Acts 17:15 says that the Apostle Paul was brought to Athens, where he was to wait for his co-workers in the faith, Silas and Timothy. While there, he was stirred by the immense number of idols that he saw. Verse 17 says that he disputed, or reasoned, with the Jews in the synagogue, then with the devout people, and finally with those in the marketplace. When speaking to the people, Paul did not try to be a know-it-all. At Mars Hill, where he had been invited by the Epicureans and the Stoics to speak in an open forum, he simply tried to tell them the truth about God. He presented God as the Creator of the World. He identified Jesus as God's anointed, Who had been raised from the dead, and he warned of the coming judgment and of their need to repent. At Athens, the Apostle Paul did what all Christians should be doing. He tried to share his faith with people who needed to hear his message.

Acts 17:15 says that the Apostle Paul was brought to Athens, where he was to wait for his co-workers in the faith, Silas and Timothy. According to Dr. Harold Willmington, in the Liberty Bible Commentary, Paul had not gone to Athens to evangelize the city but was there only to meet with his friends [1]. While there, though, he observed the numerous statues that had been erected to all the different gods of the Athenian people, and he was immediately stirred by the sight.

During the Apostle Paul's time, the city of Athens was not a great political or commercial city anymore [2]. However, in his commentary The Acts of the Apostles, Dr. Oliver B. Greene indicated that Athens was still a remarkable city with a great many attractions for the average tourist. The Apostle Paul, on his heavenly mission for the Lord, was no average tourist, though. Instead of the various attractions of the city, he was more drawn to the immense amount of idolatry that he saw [3]. Matthew Henry wrote that idolatry had abounded in Athens where human learning had flourished [4].

As a Christian, the Apostle Paul was neither passive nor silent. When he saw all the idols, he immediately tried to share Christ with those around him. Verse 17 says that he disputed with the Jews in the synagogue, then with the devout people, and finally with those in the marketplace. As was his custom during this time in his ministry, he always started his work in the synagogue. But according to Dr. Greene, the Apostle Paul did not enter into this foreign territory and start arguing with everyone around him about God. The word "disputed" is better rendered "reasoned" [5]. Hence, Paul saw their error, he knew that they were wrong, and he tried to use logic and reasoning as his apologetic technique for persuading them of the truth.

According to Dr. Greene, one must assume that the Apostle Paul was well versed with the Athenian culture and history [6]. While he knew that the people were wrong to worship their idols, he also knew that they were very intelligent people with a proud history. The city had been named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. Athens was the "universal seat of Grecian Art, Science, and Philosophy" [7]. So, Paul did not try to be a know-it-all. At Mars Hill, where he had been invited by the Epicureans and the Stoics to speak in an open forum, he simply tried to tell them the truth. He also tried to order his remarks based on their individual needs.

Matthew Henry wrote that the Epicureans saw God as an inactive being Who probably had not created the world or ever governed it. Concerning the Stoics, he wrote that they saw themselves as being as good as God and that they indulged themselves in their own sense of a pride for life [8]. Dr. Willmington described the Epicureans as lovers of freedom and pleasure while the Stoics were more driven by high moral principles and a life of self-denial [9]. In trying to address both groups, plus the others who had assembled, Paul presented God as the Creator of the World. He identified Jesus as God's anointed, Who had been raised from the dead, and he warned of the coming judgment and of their need to repent.

When the Apostle Paul entered Athens, he did what every Christian should do. He looked past the beauty, majesty, and history of the city and instead saw the spiritual needs of those around him. He did not try to be offensive or hostile. He did not try to engage in senseless arguments, and he did not try to pass himself off as being smarter than his audience. Instead, he simply told these very intelligent people the truth about God. I Peter 3:15 says, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." When Paul was in Athens, he was ready to do what all Christians should be prepared to do.

1. Harold L. Willmington, Liberty Bible Commentary, ed. Jerry Falwell (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1983), p. 2174.

2. Ibid, p. 2174.

3. Oliver B. Greene, The Acts of the Apostles, volume III (Greenville, South Carolina: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1969), pp. 154-156.

4. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary On The Whole Bible, Volume VI - Acts to Revelation (McLean, Virginia: MacDonald Publishing Company), pp. 224.

5. Greene, p. 157.

6. Ibid, p. 154.

7. Ibid, p.155.

8. Henry, p. 224.

9. Willmington, p. 2175.

Green, Oliver B. The Acts of the Apostles. Volume III. Greenville, South Carolina: The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1969.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry's Commentary On The Whole Bible, Volume VI - Acts to Revelation. McLean, Virginia: MacDonald Publishing Company.

Willmington, Harold L. Liberty Bible Commentary. Editor Jerry Falwell. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1983.