Christian Reason Demonstrated | Acts 17:16-34
Paul’s ministry in Athens demonstrates seven practical considerations for evangelistic reasoning: (1) harness your impulsive heart; (2) seek appropriate settings; (3) observe cultural opportunities; (4) proclaim biblical priorities; (5) enlist relatable examples; (6) define the urgent decision; and (7) accept people’s answers. This sermon is part 12 of “Spreading the Faith,” Bryan Craddock’s verse-by-verse sermon series on Acts 8-20.
I love to visit new places. I study maps beforehand and read up on landmarks. But when you arrive in a major city, getting around is always much more complicated than you expect. Streets twist and turn. Traffic pushes you along or leaves you stuck. Plus, your senses are overwhelmed by the buildings, the people, the noises, and the smells.
That was my feeling when I visited Athens with my daughter last fall, and I suspect that the Apostle Paul felt something similar as he made his way from the harbor into the city almost two thousand years ago. Even back then it had already existed for a few thousand years. Its golden age was five centuries before Paul’s time.
Of course, Paul was not just sightseeing. He was there on his second missionary journey spreading the faith by telling people about Jesus Christ. In the first half of Acts 17, Luke maps out how he reasoned through the gospel in Thessalonica and Berea. He explained biblical proof, avoided emotional agitation, and encouraged biblical examination. But with its philosophical and religious heritage, Athens would put that strategy to the test. It would prove to be more complicated to navigate.
We find Luke’s account of Paul’s ministry there in Acts 17:16-34. Some critics argue that the discourse attributed to him in this passage was made up, because they don’t think that it aligns with the theology of Paul’s epistles. Others suggest that Paul was trying out a rhetorical approach that he later regretted. But those interpretations are not consistent with the accuracy and purpose of the book of Acts.
We’ll see that the account of Paul’s ministry in Athens aligns well with his theology and his philosophy of ministry. Nevertheless, his sermon there is unique because it is the fullest evangelistic message in the Bible that was delivered to an audience with little to no understanding of the biblical worldview. That makes it a particularly important example for us as we interact with people who are not familiar with the Scriptures. Paul demonstrates seven practical considerations for evangelistic reasoning that Christians should continue to follow.
Harness Your Impulsive Heart
I am always impressed by dogs that are well trained. They attentively follow their owner without straining at their leash. But that does not mean that they are ready to go without it. All it takes is a squirrel darting by or a dead animal in the road, and they might run off. They need external restraint in case a sudden impulse overpowers their training.
We have impulsive hearts too. One of the blessings of salvation is that the Holy Spirit empowers us to resist sinful impulses, but we cannot let our guard down. Though some would disagree, I think that Paul has that struggle in mind in Romans 7:21-23, when he says,
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
So, we need to harness our impulsive hearts. Even when we are focused on serving God, we might encounter a temptation. That happens to Paul as he arrives in Athens. Acts 17:16 tells us,
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.
As he makes his way up from the harbor into the city, he probably passes through the ancient agora. It had been the city’s commercial center in the past, but by Paul’s time much of it is used for government buildings and temples to various Greek gods: Zeus, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaestus. High above, on the Acropolis stands the Parthenon, the grand temple devoted to the city’s patron goddess, Athena.
You might consider Paul’s anger to be a righteous response. The false religion that permeated Athens was an abomination that offended the glory of the one true God. Prior to his conversion, Paul might have done something rash. He might have lashed out physically or gone around crying out that the Athenians were all going to hell. But instead, we’ll see in verse 17 that he harnesses those impulses and focuses on reasoning with people.
Interestingly, the only other New Testament use of this word translated as “provoked” is from Paul himself. In 1 Corinthians 13:5, he says that love is not provoked. Christ-like love enabled him to resist the provocation of Athenian idolatry. He looked beyond their offensive behavior to see that these people were held captive by their sin and needed to be rescued.
We need to maintain the same loving, theologically sound outlook, but to do that we must harness our impulsive hearts. That leads to a second consideration.
Seek Appropriate Settings
In our society, most companies want business to be kept separate from religion. But in ancient Athens, philosophical and religious discussion was their business. So, as Paul sought appropriate settings for reasoning through the gospel, he found one down the road in the Roman era agora where trade took place.
