Conversions in The Book of Acts - VIIa

Conversions In The Book Of Acts
The Athenians (17:16-34) Part One

Our next example of conversion is another one often overlooked. It is the conversion of the Athenians, two of whom are specifically mention by name. Yet they are usually not listed in charts showing examples of conversion. Again, it likely is because little is said, other than that they "believed" - Ac 17:34 "When Paul left the council meeting, some of the men put their faith in the Lord and went with Paul. One of them was a council member named Dionysius. A woman named Damaris and several others also put their faith in the Lord." But our purpose in this series is to also consider the sermons which led people to Christ. In this case we have a remarkable sermon by the apostle Paul. A sermon proclaimed not to Jews or even Gentile God-fearers (like Cornelius), but to pagan philosophers and polytheists. So our focus in this lesson will be more on the sermon itself, with attention to how Paul addressed those who did not know the God of Israel and the themes Paul addressed in this sermon.

We begin our study with a look at the setting of the sermon. Paul had just arrived in Athens following a hasty departure from Berea - Ac 17:13-15 "When the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica heard that Paul had been preaching God's message in Berea, they went there and caused trouble by turning the crowds against Paul. Right away the followers sent Paul down to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. Some men went with Paul as far as Athens, and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible." Provoked by the idolatry rampant in the city, he began preaching at every opportunity - Ac 17:16-17 "While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city. He went to the Jewish meeting place to speak to the Jews and to anyone who worshiped with them. Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market." Reasoning in the synagogues with the Jews and Gentile worshipers. Reasoning daily with any who happened to be in marketplace.

Paul attracted the attention of some philosophers. In particular, certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers - Ac 17:18 "Some of them were Epicureans and some were Stoics, and they started arguing with him. People were asking, "What is this know-it-all trying to say?" Some even said, "Paul must be preaching about foreign gods! That's what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from death."’ As we see from this verse some viewed him as a proclaimer of foreign gods because Paul was preaching of Jesus and the resurrection. They then bring him to the Areopagus and invite him to speak - Ac 17:19-21 "They brought Paul before a council called the Areopagus, and said, "Tell us what your new teaching is all about. We have heard you say some strange things, and we want to know what you mean." More than anything else the people of Athens and the foreigners living there loved to hear and to talk about anything new." The Areopagus was a rocky hill about 370 feet high, not far from the Acropolis and the Agora (marketplace) in Athens - Holman Bible Dictionary. As Luke explains, it was a place where Athenians and visitors spent their time discussing any new idea or thing that came along. Not having heard of the doctrine of Christ, they wanted to know more. With such an invitation, you can imagine that Paul was delighted to accommodate them.

Paul starts his sermon at the Areopagus with the theme of the God they did not know. Acknowledging their religious devotion, he makes mention of one altar in particular - Ac 17:22-23a "And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." An altar with the inscription: "To The Unknown God" As Paul had previously observed that they are so devout, they sought to worship a god they did not know. He uses this as an opportunity to preach concerning the True God they did not know! - Ac 17:23b "You worship this God, but you don't really know him. So I want to tell you about him."

Let’s now look at the five main points of Pauls sermon.
God is the creator of the universe - Ac 17:24 "This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands." He made the world, He is Lord of heaven and earth and as such, He does not dwell in temples made with hands - see 1 Kin 8:22-30.

God is the sustainer of life - Ac 17:25 "He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people." He gives to all life their breath and what they need - see Ja 1:17. Therefore God is not worshiped as though He needs it.
God is the ruler of all the nations - Ac 17:26-27 "From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us," He has created every nation and determined their rise and fall - Dan 2:20-21; 4:17. Everything is designed to prompt men to seek God, who is not far from any of us.

God is the Father of mankind - Ac 17:28-29 "and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. "We are his children," just as some of your poets have said. Since we are God's children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn't like anything that humans have thought up and made." From God we come; and in Him we live, move, and have our very being. Therefore we should not think that God is like any idol of gold, silver or stone.

God is the Judge of the world - Ac 17:30-31 "In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death." What ignorance He may have overlooked in the past, such is no longer the case. He now commands all men everywhere to repent. Why? Because of the coming Judgment, in which God will judge the world in righteousness; God will judge the world through Jesus Christ - Jn 5:22,26-27; 12:48. As proof such will occur, God has raised Jesus from the dead. The five points are from John Stott’s book, The Spirit, The Church, And The World.

The mention of the resurrection provoked a response - Ac 17:32 "As soon as the people heard Paul say that a man had been raised from death, some of them started laughing. Others said, "We will hear you talk about this some other time."’ Some mocked (to many philosophers, the idea of a bodily resurrection is foolishness). Others were more cordial, offering to listen again at another time. But as Paul left, some joined him and believed - Ac 17:33-34 "When Paul left the council meeting, some of the men put their faith in the Lord and went with Paul. One of them was a council member named Dionysius. A woman named Damaris and several others also put their faith in the Lord." Specifically mentioned are Dionysius the Areopagite, and Damaris, a woman. Others also joined Paul and believed.

As has been our practice in previous lessons we will look at some observations of Paul’s sermon and in this conversion of those that believed in our next segment, next week.

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

Join my Bible Study Group at internet-bible-studies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internet-bible-studies/join

Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~