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Our study begins in
Acts 17.16-34
After Paul was escorted from Berea south to
Athens, he was distressed while waiting for
his companions to meet him. His spirit was
disturbed by all the idols throughout Athens.
He was so moved that although he was
alone he began to reason in the Synagogue
as well as in the Marketplace (Agora). The
Agora was not just a market, not just a place
of business; it was a civil court, college campus, mall, employment office, social club,
and Starbucks rolled into one.
Stoics believed we should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submissive to natural law. Epicureans believed that
the greatest good was to seek modest pleasures in order to attain a state of tranquility
and freedom from fear as well as absence
of bodily pain. AS Paul spoke in the Agora,
these 2 schools of Philosophy debated with
him.
Paul was asked to share more of this new
teaching at the Areopagus. The Areopagus
is a hill next to the Acropolis in Athens.
For centuries on this hill a council of civic
and religious leaders met. By the time Paul
arrived in Athens the council had began
meeting closer to the Agora, and the council
was now called by the name of the hill it had
met on, the Areopagus.
Athens was known for its almost compulsive
collecting of Gods. A few hundred years later
Athenians were described as having a fear of
offending any unknown god. It is this culture
and the idols that resulted from it, that
moved Paul to share the gospel so passionately and intelligently. Paul sermon demonstrates a knowledge of the 2 philosophical
schools there, as well as a knowledge of
Athens history and its poet/prophets! Paul
understands the beliefs of the Epicureans as well as the Stoics, and knows that
neither belief leads to joy, peace, hope, or
God. Rather than lash out at the Athenians
idolatry, Paul encourages them saying “I see
you are religious”, he mentions the altars
to the “Unknown god” and he says I can
tell you who that God is. Paul then quotes
from 2 poets. One of whom is Epimenides,
the poet/prophet credited with saving the
city from a terrible plague. In the story
Epimenides saves the city by having the
Athenians offer sacrifices to the unknown
god or gods. Paul connects this well known
Athenian story to his message that the One
true God has been active, and desires for all
people to know Him.
Paul continues to share the gospel telling of
coming judgment, and the resurrection of
Jesus. At the news of the resurrection some
could not believe and “sneered”. Others
wanted to hear more, and a few became
Christ-followers. 2 new believers are mentioned specifically, Dionysius and Damaris.
Dionysius was a member of the Areopagus
council; he would have been an educated,
wealthy, influential man. It was uncommon for an ordinary Athenian woman to be
present at such public gatherings as Paul
addressed in Athens, some suggest that
Damaris was a kind of high class escort or
companion. If the readers of Acts considered Damaris an “escort” or “companion,”
this story would communicate that God
frees the rich & affluent such as Dionysius,
as well as the powerless, and used.
discussion
QUESTIONS
++ How is Athenian culture similar to
our own?
++ How do you think Paul prepared to
speak to the crowds at the Agora &
Areopagus?
++ When have you prepared with such
care for a conversation?
++ Why was the resurrection the stumbling block for the Greeks?
++ How is it the same today for us?
++ How can you live life with the reality
of the resurrection this week?
action
steps
++ Think of a conversation you need to
have with someone, prepare as Paul
did.
++ As you share the great news of Christ
do similar work in preparation as Paul
did.
++ As you make decisions, consider how
the reality of the resurrection influences
your decision making process.
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