Acts 17:16-34

Introduction:

1. While waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, Paul’s spirit was provoked (lit. sharpened-Strong) by the widespread Athenian idolatry.

2. This provocation led him to seek an audience to whom to teach Jesus.

3. His activities in the marketplace landed him before the local council where he put on a masterclass in evangelizing the people of the world.

Discussion:

I. Paul’s Provocation: A City Given to Idolatry (17:16-17)

A. First century sources (Pliny and Juvenal) show that Athens had a greater number of idols than human beings (A.T. Robertson).

B. Philosophical curiosity was the catalyst to this (Acts 17:19-21).

C. Paul’s abhorrence of sinful practices prompted him to scour the city for an audience (Psalms 119:104; Proverbs 8:13; Romans 12:9).

II. Paul Brought Before the Council (17:18-21)

A. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, rustled by the doctrine of Christ, brought Paul to the Areopagus, also called Mars Hill.

B. Their philosophical roots shaded their opinion of Paul.

1. Babbler: lit. seed picker; saying he picked up scattered bits of philosophy and claimed them as his own; not a good thinker.

2. Proclaimer of strange gods: it is possible that they took Jesus and anastasis (the word for resurrection) as two new gods to add to their pantheon (cf. vs. 32); Greek gods often came in pairs.

C. The Areopagus was more than a group of leading philosophers; they were the “supreme court of Athens” (Gareth Reese; Demosthenes).

D. The purpose of the court with Paul is disputed, but it is possible this was a preliminary hearing to see if charges should be brought.

E. Introducing strange gods could be a capital offense in Athens.

1. Socrates was put to death in Athens for this very charge.

2. Josephus told of a priestess being so condemned in Athens also.

F. Perhaps it was just an inquiry by curious philosophers (17:21).

III. Making Known the Unknown God (17:22-34)

A. He began by acknowledging the Athenians’ piety (17:22-23).

B. Paul did not directly quote the Hebrew Bible; he cited concepts of their poets (Epimenedes and Aratus) and explained the true God Who fulfilled these concepts in reality.

1. “gods” (vs. 8) translates Gr. daimonion: demons.

2. “God” (vv. 23-24) translates Gr. Theos: Creator/Supreme deity.

C. They had a concept of a Supreme deity distinct from the “gods” but had no knowledge of His character (Romans 1:19-23; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

D. Paul pointed out the fallacy of worshipping material things dependent on human creation and upkeep (vv. 24-29).

E. He concluded that the Creator had great interest in human activity, would judge us on a given day, had given proof of the certainty of this event by the resurrection, so all men must turn to Him (17:30-31).

F. Some mocked the resurrection, others expressed interest in further discussion, and some were converted.

Conclusion: Unwittingly Groping for God (17:26-27)

1. The Athenians demonstrated humanity’s standard curiosity about life’s greatest questions: origin, purpose, destination, results, etc.

2. This curiosity apart from proper wisdom produced their idolatry.

3. The same is true of every false system of belief in human history.

4. Paul explained why we do these things; we are groping for God.

5. Our job as Christians is to seek out those who are blindly groping in the dark and introduce them to the God for Whom they unwittingly reach.