Paul in Athens, Greece: The Situation and His Sermon

“Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.  So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.  Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.  And some said, ‘What does this babbler wish to say?’  Others said, ‘He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities’—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection…So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said, ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.  For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’  What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’”-Acts 17: 16-18, 22-23 (ESV.  Read Acts 18-34)

Paul waited for Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens, Greece.  Perhaps it should have been a rest stop, a time of refreshment and vacation for Paul, but he spent his time, as usual, interacting with the people he met and witnessing to the power of Almighty God to save.  Consider a brief look at the situation, both culturally, philosophically and religiously in Athens at the time of Paul’s visit.  The largest university in the world at that time was located in Athens; it was a center of learning for its day.  Named for the Greek wisdom goddess Athene, the city held beliefs in a pantheon of gods and had statuary honoring them, including one (noted by Paul in his visit) “to the unknown God.”  An interesting story exists about how “the unknown god” statuary became a part of Athens’ “gods made by hands” or idols.  About 600 B. C. a terrible plague hit the city of Athens and nothing could assuage it.  A Greek poet named Epimenides from the island of Crete hit upon a plan.  He persuaded the leaders to release a flock of black and white sheep from the Areopagus (Mars Hill), the place where important civic and religious decisions were made.  As the sheep lay down, wherever they had traveled, the sheep would be sacrificed there to the nearest statue of a god and thus appease the wrath of whatever of the gods had brought the plague.  If the sheep lay down where there was not a nearby statue, then they would erect one and name it “to the unknown god.”  Thus, dotted throughout Athens were these statues with that designation. These, which Paul had observed, gave him a good point of reference for his famous sermon delivered on Mars Hill (Areopagus).  When Rome conquered the known world, Athens was left as a city-state, somewhat free to carry on their culture as  it had developed for about 3,000 years of human occupation.  Many philosophies were tossed about in the discussion groups so prevalent throughout Athens, at the university and in the agora (marketplace) and Areopagus (great collonaded porches and civic edifice, named for the Greek god Ares), and wherever people met to exchange ideas.  Two main groups stood out, however, and these are mentioned in Acts 17:18:  the Epicureans and the Stoics.  It would take a long essay to give the beliefs of each of these, but basically the Epicureans, after the Greek philosopher Epicureas (b. 341 B. C.), centered on the search for pleasure and fulfillment, to acquire a trouble-free mind, and to avoid pains of the body. He believed in gods, but thought them remote from and disinterested in people, and that death ended all of life—no eternal existence.  His ideas became distorted with time, but he himself practiced tranquility and contemplation.  Stoics, on the other hand, believed that everything was God and god was in everything.  Whatever happens is fated and we must not care or try to change it, for it is the will of God.  A spark of the spirit of God dwells in everyone and at death it returns to God.

Amidst all this philosopy, learning, art and history, Paul came with the message of the living God.  He went to the synagogue as was his custom, and talked and reasoned with the Jews.  Then amidst the statuary and grandeur of public Athens, he began to talk with philosophers and idea-mongers, and was even called by some of them “a babbler.”  He was invited by these Athenians and taken to the Areopagus where he spoke publicly.  Read carefully Paul’s sermon in Acts 17:23-31.  It is a masterpiece discourse of application of Paul’s philosophy and belief about God given in the manner characteristic of what his Athens audience would hear.  I read Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s commentary of this sermon by Paul, and I borrow from his mnemonic outline, using his alliteration for each point (Wiersbe,  New Testament. Acts. Colorado Springs:  David C. Cook, 2007, p. 378).  I have read and studied Paul’s sermon, keeping in mind Dr. Wiersbe’s outline, and find the spiritual exercise rich and enlightening.  I invite you to study it, too.

            I.  The greatness of God:  He is Creator (v. 24)

           II.  The goodness of God:  He is Provider (v. 25)

          III.  The government of God:  He is Ruler (vv. 26-29)

          IV.  The grace of God:  He is Savior (vv. 30-34)    

We have no biblical statement that a Christian church was formed in Athens.  Two named converts came as a result of Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus:  Demetrius, an Areopagite (perhaps a member of the council) and a woman, Damaris  (women were not usually at the area of the Areopagus, so she may have not had a good reputation prior to her conversion)—and “some men’ and “others with them” (that is, others with Demetrius and Damaris). 

What does Paul’s trip and witness in Athens teach us?  It is not always the large numbers of converts that matter.  Every soul is precious in the sight of God.  Relating Paul’s witness there to the parable of the seeds and the sower, wise, philosophical, proud Athenians were like the seeds of the gospel falling on poor soil already infested by many weeds.  Paul referred to the situation in his phrase, “the times of ignorance” (v. 30).  We, like Paul, need to be bold in our witness in places where false doctrines and philosophies abound, the “Athens areas” of our day.  But we cannot forget, as a benefit to us of Paul’s example there, we have his well-developed and strong sermon.  Many have read and benefited from it through two centuries, including us!  God’s word will not return void.  That is His promise, and this is a strong example of that promise fulfilled.  Amen.