Paul in Athens

Background: Paul was in the midst of his second missionary journey. He was travelling with Silas and Timothy. He has been forced out of the city of Berea as an “agitator.” While Silas and Timothy remained in Berea, Paul travelled to the city of Athens. While waiting for Silas and Timothy to rejoin him, Paul takes in the sights of the once great city.

Read Acts 17:16-21

1) vs. 16 – As Paul is walking through the city what catches his eye and what is his reaction to them? Idols. Temples/statues to/of gods such as Athena, Zeus, Apollo, etc. Row after row in the city. Reaction – Irritated/angry

2) vs. 17 & 18 – What did Paul do while in Athens? What did he not do? Paul did not rebuke/chastise the Athenians for worshipping idols. He did not go “fire and brimstone” on them. He did not go around Athens destroying the idols and telling the Athenians to repent or go to Hell. If Paul had, how would the Athenians received Paul? Not well. Instead, Paul “reasoned” with Jews and God-fearing Gentiles (converts to Judaism) in the synagogue and with anyone in the market place. Greek word for “reasoned” – Dialegomai from which we get the English word “dialogue.” What did he “reasoned” with the Athenians about? Jesus and His resurrection. How do you think Paul “reasoned” with the Athenians? He entered into conversations with the Athenians. I don’t think Paul got into heated debates with the Athenians. It was probably more “What do you believe? Why do you believe what you believe? This is what I believe and why.” He would go to the synagogue, participate in the worship, and share Jesus with them using the Old Testament. Also, Paul would go to market place and strike up a conversation with a local Greek. The market place in Athens was known as the Agora. It was the social center of the city. There would be hundreds of merchants selling food, clothing, furniture, jewelry, etc. Think Short Pump Mall or Stony Point Mall. It was packed with hundreds of people. It was where people caught up with the latest news. It was the gathering place for the dissemination of ideas.

3) What two groups of philosophers did Paul converse with? Epicureans and Stoics. Athens was the birthplace and center of Greek philosophy. Philosophy (Greek – philo – love; Sophia – knowledge) – pursuit of knowledge and/or truth using reason/critical thinking. Greek philosophers questioned everything. Practiced the Socratic method - they constantly asked and answered questions to stimulate rational thinking and bring to light new ideas. Epicureans and Stoics were two of the more popular philosophies in Paul’s day. They were also rival schools of thought. Epicureans – taught that the chief purpose of humanity was to pursue pleasure through knowledge and living a moral life. Stoics – regarded emotions to be a hindrance to learning truth. They encouraged the development of self-control in order to overcome destructive emotions. Stoics taught that becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand universal truth. Think Mr. Spock from Star Trek.

4) Where did the two groups of philosophers take Paul and what did they ask him to do? The Areopagus/Mars Hill to share more with them the new teaching he was proclaiming. The Areopagus (rock of Ares – Greek god of war) was a council made up of the intellectual elite of Athens who gathered to discuss philosophy, religion, morality, etc. The council influenced the religious and moral thought of Athens. Anyone bringing new religious/philosophical ideas, such as Paul did, were brought before the Areopagus. See verse 21.

Read Acts 17:22-31

5) vs. 22-23. How did Paul begin his speech to the Areopagus? He acknowledged that the Athenians were very religious. They had built idols for dozens of gods. They even had an altar to an unknown god in case they had missed a deity. They didn’t want to take a chance of offending that deity.

6) According to Paul, who was the Unknown God? The one true God. Paul goes on to explain to the Athenians who God is and who He is not and how He desires to have a close, intimate relationship with humanity. This relationship begins by humans repenting of their disobedience. For there will come a day will all will by judged by God through a Man whom God had raised from the dead.

7) Contrast Paul’s presentation of the Gospel to the Athenians with his presentation to the Jews in Acts chapter 13. Why the difference? In Acts 13, Paul relies heavily on Old Testament Scripture in sharing the Gospel with the Jews. In Acts 17, Paul does not cite the Old Testament Scriptures at all. In fact in verse 28, Paul quotes Greek literature in order to describe man’s relationship with God. The second quote “For we also are His children” comes from a Greek poem titled “Hymn to Zeus.” He doesn’t even say the name Jesus. If Paul had quoted from Psalms, Isaiah, and other Old Testament books as he did in Acts 13 or repeatedly said the name “Jesus Christ,” what response would he have gotten from the Athenians? Disinterest; confusion. Instead, Paul spoke to the Athenians in their language, literally and figuratively. He addressed them using logic and Greek literature. Where did Paul learn Greek philosophy and literature? A) Born and raised in a cosmopolitan city, Tarsus, that was heavily influence by Greek culture. B) During his Pharisee training under Gamaliel, who unlike other Pharisee teachers, embraced Greek culture. He exposed Paul to Greek philosophy and literature.

8) What responses from the Athenians did Paul receive to his presentation? A) Ridicule from those who rejected the idea of resurrection from the dead. Probably from the Epicurean philosophers who believed that when one died their soul and body dissipated into atoms. No afterlife. B) Some were open to hear more from Paul in the future. C) Some believed and became Christians one of whom was a member of the Areopagus.

Application:

1. Look for opportunities to share the Gospel. When Paul saw the altar to the Unknown God, he saw a way to introduce the Gospel to the Athenians.

2. When sharing the Gospel, do not come across as judgmental/holier than thou. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

3. When sharing the Gospel, know your audience. Talk to them using language, literally and figuratively, they understand. To someone who does not have a strong religious background, be careful not to throw a lot of Scriptures at them or use theological words (justification, sanctification, Trinity, propitiation, etc.)

4. Know that you will not always receive a positive response from your audience to the Gospel message. Some will ridicule you. But there will be some whose curiosity has been piqued and would like to talk more about the Gospel with you. And there will be one or two who will believe.