Paul's Speech in Athens

It is interesting to read Paul's speech in Athens as recorded in Acts 17. When Paul would speak to a Jewish audience, he would mention the Jewish Fathers like Moses, Abraham and Noah so that the people could relate to him. But in speaking to the Athenians, primarily a gentile audience, he mentioned nothing about the Jewish history, but concentrated on them, their situation, their lifestyle.

Paul noticed right off that the city was given over to idol worship (vs 16). He was challenged by the Greek philosophers who pumped him for information. Verse 21 tells us, "..all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing."

Paul noticed that they even had an idol to the "Unknown God." Paul, in a twist of meanings, lets them know that they are right; the real God is unknown to them. He then proceeds to tell them about the real God, the only real God: He "...made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands," and lots more.

He then concludes this speech with this, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead." It was this mentioning of "raising Him from the dead," the resurrection, that stirred the people; some mocked, some were interested.

The power is in the resurrection. Without that, Christianity would be weak, nothing. But God will take us beyond the grave.....and that is a big part of the message here in Athens...and to us.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!