At the east end of the space was the Tower of the Winds that housed a water-powered clock, and Paul did not waste any time. Acts 17:17-21 tells us,
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. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean." Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
As we have already seen in Acts, the synagogue was a good setting for Paul’s ministry because Jewish people were often open to hearing what he had to say about how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. If he tried that in a Greek temple, it would not have been well received. It would have generated emotional agitation rather than reasonable discussion. But the Athenian love for new ideas, made the marketplace a good setting.
Epicureanism and Stoicism were popular philosophies at the time. In traditional Greek myths, the gods were always lusting after mortals and bringing blessings or curses upon them. Epicureans, however, taught that the gods dwelt in blissful detachment from the world and that people should pursue the same detachment through avoiding conflict and enjoying simple pleasures. Stoics, on the other hand, claimed that there is divinity in everything. They thought peace could be found through a virtuous acceptance of hardship.
Neither philosophy believed in the afterlife or the possibility of resurrection. So, as they interacted with Paul, they must have been perplexed by the idea of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God. When he spoke of the resurrection, they seem to have thought that he was referring to some other god, Anastasis. Nevertheless, they wanted to hear more, and that was positive.
So, what are appropriate settings like that for reasoning through the gospel in our society? Where can we best initiate meaningful conversations? Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
As I mentioned, speaking up at work might prove to be counterproductive, but it depends upon where you work and who you’re interacting with. If people are willing to come, you could invite them to a Bible study or a church gathering. But first, you will probably have to work at developing trust in a personal relationship. We should always be looking for the best places and times to interact, and that leads us to a closely related consideration.
Observe Cultural Opportunities
Just west of the Acropolis in Athens there is a rocky hill that overlooks the ancient agora. Athenians once used it as a meeting place for their supreme court. Legend says that Ares, the god of war, was tried there for murdering a son of Poseidon. So, it is called the Areopagus or Mars Hill.
Some doubt whether the court still met there in the first century. They might have kept the name and met in a different location. It is also not clear whether Paul was forced to stand before some kind of tribunal or was just invited to make a presentation to members of the court. If that was the situation, then perhaps it did take place on that rocky hilltop.
As Paul begins to speak, we see that he makes full use of the opportunity and even observes other cultural opportunities as well. Acts 17:22-23 says,
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.
Scholars tell us that Paul follows the customs of Greek oratory here. “Men of Athens” is the same form of address that Demosthenes used four hundred years earlier. Speeches would often begin with some sort of introduction like this. Paul also acknowledges the religiosity of their culture.
Archaeologists have not yet discovered any altars with inscriptions to an unknown god in Athens, but they have found them in other locations. Apparently, the Greeks did not want to overlook any deities. They sensed that they were not seeing the full picture, and Paul appeals to that uncertainty.
Later in Romans 1:19-20, he expounds upon this idea further by asserting that every person possesses an innate awareness of the one true God. He says,
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
That conviction enables Paul to speak with confidence to the men of Athens, and we can be certain that people today have the same awareness. They may deny it and try to explain it away, but even the most avowed atheists seem to blame God for tragedies and disasters. In desperate times, even irreligious people may welcome your prayers for them. We don’t see altars to unknown gods, but if we are observant, we will notice cultural opportunities like that in our society. Are we paying attention? How should we use those opportunities? The next consideration shows us.
Proclaim Biblical Priorities
Have you ever had this experience? You find an old key but have no idea what it unlocks. Some conscientious people might hold onto it, but most of us would just discard it because it seems useless.
Something like that happens with the gospel. Christians tell people some of its key truths--that the Son of God took on flesh, that Jesus died and rose again, that we can be saved. But the hearer has no idea what those assertions unlock, so they discard them as useless.
You may be shocked to find that Paul does not mention those truths as he speaks to the men of Athens. It is not because he is ashamed of the gospel. That would be completely out of character for him (Rom 1:16). It is because those ideas would make no sense to his audience. To understand what the gospel unlocks, the men of Athens must hear other truths first. So, Paul proclaims those biblical priorities. What are they?
