Lesson Thirty-Four: Paul at Athens

Supplementary Materials

Athens: The Intellectual Capital of the World Aspect Details Location Southern Greece (Achaia), about 250 miles south of Berea Historical significance Birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, drama, and the arts Famous philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle — all taught here Political status in Paul's day No longer politically powerful, but still revered as the cultural and intellectual center Religion "Wholly given to idolatry" (17:16) — full of temples, shrines, statues to gods Famous structures The Parthenon (temple to Athena), the Agora (marketplace), the Areopagus (Mars Hill)

Paul's Spirit Stirred (17:16) "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry." "Stirred" (Greek: paroxuno) — provoked, irritated, deeply moved to indignation. The same word is used in the Greek Old Testament for God's jealous anger over idolatry. Paul couldn't remain a passive tourist — the idolatry disturbed him at his core. Athens was famous for its idols. One ancient writer said it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man. Another said Athens had more images than all the rest of Greece combined. Paul saw beauty and art that tourists admire, but he saw something else: a city enslaved to false gods.

The Philosophers (17:18) School Founder & Beliefs Clash with Christianity Epicureans Founded by Epicurus (341-270 Paul preached an involved BC). Gods exist but are Creator, resurrection, and uninvolved. No afterlife. Pleasure judgment — everything (especially peace of mind) is the Epicureans denied highest good. Avoid pain and anxiety. Stoics Founded by Zeno (340-265 BC). Paul preached a personal Creator God is in everything (pantheism). distinct from creation, and a God Fate rules all. Virtue is the who calls for repentance, not passive acceptance

School Founder & Beliefs Clash with Christianity highest good. Accept what happens with indifference. "What Will This Babbler Say?" (17:18) "Babbler" (Greek: spermologos) — literally "seed-picker." Originally described birds picking up seeds; then used for people who picked up scraps in the marketplace; finally used for someone who picked up bits of knowledge here and there without understanding them. It was an insult: "This amateur just picks up random ideas!" "Strange gods" (17:18): Some thought Paul was preaching two gods — "Jesus" and "Anastasis" (resurrection) — because they heard him preach "Jesus and the resurrection" and assumed Anastasis was a goddess!

The Areopagus / Mars Hill (17:19-21) Aspect Details Name meaning "Hill of Ares" (Greek war god) = "Mars Hill" (Roman equivalent) Location A rocky hill northwest of the Acropolis, overlooking the Agora Function Council met here to evaluate new teachings and religious matters; originally a court Athenian character (17:21) "Spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing" — intellectual curiosity, but also restless novelty-seeking

"TO THE UNKNOWN GOD" (17:22-23) "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." Paul's brilliant approach:

• Compliment, not condemnation: "I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious" — or better translated, "very religious." He acknowledged their religious interest.
• Point of contact: The altar showed they sensed something was missing — there was a God they didn't know.
• Bridge to the gospel: "Whom... ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." Your unknown God — I can tell you who He is!

Historical background: Ancient sources mention that Athens had altars to unknown gods. Tradition says a plague was stopped when, after sacrificing to all known gods failed, they released sheep and sacrificed wherever each lay down — to "the unknown god" of that place.

Paul's Sermon: An Outline (17:24-31)

Quoting Greek Poets (17:28) Paul quoted from their own poets — meeting them on their own ground: Quote Source "In him we live, and move, and have our Possibly from Epimenides of Crete (6th being" century BC) "For we are also his offspring" From Aratus of Cilicia (Paul's home region) in his poem Phaenomena; also in Cleanthes' Hymn to Zeus

Why quote pagan poets?

• His audience didn't know the Old Testament — Greek poets were their "scriptures"
• It showed he understood their culture and could engage on their terms
• Even pagan poets glimpsed truths that point toward the true God
• Paul reinterpreted their words in light of the true Creator (they wrote about Zeus; Paul applied them to Yahweh)

"The Times of This Ignorance God Winked At" (17:30) What does this mean?

• "Winked at" (Greek: hupereidon) — overlooked, did not immediately punish
• God was patient with Gentile ignorance during the ages before Christ
• This doesn't mean ignorance was excused — Romans 1:18-20 says they were "without excuse"
• But NOW — with the coming of Christ and the gospel — God commands repentance from ALL, EVERYWHERE
• Greater revelation brings greater responsibility

The Three Responses (17:32-34) Response Description 1. Mockery (17:32a) "Some mocked" — the resurrection was foolishness to Greeks; the body was considered a prison to escape, not something to be raised

Response Description 2. Delay (17:32b) "We will hear thee again of this matter" — interested but not committed; perhaps sincere, perhaps polite dismissal 3. Belief (17:34) "Certain men clave unto him, and believed" — including Dionysius (a member of the Areopagus!) and Damaris (a woman)

Note: The response in Athens was smaller than in other cities. No riot — but also no large church mentioned. Yet the gospel did take root, and the converts included a prominent judge (Dionysius). God's word never returns void.

Key Cross-References

Lessons from Acts 17:16-34 1. Idolatry should grieve us as it grieved Paul — our spirits should be stirred. 2. Find points of contact — Paul used their altar and their poets to connect with his audience. 3. Know your audience — Paul adapted his approach for Greeks (creation) vs. Jews (Scripture). 4. Never compromise the message — Paul still preached creation, judgment, resurrection, and repentance. 5. Expect varied responses — some mock, some delay, some believe. 6. God commands all people everywhere to repent — the resurrection is proof of coming judgment.