Now that we’ve established the Three Threads in the previous post we will break Acts 17:16-34 up into three sections, and observe how Paul intertwines the threads as he shares the Gospel.
Section 1- Listening/Observing: Verses 16-23a
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentiles worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “what does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?” 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD….”
We can split this first thread into two separate threads: Listening and Observing. First and foremost, we see Paul listen to the Holy Spirit within him; “his spirit was provoked within him” (v16). This is the most important part of listening, I find that I tend to be really good at messing things up when I am leading the task at hand, but when God is leading, it is a much different story. Our story might not make sense as we walk through it, but I am confident He knows the way far better than I. So Paul not only listens to the moving of the Spirit but he acts on it, going to the synagogue where people would already have a context he could speak the Good New into (the Jews and Gentile worshippers). Then as he continues to teach and he goes out to those that might not have an context of the Good News (the marketplace). This attracts the attention of some of the people in Athens, enough so that they approach him and begin to ask him questions.
Paul then listens to his audience as they ask him questions; “What does this babbler want to say?”, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods” (v18) and “may we know what this new doctrine is?' (v19) and they wanted to know what he meant (v20). By listening to the questions that are asked of him, Paul is better able to direct the information he has, to their particular questions.
Here we see some pretty direct and open ended questions, in our lives the questions might not be this obvious or direct but if we listen to those around us and to the Holy Spirit for prompting, we will both know when it is time to speak and what should be said (Luke 12:12).
The second part of this thread is Observing; which Paul does as he walks through Athens. Through his observations, he learns some very important things, first that they are a very religious people (v22), that they spent their time discussing new ideas, or in my context sittin’ in the kitchen just talkin’ (v21) and that they had many different temples to different gods (v23). It is in this last bit of observing that Paul finds his “doorway” through which he brings Jesus Christ into their context.
For us, that might look like answering questions like, “we keep getting screwed over on this job, why are you so calm about it? or “why don’t you get into political debates?” and we can answer, that’s because our contentment and provision comes from Someone bigger than our boss, and we’re not worried about politics because we know Who is sovereign over our government. Look for the little opportunities to tell what Christ has done in your life, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a big melodramatic story but perhaps the simple ways that God has provided for you, sustained you, brought you joy in a time where it was hard to find; things like that.
Section 2- Introducing them to the Truth of things: Verses 23b-31
Here we see Paul set the record straight so to speak. Their knowledge of God in some areas was incomplete and in others flat out wrong and when I read this passage I tend to read it with a matter-of-fact tone rather than an angry accusatory tone. I don’t think Paul was pointing a finger and condemning them for what they believed but rather explaining the Truth of the matter. We touched on it last post, but it bares repeating; how we say things in just as important as what we are saying. Typically, it’s hard to get someone to listen to you when you in their face about something, especially when it comes to religious matters. And besides, the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not need us to defend it. My dad shares this quote by Charles Surgeon with me and I think is applicable here-
Something that should be noted is this, Paul sees and praises common ground rather than solely focusing on correcting them. He finds where both Scripture, and their philosophers, are in agreement and builds from that point (verse 28). This is important for us to try and do when we get the chance to share the Gospel; we want to build up what they know that’s right and help correct what is wrong. Correction without praise is often taken as tyrannical. Sadly, sometimes there might not be any common ground with those we share (outside of all of us falling short in God’s eyes) so we must teach with humility and kindness; as Jesus did.
Section 3- Tell them the Good News: verses 30 & 31
Here we see some pretty direct and open ended questions, in our lives the questions might not be this obvious or direct but if we listen to those around us and to the Holy Spirit for prompting, we will both know when it is time to speak and what should be said (Luke 12:12).
The second part of this thread is Observing; which Paul does as he walks through Athens. Through his observations, he learns some very important things, first that they are a very religious people (v22), that they spent their time discussing new ideas, or in my context sittin’ in the kitchen just talkin’ (v21) and that they had many different temples to different gods (v23). It is in this last bit of observing that Paul finds his “doorway” through which he brings Jesus Christ into their context.
For us, that might look like answering questions like, “we keep getting screwed over on this job, why are you so calm about it? or “why don’t you get into political debates?” and we can answer, that’s because our contentment and provision comes from Someone bigger than our boss, and we’re not worried about politics because we know Who is sovereign over our government. Look for the little opportunities to tell what Christ has done in your life, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a big melodramatic story but perhaps the simple ways that God has provided for you, sustained you, brought you joy in a time where it was hard to find; things like that.
