Acts 17

Acts 17 describes the Apostle Paul’s visit to Athens during his second missionary journey around AD 50, where he engaged with the city’s philosophers and delivered a significant speech at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) addressing the nature of God, idolatry, and the resurrection through Jesus Christ.

Key aspects of Acts 17 include:

  • Paul’s distress over idolatry in Athens: As Paul walked around the city, he was deeply troubled by its many idols and temples, reflecting a city steeped in pagan worship.

  • Paul’s engagement with diverse audiences: He reasoned in the Jewish synagogue, debated with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in the marketplace, and finally was invited to speak publicly at the Areopagus, a council focused on religious and philosophical matters.

  • Paul’s Areopagus sermon (Acts 17:22-31):

    • He acknowledged the Athenians' religiosity and used an altar inscribed “To an unknown god” as a starting point to proclaim the one true Creator God who does not live in man-made temples and gives life to all.
    • Paul declared that all people are made from one ancestor (Adam), appointed times and places, and that God is near to everyone – "in him we live and move and have our being" – quoting local poets to connect with his audience.
    • He called for repentance, stating that God had overlooked past ignorance but now commands all people everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day to judge the world through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead.

  • Mixed reactions: Some mocked Paul, especially about resurrection; some were interested and wanted to hear more, and a few believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

  • Historical context: Paul’s visit can be dated around AD 50 based on external historical evidence such as the Gallio inscription, which anchors Paul’s travels and the timeline within the Roman governance of the region.

Overall, Acts 17 highlights Paul’s method of apologetics—engaging culture thoughtfully and respectfully, using points of connection to proclaim the gospel. His speech in Athens is one of the most detailed accounts of early Christian mission to a pagan intellectual audience and reflects themes also echoed in Paul’s letters, particularly Romans 1.

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