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Lesson 32

A Tale of Two Lost Cities Part One

Acts 17:16-34

Over the years I have come to realize that many of the decisions I have made are based quite often on limited knowledge. I say this because many of them have come from a desire for something to happen. Many times I have come to a conclusion based on emotion, something that will make me feel good, the avoidance of pain, taking the easy way out, or because it is the way that it has always been done. All of these ways showed little regard for what God’s word says I am to do. This same characteristic seems to be prevalent in almost everyone. I have notice how politicians, children and parents all too often evade the truth because of the adverse affect it may have on the lifestyle they have chosen. If I would just turn to the source of true knowledge in making decisions my life most likely would be much simpler.

The church is not exempt from this malady. Our discussions revolve around personal desires. The decisions then are made based on those desires and emotions. We do not seem to want search God’s word for direction but want to continue on the path we have always followed. In many ways we are like the Jews that we have already studied and the Athenians upon which we will focus today.

Athens-

Although no longer a world power and had not been for some time, it was still the center of great learning in the world. It housed a great university. The discipline of philosophy if not started there was certainly refined by the people of that area. From among the people had arisen the great philosophers Aristotle and Socrates among many others. An outgrowth of this adherence to this man made wisdom was the rise of Greek mythology. We can say that the Greeks were a very spiritual but superstitious people who were totally ignorant of the true God.

Acts 17:16

Paul has been left alone in Athens awaiting the arrival of Silas, Timothy as possibly Luke. This time alone provides him with the opportunity to assess the spiritual environment in the city. What he sees disturbs him greatly as he observes a city full of idols.

1. Why is it sometimes good to be alone to evaluate your life and what is going on around you?
2. What kind of idols may you have built in your life?
3. In what ways does it disturb you to live in society full of godlessness?
4. What kind of strategy might be used to reach the hearts of the lost?

Acts 17:17

During those days spent looking at the situation, Paul was not inactive. Time was urgent and he must be about the Father’s work. As always if possible he began speaking with the Jews and God-fearers in the synagogue. In Athens he expanded his work to include those found in the market place of the city.

1. Why did Paul not wait until the others arrived to begin presenting the gospel?
2. Why was Paul able to continue his work in Athens even though he did not have the support of his team?
3. What was different about his approach this time?
4. What does this say to us about our own call?

Acts 17:18

Two of the distinct groups of philosophers began to have discussions with Paul. They were the Epicureans and the Stoics. Each of these had a different view of life.

The Epicureans held that:

• Everything that occurred in life happened by chance.
• There was no eternal life.
• The gods they worshipped were remote from and did not care what happened to man.
• Pleasure that brought no pain was the chief end of man’s endeavors.

The Stoics believed that:

• Everything was God. When man died the spirit that was in man returned to God.
• Everything that happened was the will of God and must be endured without any resentment.
• Every so often the world would be destroyed by fire and then started over again with the same cycle of events.

Among these philosophers there were two different responses to the message of Paul.

• He was called an idle babbler. Today he might be called one is knows a lot of trivia but nothing of any substance.
• Proclaimer of some strange deity. Jesus did not fit in with the list of gods they worshipped, nor was He like the gods they knew. Paul was preaching that Jesus had come back to life.

It is interesting that these two groups would such derisive terms since they followed Greek mythology and were also very superstitious. Because Paul did not follow their philosophy or manner of discussion he would have been considered unlearned.

1. What do you think about the philosophy of the two groups?
2. How does it compare to the words of Paul?
3. Why would they make such derogatory remarks about Paul?

Acts 17:19-21

Although the philosophers spoke as they had about Paul they were still curious enough about the new teaching to bring him before the court that met at the Areopagus, better known as Mars Hill. What Luke wrote gives a view of the Greeks. He said, “Now all of the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.” This court was made up of about 30 men who would hear cases brought to them. To them Paul was brought to present his case.

1. Why did the philosophers bring Paul before the Areopagus?
2. Why did the Athenians spend so much time trying to learn new things?
3. From what we have seen already what good did all the learning they had help them?
4. How would the passage from Luke 9:25 which reads, “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his soul,” apply here?

Acts 17:22-28

As Paul appeared at the Areopagus he began by noting that the Athenians were a very religious people. He particularly spoke of the “ALTAR TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” This would be at the heart of his defense as he contrasted God with their multiple gods. Throughout these verses he would make the comparisons between the state of the religion of the Greeks and the worship of the One true God.

He begins by telling them their worship was rooted in ignorance. The evidence was presented in a way that the Greek mind could understand. Step by step he laid out for them God’s activity in the world explaining His relationship to man. Since God created all things including man He is not limited to buildings or statutes but is Lord of heaven and earth.