Section 2- Introducing them to the Truth of things: Verses 23b-31
“Therefore, the One Whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Here we see Paul set the record straight so to speak. Their knowledge of God in some areas was incomplete and in others flat out wrong and when I read this passage I tend to read it with a matter-of-fact tone rather than an angry accusatory tone. I don’t think Paul was pointing a finger and condemning them for what they believed but rather explaining the Truth of the matter. We touched on it last post, but it bares repeating; how we say things in just as important as what we are saying. Typically, it’s hard to get someone to listen to you when you in their face about something, especially when it comes to religious matters. And besides, the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not need us to defend it. My dad shares this quote by Charles Surgeon with me and I think is applicable here-
“A great many learned men are defending the gospel; no doubt it is a very proper and right thing to do, yet I always notice that, when there are most books of that kind, it is because the gospel itself is not being preached. Supposed a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them...that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he will take care of himself; and the best “apology” for the gospel is to let the gospel out. Nevermind defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch; preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all his adversaries.” Christ and His Co-Workers, June 10, 1886The Gospel can stand on its own truth and does not need us to prove it right, but merely to share it in its completeness. This is what Paul was doing with the men of Athens. If we look closely we can see him laying out three of the four points in the Gospel context we talked about at the beginning of this study. He introduces (1) God the creator in v24 and lets them know that (2) we were separated from Him and are His children in v27&29. Then Paul introduces (3) Jesus Christ to them in v31 as the Risen One, Who will judge the world in righteousness.
Something that should be noted is this, Paul sees and praises common ground rather than solely focusing on correcting them. He finds where both Scripture, and their philosophers, are in agreement and builds from that point (verse 28). This is important for us to try and do when we get the chance to share the Gospel; we want to build up what they know that’s right and help correct what is wrong. Correction without praise is often taken as tyrannical. Sadly, sometimes there might not be any common ground with those we share (outside of all of us falling short in God’s eyes) so we must teach with humility and kindness; as Jesus did.
Section 3- Tell them the Good News: verses 30 & 31
“30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
The Good News of the freedom found in Christ’s death and resurrection is not explicitly included in this passage but it is danced around, and from the next couple verses the assumption can be made that Paul did tell them how they could be saved.
Paul does show that there is a need for something to be done. He tell them that God overlooked their ignorance until now (implying it’s time to do something) and that they need to repent (remember this means turn away, not be sorry for) in v30 and gives the qualification for why repentance is necessary (v31).
So all the elements of the Gospel Context are present and scripture shows that the people respond in three different ways; they mock, they question (v32) and some believe (v34). In our adventures of sharing the Gospel I believe we can expect much of the same reactions. Some will make fun of what we say and outright hate and refute what we share about Jesus Christ, others will have their curiosity peeked enough to thinking about what we share and ask to know more, and then there will be those who believe on Jesus Christ for their salvation. I’ll also note that in our culture, we might come across those who will reject the Good News in a less aggressive way by merely ignoring it or claiming Jesus just isn’t for them. Once we share the reason for the Hope within us, our jobs have not been completed; in many ways they have just begun. We will deal with each of these different groups and what our responsibility to them will be in the coming posts.
"Don't take my word for it, be like the church at Berea, “[They] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11
Paul does show that there is a need for something to be done. He tell them that God overlooked their ignorance until now (implying it’s time to do something) and that they need to repent (remember this means turn away, not be sorry for) in v30 and gives the qualification for why repentance is necessary (v31).
So all the elements of the Gospel Context are present and scripture shows that the people respond in three different ways; they mock, they question (v32) and some believe (v34). In our adventures of sharing the Gospel I believe we can expect much of the same reactions. Some will make fun of what we say and outright hate and refute what we share about Jesus Christ, others will have their curiosity peeked enough to thinking about what we share and ask to know more, and then there will be those who believe on Jesus Christ for their salvation. I’ll also note that in our culture, we might come across those who will reject the Good News in a less aggressive way by merely ignoring it or claiming Jesus just isn’t for them. Once we share the reason for the Hope within us, our jobs have not been completed; in many ways they have just begun. We will deal with each of these different groups and what our responsibility to them will be in the coming posts.
"Don't take my word for it, be like the church at Berea, “[They] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11
