Last week, we saw that the Jews in Berea were more “noble-minded” than the Jews in Thessalonica as they searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul was telling them about the Messiah was actually true. In Berea, Jews and “God-fearing” Gentiles were being converted and discipled by Paul and Silas. But soon, angry mobs from Thessalonica began showing up in Berea, and an escape plan for Paul was hatched:

…immediately the brethren sent Paul out to the coast; and Silas and Timothy remained there. And those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed (Acts 17:14).

And so, the plan was to get Paul on a ship headed for Athens, where he would remain until Silas and Timothy could join him. So, what would Paul do in Athens, the seat of the famous Greek Philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle? Here is what first caught Paul’s attention:

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols (Acts 17:16).

Of course, Paul, a Jew schooled in the Law of Moses and particularly the Ten Commandments, would have been troubled by all those who were breaking the First and Second Commandments, namely:

You shall have no other gods before Me; And you shall not make any idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not worship or serve them… (Exodus 20:3-5).

As a result, Paul reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue and with the God-fearing Gentiles in the marketplace every day with all those who happened to be present. As Paul proclaimed Jesus and His resurrection from the dead, the leading men brought him to the Areopagus (“the Hill of Ares” in Greek, or “Mars Hill” for Romans) saying:

May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears and we want to know what these things mean (Acts 17:19-20).

So, many of these philosophers were inquisitive and wanted to hear more. In Paul’s message on Mars Hill, he challenged their belief in idols, but also focused on an altar that he noticed as he came into the city, and on the altar was an inscription “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” And that’s when Paul proceeded to tell them about the God of the Bible, who does not dwell in temples nor is He served by human hands, but is the Creator of all things and stands outside of His creation. And then Paul said:

“…He is not far from any one of us, for in Him we live, and move, and even exist” (Acts 17:27-28).

Now that Paul laid the foundation for his presentation of the Gospel, he declared,

“Therefore, having overlooked times of ignorance, God is now declaring that all men everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

Paul focused upon repentance and judgment for those who failed to repent. Certainly, all those present would have been excited about what Paul had been sharing, but not so. Luke continues,

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said that they wanted to hear more of his teaching (Acts 17:32).

Some of the hearts of those present were hardened, but some remained curious and wanted to hear more. And now comes some really good news that Luke recorded for us:

And some men joined him and believed, among them was Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them (Acts 17:34).

So, Luke singled out by name two of those who believed, but made sure to add that others believed along with them. The seeds of the gospel fell from Paul’s lips, and some with hardened or skeptical hearts were not moved, at least not immediately, but others with receptive hearts believed as the Holy Spirit convicted them of sin and of the need for repentance.

Interestingly, although several of those gathered on Mars Hill that day came to faith in Christ, there is no indication that a church was ever established there.

Once again, as we have seen throughout the Book of Acts, we find the clear message that it is REPENTANCE and FAITH that bring salvation. Repentance involves recognizing our sin and then confessing it to the One who can forgive our sins, Jesus Christ. And that’s the essence of faith, believing that if we confess our sins, He will be faithful to do just that (1 John 1:9).

Of course, if you haven’t already done so, why not follow in the footsteps of those Romans on Mars Hill whom Luke identified by name. He knows your name, and it’s never too late to do so.

Next week, we will journey with Paul as he leaves Athens for Corinth. I hope you will plan to join me.