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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
While Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he was troubled when he saw the city was full of idols. So he spent time in the synagogues reasoning with the Jews and devout people there. Daily he went to the marketplace and reasoned with whoever happened to be there. He had discussions with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Some considered him a babbler but wanted to hear what he had to say. Others thought he was a preacher of foreign gods because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. So they took Paul to the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill, wanting to know what new teaching he was presenting. They seemed only interested in the fact that Paul had a new idea. As a society they spent all their time in philosophy, looking for and sharing new ideas. But this openness to hearing a new idea allowed Paul to share the gospel message.
Standing amid the Council of the Areopagus, Paul used their apparent religiousness as an opening. He pointed to their many objects of worship including an altar with an inscription “To the unknown god”. They were trying to cover their bases but Paul explained to them that the God they worshipped as unknown was the God he was proclaiming. The God who made the earth and everything in it is also the Lord of heaven and earth and doesn’t live in temples made by man, of which they had many. He isn’t even served by human hands as if He needs anything. Instead, He is the one who gives all mankind life and breath and everything we need. Paul affirmed the Biblical account of creation declaring that from one man God created every nation of people throughout the earth and He determined where and when they would live. God did all of this so that man would look for Him even though He is not far from each one of us. Paul made it clear that everyone has the opportunity to seek for and find God. Paul used two quotes, one from one of their own poets, that show that they had some sense of who God was. Paul then pointed out that if God is our creator and we are His creation, then it is nonsensical to see Him as something made from gold or silver or stone created through our imagination. God allowed the Gentiles to act in religious ignorance but now the time had come for all nations to forsake their polytheistic (many gods) and idolatrous views of God and turn to a relationship with the true God. This was and remains important because God has appointed a time when he will judge the world through one man. He has confirmed this fact by raising him from the dead. The Athenians didn’t believe in life after deat, so at the message of the resurrection, some mocked him. But others were intrigued enough to ask him to speak again. When Paul left them, some joined him and believed. One, Dionysius, was a member of the Athenian council and another was a woman named Damaris.
A great way to begin a gospel conversation is to start with something the other person is interested in or a question they have. From there we can lead the conversation to how the topic relates to God. Will you pray for God to reveal an opportunity for a gospel conversation with someone today?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Call to Sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 3-4