Athens: Facing Questions - Acts 17:16 - 19:31

Five days from today, the first athletes will compete in the Olympics in China and lay their lives on the line for the privilege to wear the gold medal. It is impossible for the general public to know the hours spent and the torture endured during years of preparation. It is beyond our minds to know what drives people to work hard and long for a bit of recognition that will be as the fog of the early morning; easy to recognize, but completely gone after a few minutes of the rising sun. If athletes would prepare as well to win eternal life, there is no doubt that we would play a lot of games in heaven. Do you know where and when the first Olympic Games were held?

A short review reminds us that early Gentile Christians were in conflict with the early Jewish thinking and that they were able to settle the dispute by allowing Gentiles to become members of the church without having to observe certain Jewish rituals. The decision supported Paul in his argument that salvation is by grace through faith with nothing else necessary. You can find the final decision recorded in 15: 28-19. The remainder of the chapter addresses plans that were made to make a second Missionary Journey that named churches to be revisited and indication that they would also visit new locations. The lesson today involves the places visited and the work that was done on the second journey; however the major emphasis will be on the work in Athens Greece…the original Olympic city.

Paul and Barnabas decided to split and the result was that Paul and Silas formed one team and Barnabas and John Mark formed another, and now there are two teams involved in this second Missionary Journey. Luke says that Barnabas and Mark went back to Cyprus where Barnabas was born, and then he does not mention them again but follows Paul instead. I am prone to wonder again about the spread of the gospel that is unmentioned. One can assume, I believe, with a high degree of accuracy that Barnabas and Mark made this a profitable missionary journey. Since the first team had laid the foundation, they may have won a majority of the islanders to Christ. You should be aware that this is not the last time John Mark is heard from in the NT, because his witness led him to write the gospel of Mark. Though Paul had been critical of Mark, he actually turned out to be more active than Barnabas and his witness had a greater influence on those who read Mark.

Paul and Silas began and ended their second journey from Antioch of Syria [same place as the first journey] however the second journey was longer and required more time than the first one did. This trip included a follow-up on their work that had been done in the Province of Galatia and a new ministry in the Province of Macedonia. This lesson will zero in on their notable preaching opportunity in Athens Greece and if time permits it will cover the organizing of new churches in Corinth.

The major thrust of this lesson will begin with the first verses of chapter 17 and in Thessalonica where we find Paul in the Jewish Synagogue which was his custom. The first three weeks of his stay were used as a witnessing tourist during the week and he was in the Synagogue each Sabbath reasoning with them from the scriptures. This was a profitable stop in that some Jews and a larger number of Greeks and prominent women accepted Christ before a group of Jewish objectors started a riot in the city. Paul and Silas escaped but Jason was arrested and jailed and had to post bond for freedom.

Under cover of night Paul and Silas escaped and went to Berea where they were accepted and were able to reach a larger number of Jews, and both Greek women and men. The trouble makers from Thessalonica followed them to Berea and soon made it impossible for them to remain successful. Silas and Timothy remained in Berea to distract the agitators while Paul escaped and went to Athens; he left instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens as soon as possible.

Paul was amazed and greatly distressed to find that Athens was full of idols dedicated to many different gods, even one monument had been built in honor of THE UNKNOWN GOD. He spent his time in the markets of the city during the week and in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. Greece was then and still is a country known for its Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Much of the background for the philosophers [thinkers] stronghold comes out of this area and still has inroads into our universities that are now teaching the big bang theory, evolution, and who deny the creation story. They soon were openly disputing his message and labeled him as a babbler. They were especially upset at his contention that Jesus was the Son of God, who was crucified and was resurrected. They did not believe in the resurrection as a possibility.

The Epicureans and Stoics were the dominant philosophers in the Greek culture. They believed that seeking happiness and pleasure was the primary goal in life. The Stoics were more disciplined and they placed thinking above feeling and tried to live in harmony with nature. The Greek Council or Court was called the Areopagus and they met in the Acropolis which was built on a hill that allowed people to look down upon the city. Paul addressed the court while being able to look out over the city at numerous idols that dotted the expanse of the city and he referred to them as worthless and meaningless. Paul was convincing and even the elite Philosophers were amazed at his presentations even though they did not totally agree with him.

We must realize that Paul was a noted philosopher in his own right. He was educated in Tarsus, an educational center, and had the knowledge and training to present his beliefs persuasively. Paul was a Jewish rabbi, taught by the greatest teacher of his day, his name was Gamaliel, who had spent his life thinking and reasoning through the writings of OT authors. Both the bible and secular historians applauded both Gamaliel and Paul. Josephus is especially complementary.

Why do Southern Baptist believe strongly in the benefits that regular bible study brings to the church? Our pastors support Sunday school. Every attempt is made to train and appoint teachers that have the ability to teach others and lead people to know Christ personally. When the truth is preached and taught, people listen and respond and the whole process is necessary to accomplish the commission given the church. No teacher is naïve to the point of claiming to be teachers like Christ or Paul, but we must have self-confidence, and that can only come through prayerful study of the word and a desire to serve Jesus Christ and give him the Glory for all positive results.

In verse 22-23 you will note that Paul did not start in a Synagogue…but in their court. He did not begin by teaching Jewish history as he usually did, for this would have been meaningless to the Greek. [Note: We still have a saying today; when we do not understand something we say—“well, that is Greek to me;” and this is the incident that birthed the saying. Paul began by building his argument for the one true God, using examples that they could understand. He moved on into the life of Christ and especially the death and resurrection. [Paul uses good psychology in that—when you are about ready to criticize someone, it is best to brag on them about something they are doing well.] He bragged—“Men of Athens, I see that in every way, you are very religious. As I walked around I found one altar with the inscription: TO AND UNKNOWN GOD.” Then he proceeded to tell them that this unknown god was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminded them that some of their Greek poets had said that we are the offspring of this god, and they are correct even though they do not know Him. Things have not improved; but rather it is even worse now than then. We have far more religions than they had…but vast majorities do not know who God really is. They do not understand that the Creator God transcends His creation. For example, God created Mohammed; Mohammed was a man who lived and died and is still dead. He can not be God because he was not his own creator. But the Greek proclaimed him as a god, which he cannot be. God was, is, and will always be—He said, “I Am.” This means that God is SOVEREIGN AND IN CONTROL, while at the same time he is as close as a brother and very personal. Paul told the Greeks that they must let God, the Creator of the universe rule their life.

Paul brought them a new point of view…he presented Christ who died and was resurrected and what that meant to people. It meant that He was a blessing to them if accepted—but that it also meant punishment to those who did not accept Him. Just as today, they had no concept of judgment and preferred to worship many gods instead of just one…and they did not believe in the resurrection. Just as today, some sneered, some kept on searching for what they wanted to hear, however, a few believed. Paul never changed his message. He moved on to Corinth in chapter 18 still preaching the truth.

The lesson for us is plain and tells us what we should do. Never hesitate to tell others about Christ and how He died for all people, everywhere. Do not be distressed when some do not believe your message. Sadly, I must warn you that many will not believe you. Your message and your life example will not win some to Christ—you must not expect a positive response to your message. Your warning removes their blood from your hands; if they die in their sins it will never be your fault; and if only a few, or even just one believes and is saved…it is worth your effort. Oh, what a joy it will be when you meet that person who was saved in Heaven and he/she explains what your message meant to them. No Christian should desire to go to heaven alone: their greatest desire should be to take friends, loved ones and other lost people with them. Don’t be surprised to find that God is left-handed, he is and will be for Jesus is sitting on his right hand to help His Father welcome you and you enter the pearly gates.