CSSA 1-5-16 - PAUL AT ATHENS

Language English

116. PAUL AT ATHENS

"God hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness"

Aim

To show how Paul preached to wise men in Athens who could not understand, the wisdom of God.

On his second journey Paul was no doubt very grateful for his travelling companions. They did not usually suffer as much persecution as Paul did at the hands of the Jews, but they did not desert him, in times of trouble. Sometimes he left some of them behind to strengthen new ecclesias, while he travelled on to another town. So Luke and Timothy stayed in Philippi, while Paul and Silas went on to Thessalonica and Berea. Later Paul travelled to Athens by himself where he felt very lonely among people who were so wise in the wisdom of this world that they could not understand the Gospel at all.

Acts 17:16-34

THE NOBLE BEREANS (vv. 10-15)

In Berea, Paul found the Jews "more noble" than those at Thessalonica. They did not shut their ears straight away at the mention of Jesus of Nazareth, but were prepared to listen to Paul's reasoning. "They received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (v. 11). Because they were prepared to read the Bible honestly, they found that what Paul told them was true and so they believed.

Paul had to leave Berea suddenly, because Jews from Thessalonica had followed him there to stir up trouble. He went on to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy (who had arrived from Philippi) to encourage the brethren for a few more days.

PAUL IN ATHENS (vv. 16-18)

While Paul waited for the others in Athens, he looked around the city and noticed that it was full of idols. It made him angry to think that people could be so foolish as to worship so many gods. He wasted no time and set about preaching to all who would listen. First he went to the synagogue, but the Jews there were apparently not interested. Then he turned to the market-place, a large open square in the city, where many people came to do business or chat. Each day he spoke with anyone who passed by.

It was not long before the learned Greek philosophers heard of Paul and wanted to know more of his teaching. He seemed to them to be "a setter forth of strange gods", because he preached of Jesus and the resurrection.

The word "philosopher" means "lover of wisdom" and these men liked to think deeply about things, as many in the world do today. But it was only men's wisdom and that is very different from God's wisdom. The wisdom of God can only be learned from the Bible. If people will not read that, then no matter how hard they think, they will never be "wise unto salvation". Their wisdom will end when they die.

The philosophers brought Paul to a place of great importance in the city, to Areopagus, or Mars Hill, which was the place where the wise men of the city gathered to discuss matters - "for all the Athenians and strangers (that is, foreigners) which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing" (v. 21). Now it was Paul's opportunity to tell them some "new thing" for what he was to speak was the Truth about God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

PAUL ON MARS HILL (vv. 22-31)

As Paul had been looking around the city, he noticed that among all the altars to their gods, was one to "The Unknown God" (v. 23). Because of their superstition they had made this altar, being afraid that, if they missed one of the gods, he would be angry and punish them. Paul now said he would tell them about this Unknown God, so that they could worship Him. To them the God of heaven and earth was unknown - they had never thought of Him, heard of Him, nor believed in Him.

Athens was full of temples, but the true God does not dwell in temples made by man's hands, (cp Acts 7:48; 17:24) He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He gives us our life and breath and everything we need. No idol of gold or silver or stone is like this God. In the past, Paul told them, they had not known Him, but now they must repent and turn from their ignorance and worship Him.

Not only did Paul tell them this, but he also warned of the coming judgment which God would bring upon those who did not serve Him. He said God had "appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man (the Lord Jesus Christ) whom he hath ordained" (v. 31). The proof that God would do this was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Paul could see that these learned men were not interested in the way of salvation. They thought that what Paul said was new and interesting, but they did not really believe it. Some openly laughed at the idea of resurrection. So he left them there and as he went, one or two went with him and when they had heard more from Paul, they believed.

LESSON FOR US

Many people today are like the learned Greek philosophers, who love to feel they are very intelligent - but sadly they know nothing of the things that really matter, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Let us treasure the wisdom we receive from God's Word far above any other worldly wisdom, so that at the "appointed" day, when Jesus Christ returns, we will be found serving the one true God.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

We are told in Acts 17:18 that there were two classes of philosophers who spoke to Paul. They were called Epicureans and Stoicks. They had thought about the meaning of life for a long time and came up with their own answers as to what a man's aim should be in his lifetime.

The Epicureans believed that the world was made by chance. They said that the gods were too far away to be interested in the world or its people. This really meant that
they did not believe in God at all. Of such men God says: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no god." (Psa. 14:1) The Epicureans thought that the best aim in life was to enjoy
themselves. Their philosophy was "let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
The Stoicks believed in self-control. It was weakness, they said, to show feelings of happiness or sadness or pain. A man should control himself. You may imagine how proud they became. They did not think they had need of God. But God said: "Everyone that is proud in heart is an
abomination to Yahweh" (Prov. 16:5).

One thing all these philosophers believed, was that every man had an immortal part in him which lives on for ever after he dies. Most people still believe this today. It is wrong (see Instructor questions 31, 32, 34). Because they believed this, they laughed at the idea of resurrection and did not think they had any need of a Saviour. God's wisdom in providing Jesus Christ seemed foolish to them, but God has said, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise" (1 Cor. 1:19). So Paul finished his address on Mars Hill by telling them of God's coming judgment on the world. How depressing for Paul to find that even the mention of God's judgment could not rouse their interest. They had left God out of their thinking altogether, as so many people do today. Let us never put our trust in the wisdom and learning of the world, but turn to God's Word to find true wisdom, which leads to life eternal.