Paul at the Areopagus in Athens
Waiting for his companions in Athens, Paul is distressed by the number of idols and argues daily in the synagogue and the marketplace. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers pick him up — one group calling him a babbler — and bring him to the Areopagus to explain a teaching they find strange.
The speech is unlike anything else in Acts. He quotes no scripture. He opens by noting an altar inscribed to an unknown god and offers to identify it, argues that God does not live in temples made by hands or need anything from human beings, and quotes two Greek poets back at his audience — in him we live and move and have our being, and we are his offspring.
He is heard politely until he mentions resurrection, at which point some sneer and others say they will hear him again. A few believe, including a member of the council.
Where in scripture
[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city 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 met him. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. [19] They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you? [20] For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” …
Acts 17:16–34 — opening verses
[1] Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [2] We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, [3] remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. [4] We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, [5] and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. [6] You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, …
1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
