Acts 17:16-34
Q.1. How was Paul affected by idols at Athens? How did he pass his time there? What was he proclaiming? What was their interest in Paul’s message? – (Acts 17:16-21)
Paul was provoked by the idolatry of Athens. It was not that he considered the idols to have any relevance, but the worship of these revealed the utter darkness of these people, who thought they were sophisticated (Acts 17:16, 21 c.f. 1 Cor.8:4-6). He was therefore – … reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present (Acts 17:17). This particularly attracted the Greek philosophers: Epicureanism attacked superstition and denied divine intervention and Stoicism urged its followers to shun pleasure and fatalistically accept pain. These groups were eager to engage Paul – … this idle babbler – and proclaimer of strange deities,”–because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection (Acts 17:18). Were they truly interested? Probably not, because they just loved discussing philosophy with anyone.
Q.2. How did Paul connect with his audience? Why was idolatry futile? What claim does God place on all mankind? Are we all His children? – (Acts 17:22-29)
Paul connected with the people by focusing on one of the altars – TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. He provoked their interest by declaring – … Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you (Acts 17:23). He pointed out the uselessness of idols, by asserting – The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24 c.f. Acts 17:29). God needs no material offerings from mankind – He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation (Acts 17:26). We are all connected through that One Man and are potentially His children (Acts 17:27-29). Paul will explain.
Q.3. Why is ignorance no longer acceptable? What does the resurrection of Christ prove? How should we respond? How did they respond? – (Acts 17:30-34)
Since we are made by God, He makes a claim on our lives – Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent (Acts 17:30). The reason is that – He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31). These Greek philosophers offered no hope beyond the grave. However, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead proves that there is life after death for all who place their trust in Him. Most brushed the Gospel aside – But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them (Acts 17:34).