He starts with the transcendent authority of God. Acts 17:24-25 tells us that he says,
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
In Greek myths, the gods did not create the universe. They supposedly came into being at various times in various ways. So, they live on a higher plane than humans with more power, but they are codependent deities who behave like emotionally unstable people.
The God of the Bible is entirely different. As Creator, he existed before the universe and is thus independent of it. Since he made everything, it all belongs to him. He has complete authority as Lord over heaven and earth. He also sustains all life. So, everything depends upon him, and he depends upon no one.
Though Paul does not cite biblical sources for these ideas, they can be inferred from the account of creation in Genesis 1 and 2. Genesis 14:19 also tells us that when Melchizedek spoke to Abram, he referred to, “God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.” David expresses the same thought in simple terms in Psalm 24:1-2.
The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Many people in our society do not grasp this idea of God’s transcendent authority. They assume that they are independent and able to define their own truth. They insist that they are accountable to no one other than themselves. So, the biblical truth of God’s authority must take priority in our interaction. Without it, there is no basis for sin or judgment and no need for salvation.
Paul then moves on to a second biblical priority in Acts 17:26-27. He explains God’s purpose for our existence as human beings.
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, 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,
Like many people in other places and times, Greeks took great pride in their culture. Many of them looked down on others as barbarians. But the opening chapters of Genesis teach that we are all descended from Adam and then from Noah. Nations came into being after the Tower of Babel, when God scattered people and confused their language.
Yet we all have one purpose as human being—to seek the Lord. We were created to enjoy a relationship with him, knowing him and giving him the glory that he deserves. In Psalm 105:4, David calls people to, “Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!”
This definition of purpose is unlike anything in Greek mythology or philosophy. They related to their gods in a transactional sense. Offerings presented at their temples were supposed to pacify them and gain favor from them. A lot of people today fall into a similar mindset. They look to God when they need help but ignore him the rest of the time. Those who think that way cannot even begin to grasp the gospel’s promise of having a relationship with God, but that is what eternal life is all about (Jn 17:3). So, understanding our purpose is a priority, and Paul does something surprising to explain it. It’s our fifth consideration.
Enlist Relatable Examples
We say that a picture is worth a thousand words. But that principle extends beyond photographs or drawings. It applies to anything that helps us relate to abstract ideas in a more personal way. It could be an analogy, a song, a story, a parable, or a poem. It’s helpful to enlist relatable examples.
Jesus often illustrated his teaching with insightful illustrations from nature. As Paul speaks to the Athenians, he quotes Greek poetry. Acts 17:28 tells us that he said,
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.'
The first quote is probably from a poet named Epimenides who lived around the sixth century B.C. The second seems to be from Aratus who was an early Stoic. Neither of them was referring to the God of the Bible. So, Paul is not quoting them as authoritative proof texts. Instead, he enlists them as examples that might be familiar to his audience.
His point is that some Greeks felt that there must be more to spiritual life than was taught in their religious traditions. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 explains this awareness by saying,
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Despite the corruption of sin, people are still made in the image of God as Genesis 1:27 says. So, even when they reject biblical truth, the awareness of it is still there pressing upon their conscience (Rom 2:14-16). Occasionally, you will see glimmers of it in their values, their sense of justice, or their artistic expression.
Paul paid enough attention to recognize those examples. He took the time to listen to someone recite poetry. Are we looking for those examples that we can use? They prepare us for a sixth consideration.
Define the Urgent Decision
I have sat through countless pre-flight safety briefings on planes, but I have never experienced an in-flight emergency. Flight attendants are trained to remain calm, and that must be an incredibly difficult thing to do in a crisis. But if they panic and start screaming, they will not be able to persuade people to take the steps that could save their lives.
Christians face a similar problem in communicating the gospel. We must define the urgent decision that people need to make. But we must do so in a patient and reasonable way. Paul sets the example for us in Athens. He concludes his argument by identifying the problem. Acts 17:29 tells us that he says,
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.
Though the Athenians are very religious, Paul has argued that the true God does not live in temples. As the Creator of human beings, he is far greater than we are. He has designed us to seek him and know him, but people worship statues instead. Paul simply says that we ought not to think that way.
