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Acts 17      English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” ²¹ Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

²² So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.²³ 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. ²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, ²⁵ nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. ²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, ²⁷ that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, ²⁸ for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

²⁹ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. ³⁰ The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

REFLECTION:

• Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Areopagus) began by drawing on pagan Greek poets to establish a point of contact, and then went on to proclaim God’s truth. Paul had caught glimpses of God’s truth in the religion and culture of those people but knew that they needed to be pointed to the God of the truth. So Paul’s quotes connected him with the Athenians and set the stage for his teaching.
• What are the “points of truth” from which you can start to communicate the gospel to those in your world?
• Majority of the people today still don’t know the true God. How do you better prepare yourself to effectively communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ to those God has called you to minister to?  Ask God’s help to prepare you to be His witness to unbelieving folks around you.

PRAYER:

Our Heavenly Father, who created heaven, earth, and all things, everything in the world belongs to You and originates from You. In all Your creations, Your immeasurable goodness, wisdom, and abundance are reflected. You have deeply imprinted the glory of Your image in the heart of every person, so that everyone has a desire to seek You. You have also bestowed upon us precious freedom and remarkable talents, enabling us to love and govern all things in this beautiful world that You have created. Through Your grace and love, and through the precious blood of Your only begotten Son, You have saved all nations and peoples from the power of death, allowing us to be reconciled with You through confession and repentance, becoming Your beloved sons and daughters. O Heavenly Father, Your grace is so vast and magnificent! Your love is a song in my heart and a hymn on my lips; Your faithfulness is a melody in my ears and a radiance in my eyes! From morning till evening, I will meditate on You with the scrolls of poetry by my pillow, and I will ponder on You with the music of my harp by my window! The starry sky of the night accompanies me as I read Your glorious verses; the serenade of chirping insects conveys my sweet affection. O Heavenly Father, may You be with me always, and may You be with my brothers and sisters always, granting us more love and wisdom, so that we may bring Your true light to the hearts of those who long for it in this world, adding more brothers and sisters to our family, and adding more beloved sons and daughters to You. Amen!

HYMN:

I speak Jesus – youtu.be/FpGYImM_VeM