241. PAUL IN ATHENS

"His spirit was stirred in him"

A feature of Paul's stay in Philippi was the cruel treatment he received at the hands of those who opposed the preaching of the apostle. The imprisonment and beating he suffered there followed a pattern of persecution that was becoming firmly established. After leaving the ecclesia at Philippi, the apostle journeyed to Thessalonica and Berea, and finally to Athens. In Thessalonica he became the centre of a public riot, and his enemies pursued him to Berea where they again stirred up the people (Acts 17:8, 13). Consequently, upon his arrival in Athens, Paul was ill, weakened and mentally depressed. It was in this condition of weakness that he was required to debate with the worldly philosophers in Athens, and preach the unknown gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

Acts 17

MIXED RECEPTION IN THESSALONICA (verses 1-10).

Thessalonica was situated about 150 km south-west of Philippi. It was an important city of Macedonia, and was the site of the region's Jewish synagogue. Here, for three sabbaths, Paul reasoned with the Jews and Gentile converts teaching that Jesus was the Christ. Some of the Jews and many of the local Greeks were persuaded by his reasoning, but those Jews who refused to accept the Truth conspired against him. Overcome with envy, they gathered a number of rough men together and promoted a riot. The mob moved to the house of Jason where the brethren had been staying. Jason was dragged before the rulers and was accused of showing hospitality to trouble-makers. It was only after the authorities had taken security from the brethren that they were allowed their freedom, and in view of the tense atmosphere, the ecclesia quickly sent Paul and Silas off to Berea that night.

ENCOURAGEMENT AT BEREA (verses 10-15).

Upon their arrival at Berea, Paul and Silas began their preaching work at the Jewish synagogue. The Jews of the area showed a keen interest in their testimony, and "searched the scriptures daily" to determine whether it was accurate. As a result, many of them, as well as many of the Greeks, believed. In fact, we would all do well to follow their example of reading the Bible day by day. When we do that we will soon find the wonderful harmony and clarity of the Truth. Believing it to be the ONE hope we can then gladly accept it like the believers at Berea.

However, Paul was again forced into fleeing from this city, as the angry Jews in Thessalonica, upon hearing the success of his work in Berea, pursued him there to continue to stir up trouble. It seems from the record that Paul was in need of assistance at this time, for we read that some brethren conducted him to Athens (v.15), and returned with his request that Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible. It was in this time of stress and difficulty that the apostle began a most challenging in­volvement with the pagans at Athens.

THE DRAMA AT ATHENS (verses 16-34).

Athens: The Acropolis and the Areopagus.

Athens was named after the goddess Athene. It was the capital of Attica, one of the Greek states. The city became the centre of learning in the fields of science, literature and art in the ancient world. It grew up around the rocky hill called the Acropolis (the highest point of the city), on top of which was built a magnificent temple called the Parthenon dedicated to Athene. Despite the knowledge of many of its citizens in various subjects, at the time of Paul's arrival, there prevailed complete ignorance concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Although initially alone as he waited for the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul was so upset by the shocking idolatry practised by the Athenians, that he immediately began to discuss the death and resurrection of Christ with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. Without thought for his personal comfort or safety, the apostle argued with the passers-by in the market place every day. Soon there were attracted to his audience, philosophers who had devised theories about creation and life. There were two dominant groups of philosophers in Athens at the time, each with different ideas about the world. They were the Stoics and the Epicureans.

The Stoics believed that the unfolding of events in life was unalterable, and therefore it was necessary to stand apart from all worldly things and develop strong independence and peace of mind. Their aim in life was to accept fate, to be proudly independent of the society and endure its evils.

The Epicureans professed that the world came into being by chance, and that the gods were not concerned with mankind. Accordingly the Epicureans pursued all manner of pleasurable activities in an attempt to satisfy their desires. Thus, for all practical purposes they did not believe in God at all. They were atheists who lusted after the flesh. Their attitude is copied by many today who say, "let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die".

These believers in the immortality of the soul were confused by the preaching of Paul, for he taught them of a Saviour and the resurrection. They had not previously heard of either, and some of the audience apparently mistakenly thought that Paul was speaking of new deities. In order to know exactly what Paul was preaching they took him and brought him to "Areopagus" or Mars Hill, where judgment was to be made.

PAUL'S DEFENCE OF THE TRUTH (verses 22-31).

Paul welcomed the opportunity to expound the truth and expose the folly of the false religion of the Athenians. As he stood on the hill, a panorama of Athens lay before him. Wherever he looked Paul saw the temples, idols and altars of the city. Before him, towering above on its pedestal on the rock of the Acropolis, was a bronze colossus of the goddess Minerva, armed with spear, shield and helmet as the champion of Athens. The massive pillared temple, the Parthenon, stood magnificently by, built in honour of the Greek goddess, Athena Parthenon, the Greek goddess of wisdom. It was as though the city of idols was challenging Paul to state his case. Paul took up the challenge.

