v. 30). We don’t know when the day of judgement will be, but we can know that that day is fixed, and we know that the judge will be Jesus Christ, the one God raised from the dead (v. 31). As a result of his message some laughed and mocked. Others were interested but wanted to hear more. A small group believed on Jesus Christ and were saved.

Application

Lord, help me to have boldness to share like Paul did. Also please help me to reach people where they are at, not ignoring their customs and beliefs, but showing how your truth brings clarity.

Acts 17:22– 34 (NET)

²² So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. ²³ For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ‘To an unknown god.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. ²⁶ From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, ²⁷ so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ ²⁹ So since we are God’s offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. ³⁰ Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” ³³ So Paul left the Areopagus. ³⁴ But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.