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3. Silas and Timothy remained in Berea, but were given a “command” by Paul to join him as soon as possible. They presumably joined Paul in Athens according to 1Th 3:1-2, 6.

4. Athens was the most important city in Ancient Greece. It was the largest city and the capitol of Greece. Athens was also known as the center of Greek literature, art, and philosophy. It was the home of Socrates as well as the location of Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum. It was one of the richest cities both economically and culturally. It was the apostle Paul who brought the gospel to the city of Athens.

B. Provoked by Idols (Ac 17:16)

1. As Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy, his spirit was “provoked” (paroxunō - sharp provocation or vexation, cf. Ac 15:39, Eng. “paroxysm”) within him because of all of the idolatry.

2. The apostle Paul could not help but to “observe” (theōreō - observe, perceive) that the city was “full of idols” (kateidōlon - full of idols, totally idolatrous).

3. Athens itself was named after the goddess Athena (Roman Minerva). The city worshipped virtually every god known to man (cf. Ac 17:23).

4. Pausanias says that Athens had more images than all the rest of Greece put together. Pliny states that in the time of Nero Athens had over 30,000 public statues besides countless private ones in the homes. Petronius sneers that it was easier to find a god than a man in Athens. Every gateway or porch had its protecting god. They lined the street from the Piraeus and caught the eye at every place of prominence on wall or in the agora. RWP

II. REASONING WITH THE PHILOSOPHERS (Ac 17:17-21)

A. Reasoned in the Synagogue and Marketplace (Ac 17:17)

1. Paul’s original plan may have only been to wait for Silas and Timothy and not start preaching until they came.

2. But being provoked in his spirit, Paul (“therefore” oun) began “reasoning” (dialegomai, same word as in Ac 17:2) from the Scriptures in the city.

3. “Everyday” Paul spoke to any and all, whether they were Jews and God-fearers (Gentiles) in the synagogue or passers-by in the “market place” (agora center city and public life).

B. Epicureans and Stoics (Ac 17:18)

1. Paul also “conversed” (sumballō - engage in mutual dialogue) with the main philosophers of the city, the Epicureans and Stoics (both originated in Athens).

2. Epicurus (342-270 B.C.) founded the philosophy derived from his name. He taught that the gods were uninvolved in human affairs and that the soul dies along with the body. Therefore, the goal of life should be the avoidance of pain and the attainment of pleasure. Their motto was “Enjoy life” (“Eat and drink for tomorrow we die”).

3. Zeno (332-260 B.C.) founded the Stoics (taught in the Stoa, i.e. porch). The Stoics taught pantheism (God was the Soul of the Universe) and that the goal of life was to come to a full acceptance the universe’s fate. Pursue self-mastery aligned with one’s lot in life. Their motto was “Endure life” (“keep a stiff upper lip”).

4. Some called Paul an “idle babbler” (spermologos - a seed or scrap picker) which described him as a chattering philosopher-wannabe.

5. Others maintained that he proclaimed strange “deities” (daimonion, normally demon or spirit, but here the old Greek sense of “deities”). It was a pejorative term for the introduction of unsanctioned deities (eg. Socrates, Roman Law). They obviously had not heard of Jesus and His resurrection.

C. Paul’s Strange New Teaching (Ac 17:19-20)

1. In spite of their condescending attitude toward Paul, they desired to know his “new teaching.” So they took him to the Aeropagus (Ares - Greek god of war & pagos - rocky hill; either Mars Hill, a massive rock north of the agora reached by steps or the Aeropagus Tribunal itself)

2. This new teaching, which was the preaching of “Jesus and the resurrection” (vs. 18), was “strange” to their ears in that they had not heard it before.

3. Their curiosity was peaked and they wanted to know what Paul was teaching and what it meant philosophically.

D. Novel-Loving Athenians (Ac 17:21)

1. Luke described the main characteristic of the Athenian and visiting philosophers. Their time was wholly spent on learning novel philosophies and ideas.

2. In essence, they always wanted to hear something new to incorporate it into their existing philosophies. They never really arrived at the truth because they were always reforming with new truth.

3. While the Thessalonians had to be persuaded (peithō, Ac 17:4) and the Bereans were noble-minded (eugenēs - searching for the truth, Ac 17:11), the Athenians were perpetually searching for the newest and latest (cf. 2Ti 3:7).

III. REVEALING THE UNKNOWN GOD (Ac 17:22-24)

A. Paul’s Sermon at the Areopagus (Ac 17:22)

1. Paul accommodated them by standing and speaking to them “in the midst of the Areopagus.”

2. He began speaking to the “men of Athens” that he observed they were “very religious in all respects.”

3. The meaning of the term “very religious” can be understood from the Greek word deisidaimōn, which can mean “superstitious” or “fear of deities.” While we would call them superstitious in their polytheism, the context supports that Paul was giving cordial notice of their fear of deities.

B. To the Unknown God (Ac 17:23)

1. Paul related that as he was “examining” (anatheōreō - carefully observe) their objects of worship, he came across an altar dedicated “To an Unknown God” (Agnōstō Theō). The Athenians were so steeped in polytheism that they erected an altar to a god that they may have overlooked.

2. Paul knew they were “ignorant” (play on words, agnoeō - have no knowledge of, Eng. “Agnostic”) of the one true God of the Scriptures and used this as a segue to proclaim Him to them.

C. Sole Creator and Lord (Ac 17:24)

1. The first point Paul made was that the God who made the “world” (kosmos, i.e. universe) and everything in it was Lord of heaven and earth.

2. From this, he implied that there is only one God and Creator because everything else was created by Him (Ge 1:1 cf. Dt 4:35).

3. This shows that He alone is Lord and ruler over heaven and earth. Therefore, God does not dwell in Temples made with hands for He cannot be contained (1Ki 8:27; Is 66:1; Ac 7:48).

4. Paul debunked their belief in the gods as well as the temples dedicated to them. He also called into question the Epicurean belief that matter was eternal and had no creator, as well as the Stoic belief that everything was God and therefore could not create Himself.

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Having a spiritual perspective - Many viewed Athens as a great metropolis, but Paul viewed it as an idolatrous city. Paul saw Athens from God’s point of view. It did not start with worship the true God through faith in Jesus Christ, nor did it submit to Him and His Word. Do we view the world around us with a spiritual perspective?

B. Epicurean, Stoic, or Christian world-view - There are three basic ways to deal and pursue life: 1) Enjoy life, 2) Endure life, or 3) Emmanuel’s (Christ’s) life. Christ is our life and we have true life in Him. We endure this life by serving His will and looking forward to eternal life.

C. Novelty-driven Christianity - The believer should be learning new things from the Word all the time. But some Christian are always looking for the latest and newest doctrines and lifestyles. This opens the door to false teaching and never edifies them through the truth.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516