He began by making references to their religious "devotions". He had seen, he said, evidence of their worship in the form of shrines. It was to one of these that he drew particular attention. Upon it were inscribed the words "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD". It was his intention, said Paul, to make known to them the previously "unknown" God (vv.22, 23). Contrary to the theories of the Stoics and Epicureans, the apostle Paul stated that God had made the world and everything therein. He was the Lord of heaven and earth, but although he ruled in the affairs of the nations and had determined the outcome of the world's affairs, He remained separate from man's ways. He was not to be found in "temples made with hands," or worshipped by people offering things of human need. God, taught Paul, was the Maker of all things, was in need of nothing, and in fact sustained all mankind by His Spirit. He is the One who gives life and breath to all living creatures (w.24, 25). He has allotted every man a number of years and given everyone opportunity and instinct to search for Him. Although He is distinct from man's ways, God is willing that all men should come to a proper understanding of Himself (vv. 26, 27). He is not, explained Paul, far from us, "for we are indeed His children" (v.28—Phillips). Even the Greeks had understood this fact. Two of their poets had written of man's relationship with God (v.28). If then we were made by God it did not make sense that man could represent God in things of his own craftsmanship. In this way Paul taught his listeners that the idols of their making were not appropriate for the worship of the true God of Heaven (v.29). But while it was true that He did not hold responsible men who dwelt in ignorance, God now required that men should repent. Now that the Lord Jesus Christ had made known the character and purpose of God, men no longer had any excuse. He went on to say that as Jesus had conquered the power of sin and had been raised from the grave, so he would come again to judge the world. The certainty of the judgment was guaranteed by God's faithfulness in resurrecting Jesus. That fact alone, argued Paul, should make men obey Him (v.31).

NOT MANY WISE MEN BELIEVED (verses 32-34).

There were many men in the audience, who, like the majority of people today, thought themselves very superior in their wisdom. They had developed a philosophy that allowed them independence. They were not answerable they thought, to anyone. The teaching concerning the resurrection then, involving absolute dependence upon the great Creator, was most distasteful to them. As men of that type are still want to do today, they scoffed at the words of the teacher. Others, again like many in these godless days, refuse to react decisively at all. They put the matter off to some other time. It is tragic that people will delay concerning the most important of all subjects, but commit themselves to things of little importance. It is to be expected however, that "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble" will receive the gospel (1 Cor. 1:26). Despite the rejection of the gospel by the majority, there were some who believed. Amongst these few was Dionysius, the Areopagite. Dionysius was a member of the tribunal that heard Paul. The power of the Word was sufficient to change this man's attitude of initial hostility, to one of belief and acceptance. It was as if the judge got off the bench and joined the prisoner in the dock! His conversion was a triumph for the Truth for no one could judge in the Areopagus who had not first borne the office of the Governor of the city, and was held in high esteem for his intelligence and good conduct.

But unfortunately his case was an exception. In general the response was poor. The preaching of the cross had been a stumbling-block to the Jews and now it proved to be foolishness in the eyes of the Greeks; but God is wiser than men (1 Cor. 1:17-31).

LESSONS FOR US:

We must not forget that we are blessed with the opportunity of coming to a saving knowledge of the God of Israel and His son. "This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent", said Jesus (Jn. 17:3). While God ignored the times of men's ignorance, He requires that we repent, and live according to the way shown us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to remember that the requirements for obedience of the Gospel are the same today as Paul showed to the Athenians; and the reception to the Truth today is very similar to that when Paul preached. People are philosophical; they love to hear some new thing and they have time to fritter away in listening to all kinds of ideas, but Divine things and a resurrected Christ are foolishness to them, just as it was in Paul's day to those "great and learned" men on Mars Hill. We need to be like Dionysius or Damaris, a female convert, who despite the jeers and smug amusement of their associates, gave time to consider the Gospel. They had good and honest hearts and intelligent minds to believe and accept the salvation offered by their Creator.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton)—chapter 11

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Vol. 13, pp. 155-168

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What lesson can we gain from the attitude of the Bereans to the scriptures?

2. Describe the theories of the two main groups of Philosophers in Athens.

3. Describe briefly Paul's speech to the people of Athens.

4. How is the example of Dionysius and Damaris an exhortation to us today?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the mixed reactions to the preaching of Paul at Thessalonica and Berea.

2. Describe the city and the people of Athens in Paul's day.

3. Outline Paul's speech to the Athenians and its effect on the people.