Paul in Athens

Acts 17: 16-21

“16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)”

Paul found himself alone in Athens, but he was never one to sit around and wait, so he preached the gospel in the local synagogue to the Jews and the Gentiles that were there.  He soon found himself in debate with a group of Greek philosophers.  They were intrigued by this “new teaching” and took Paul to the Areopagus where he was asked to present his ideas to the people gathered there.

The Areopagus was a hill near the Acropolis, and on this hill learned men formed a council and lectured and discussed new ideas.  To their credit, the people who met there were always open to hearing “the latest ideas.”  But Luke tells us that they spent most of their time talking about these things and not doing.  

I am sure that Paul, who saw himself as a teacher and doer of the one true God’s will, was puzzled by people who seemed to scurry from one new idea to the other without latching onto any one idea in particular.  In a similar way they embraced one god after the other, discarding one as they embraced the other or several others.  For most of them, Paul was giving them another opportunity to sample the “flavor of the week”.

What is it that we expect in our religious life?   

Are we seeking the flavor of the week, or do we seek the truth?

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)