Now he could have been much more confrontational. The prohibition of idols is part of the Ten Commandments. Isaiah 42:7 says that those who trust in carved images will be put to shame. Jeremiah 10:8 says those who make them are stupid and foolish. Paul himself even says something similar in Romans 1:22-23.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Why doesn’t he speak that way to the Athenians? In Romans, he was writing to Christians. Those Old Testament prophets were speaking to the people of Israel. They knew better, because God revealed himself to them and gave them his law to guide them. The Athenians, however, did not have that level of knowledge. So, in verses 30-31, Paul says to them,
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 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."
With all the knowledge that the Athenians possessed, they were ignorant. Through the testimony of creation and conscience, they should have known better. So, their ignorance is willful and thus inexcusable. But God graciously chooses to overlook that, as he commands all people everywhere in the world to repent, to change their thinking about him.
Paul concludes then by explaining the urgent reason for this decision. It is that God is going to judge the world. Everyone will be examined according to his perfectly righteous standard. Furthermore, the judge has already made his appearance. People killed him, but his authority was confirmed by his resurrection.
Obviously, Paul could have said much more. He could have described the penalty of that judgment, but he doesn’t do so. He could have explained that the judge died to pay the price for our sin, so that we can be made righteous and can be reconciled to God. He explains those great truths in Romans 5, but he does not raise them at this point. Perhaps he thought that if the Athenians did not repent of their idolatry first, they would just mix the gospel in with their other beliefs. They had responded that way to other religions. So, Paul defined the decision that they urgently needed to make in reference to the existence and nature of God.
So, what happened? The end of the story suggests one final consideration.
Accept People’s Answers
Whenever you interact with someone, you are building a bridge. Initially, it may be nothing more than a single rope swaying in the breeze. So, they will probably refuse to cross over to where you are. But if you keep reinforcing it, they might change their mind at some point.
Part of being reasonable in communicating the gospel is accepting people’s answers. If we refuse to do so and become too insistent, it’s like we’re burning down the bridge or daring them to cut the rope. They may respond that way regardless. But if we show simple respect, it often allows us to keep building the connection.
Paul concludes his speech before the Areopagus in a way that leaves the bridge intact, and we see a variety of responses. Acts 17:32-34 says,
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this." So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
It’s no surprise that some of them mocked Paul’s belief in the resurrection. The surprise is that others were still open and a few believed. There is an early church tradition that Dionysius became the first leader of the church of Athens. We do not know anything else about Damaris.
While people are responsible for their choices, God is the one who grants repentance (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim 2:25). So, we must trust him to work according to his timing. As his representatives, we must then reflect his patience. Peter describes it in 2 Peter 3:9 by saying,
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
So, someone’s initial response is not the final determination. As long as that person is still alive, God might change their heart. Accept their answer, keep praying, and keep building that bridge.
__________
Keep these practical considerations in mind as you reason through the gospel with unbelievers. When people say or do offensive things, harness your impulsive heart. Seek appropriate settings for interacting, observe cultural opportunities, and proclaim biblical priorities. As you do, enlist relatable examples and define the urgent decision, but accept people’s answers, trusting the Lord to work in his time.
We should all give thanks to the Lord for the people who have built bridges to us. Perhaps someone formed a connection with you, but you still stand on the other side. If that’s the case, I encourage you to cross over. Repent and believe in Jesus. Maybe you’re not ready for that yet because you are still wrestling with those priority questions about God’s existence and your purpose. If so, I encourage you to read Paul’s letter to the Romans, particularly chapter 1.
If you are a believer, how are you doing at interacting with people? Are you building bridges? Are you being reasonable? Is there one of these considerations on which you really need to focus? Keep thinking and praying about it.
Perhaps you’ve blown it in a relationship with someone and have said and done all the wrong things. If so, would you seek their forgiveness? Perhaps that bridge can be rebuilt. Don’t let your pride get in the way of the Lord’s work.
May we all seek the Lord and his strength!
Reflect
What examples have you seen of Christians ignoring these considerations? What was the result?
Which of these considerations do you think about most? Why?
In which of these considerations do you most need to grow? What are some practical steps to do so?