An Adventure in Bible Study

16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. The Greek and Roman Agora in Athens 17:17 Photograph 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him. Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers Two rival schools, and the most prominent of the age: Epicurus taught that pleasure was the chief goal of life, since the soul does not survive the body. 17:18 Passage Study 18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

19They took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which you are speaking about? 20For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” 21Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

“Very religious in all things” Pausanias: “The Athenians exceed all in their diligence about the gods.” Sophocles: “This city goes beyond all in worshipping and reverencing the gods.” 17:22 Parallels in Ancient Literature 22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. Altar to an Unknown God (Vatican Museum) 17:23 Photograph 23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you. 24The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. 25He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.