Man is a result of God’s creative work receiving the very life he has from Him. The gods of the Greeks had no interest in the activities of man. Paul told them that God knew everything about man. If man chose to do so he could even come to know God. Luke recorded the words, “He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist.”

1. Why had the Greeks built an “Altar to An Unknown God?”
2. What did Paul say about their religious practices?
3. In what ways did he compare God to the gods of the Greeks?
4. In what ways are we sometimes like the Greeks?

Acts 17:29-30

Being the divinely created children of the infinite God, Paul admonished the Greeks not to try to reduce Him to things made by man’s hands. The Creator cannot be compared with the created. The Greeks were now being challenged to move away from idols and the worship of them done in ignorance. The time was past that that ignorance would be overlooked by God? When the truth comes old ways must be put behind man. In each man’s life there comes a time to repent of past deeds.

1. Why did Paul identify the Greek’s as children of God?
2. In what ways do men still worship God in ignorance?
3. What is our role in seeing that this is changed?
4. Why is heart attitude not acceptable to God?

Acts 17:31

There is going to be a day of judgment. All of the things that Paul had said about God gave Him the right to “judge the world in righteousness.” The judgment came through God’s anointed Jesus Christ. As proof of this fact Paul told the Athenians that He raised the Anointed one from death.

1. What is God going to judge on the day of judgment?
2. Why would Paul share this with the godless Athenians?
3. What does it say to us in our own day?
4. How can we use the framework of what Paul said as a witnessing tool?
5. How does this differ from what he had shared in other cities?

Acts 17:32-34

Paul received three different reactions to his defense of the gospel.

• Some sneered
• Others were still open and wanted to hear more.
• A few became followers of Christ. Two of those mentioned are Dionysius who was an areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

Many have commented on why Paul did not experience more success in Athens. One of the reasons put forth was the fact that Paul did not put forth a straightforward message of Christ. Today we would say that this was being culturally relevant.

1. What were the different reactions to Paul’s defense?
2. In what ways have you experienced some of the same reactions?
3. Why did Paul not meet with more success in Athens?
4. What might he have done differently?
5. How would you react to the disappointment of having people reject the testimony to the gospel you present?

You

• Continually prepare your heart and mind to be able to give an answer to what you believe in a way that will touch the hearts of man?
• Pray that God will give you opportunities to stretch and challenge your faith?
• Learn to deal with failure. Remember it is not you that people are rejecting but God?
• Pray that own community and surrounding areas will not be an area like Athens.
• Eliminate from your own life any gods that may hinder you from knowing the true God and His Son.

We face a world much like Athens today. It is a place that is rejecting the relationship with God in ever increasing numbers every year. Idol worship has become prevalent and there is even the danger of it taking over much of what we do in the church.

It is more imperative today than any time in my lifetime for us to be vigilant in our preparation through the study of God’s word, prayer and worship to face the challenges we are going to face. Paul addressed the fact that the people of Athens had all their gods and did not have life. He spoke of the unknown god which was probably the supposedly security blanket just in case they may have excluded the very one they needed.

In our lives we do not need to search for life and joy. God is near and wants to live within each of us that we may have those things. He is the answer. It is He who we should be anxious to share with the world.

Next week we will look at another city in that part of Greece. Corinth will be a contrast to Athens that will be of benefit as we see God working in all types of situations.

Additional Notes:

C-When Paul was driven out of Berea he left behind Timothy and Silas to continue ministering to the people of Berea. This was the first time that Paul went into an area by himself.   He travelled to Athens. Timothy and Silas were instructed to follow him as soon as possible. (Acts 17:14-15)

GC-We also should be disturbed by the signs and actions of people living contrary to God’s will. (Acts 17:16)

GC-Our spirit should be provoked at all the false gods being worshipped. (Acts 17:16)

C-While in Athens Paul became deeply troubled as he saw a city full of idols. He began witnessing in every venue where he was given opportunity. He spoke at the Areopagus comparing a religion that worshipped idols to the one who worshipped the living God. He argued that the living God was the only one capable of bringing judgment but also forgiveness through His resurrected Son. (Acts 17:22-31)

GC-The one who seeks God will find Him. (Acts 17:27)

GC-In Christ we live and move and have our very existence. (Acts 17:28)

DM-As He did in Athens almost two thousand years ago, God is still “declaring to men, that all everywhere should repent. There is a day of judgment coming at a fixed time through Jesus Christ.” There will always be those who ridicule the message of the resurrection, some will always be curious of its meaning but thankfully there will those who become followers of Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:30-34)

C-Paul found a much more difficult audience among the Athenians for his message. After speaking out for Christ only a few people followed him. (Acts 17:34)