GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Draw members attention to the picture in Personal Study Guide (PSG) page 136 and the bulleted points in The Bible Meets Life on PSG page 137. Ask members to share other examples of how different cultures interpret signs and symbols differently or do things opposite of how they are done in our culture. DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 136): What do you enjoy most about different cultures? GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 137): The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. SAY: Today in our Bible study we will see an example of communicating the gospel in a diverse culture. SESSION 12 UNSTOPPABLE IMPACT The Point The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. The Bible Meets Life America is a very diverse country: cultures, ethnicities, worldviews, and preferences. It is our human nature to gravitate toward people who are more like ourselves, but the beauty of the gospel is that it is not only for people just like me. The gospel speaks to any culture, any time, and any place. In Acts 17, Paul gave us an example of communicating the gospel in a diverse culture. The Passage Acts 17:16-18,22-23,30-31 The Setting During Paul s second missionary journey, in answer to a vision Paul and his companions brought the gospel to Macedonia and into Europe for the first time. After visiting Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, Paul traveled to Athens. While waiting for his companions Silas and Timothy to join him, Paul spent his time preaching the gospel to the people of Athens to the Jews in the synagogue, the general populace and the philosophers in the marketplace, and the leadership at the Areopagus. 136 Session 12
Acts 17:16-18 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, What is this pseudointellectual trying to say? Others replied, He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection. KEY WORDS: Epicurean (v. 18) The Greek philosopher Epicurus taught that pleasure and materialism were the highest priorities. While not denying the existence of gods, Epicureans believed them to be unengaged and unconcerned deities. Stoic (v. 18) Stoics held that the divine principle (logos) was present in all things, including human beings, and held the universe together. They argued that reason and self-sufficiency were of highest importance. Engage the culture around you. Verse 16. At the Jerusalem conference, the apostles affirmed Paul s message to the Gentiles and also encouraged him in his ministry (Acts 15:6 29). Then Paul embarked on a second missionary journey back through Asia Minor. Through a vision, Paul realized God was leading him to take the gospel into Europe. Thus he and his companions Silas and Timothy traveled to Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. In each city they not only led many people to Christ but also experienced persecution because of their preaching and teaching (15:30 17:12). When the Jews stirred up opposition to Paul among the people in Berea, some friends took Paul to Athens, after which Paul sent back instructions that Silas and Timothy should join him there as soon as they were able (vv. 13 15). In the ancient world, Athens had been a highly influential city spawning the philosophical schools of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, among others. It had also been the center of one of the most powerful empires in the world under STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 17:16-18 GUIDE: Remind the group of what they have studied so far in this unit: Unstoppable Mission (The Point: The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.) Unstoppable Message (The Point: Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.) Unstoppable Love (The Point: Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.) Unstoppable Opportunities (The Point: We intersect daily with people who need Christ.) Unstoppable Courage (The Point: God gives us courage to speak boldly for Christ.) LEADER PACK: Point to these titles on Item 5: Unstoppable Gospel. READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 17:16-18. 10 minutes SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 20 137
THE POINT The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 140): What diversity among people do you see in our community? (Alternate: In what ways is our culture similar and different from the one Paul visited in Athens?) GUIDE: Stress that the apostle Paul was uniquely qualified to advance the gospel in a setting like Athens. He understood the Greek culture. He grew up in Tarsus, a city with Greek and Roman influences. His calling was to take the gospel to the Gentiles. GUIDE: Use Bible Commentary 2 to highlight how Paul responded when he saw a city full of idols (v. 16). Refer to the First and Second Commandment of the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:3-4) 1. Do not have other gods besides Me (v. 3) 2. Do not make an idol for yourself (v. 4). Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) By the time of Paul, Athens was part of the Roman Empire. Even so, it operated as an independent city-state. It remained an important cultural center even though its political and commercial influence had diminished. Paul made his way through the city and quickly encountered the multitude of statues and temples throughout the city. Paul saw them for what they really represented: idolatry. An idol is an image or representation of something. Ancient people often erected temples for their deities and created statues they believed captured the likenesses of those gods and goddesses. They would pay homage to these statues that either represented or embodied the deities. The Greeks acknowledged hundreds of gods and goddesses, and Athens, as Greece s cultural center, was widely recognized for its buildings and works of art dedicated to Greek deities. Luke noted that the city was full of these images. 2 Paul s spirit was troubled by these idols he saw throughout the city. This was more than simple concern or irritation. The Greek word translated troubled pictures someone who is highly irritated or even burning with anger. Paul would have been indignant for several reasons. Paul grew up in Tarsus, a city that for centuries had been influenced by both the Greeks and the Romans. So he was not unfamiliar with the deities or the idols of those cultures. But Athens seemed to be the epicenter of honor for false gods, so the variety of statues and temples honoring those deities was an affront to Paul s religious upbringing and beliefs. As a Jew, he was a monotheist someone who believes there is only one God. The First Commandment prohibited the Israelites from having any other gods but the one true God (Ex. 20:3). The Second Commandment prohibited the making of any type of idol (image) that would be seen and worshiped (v. 4). 3 Verse 17. As was his custom, while in Athens Paul sought out the Jews and God-fearers, that is, Gentiles who worshiped God. While the Jewish population probably was not large, a synagogue was in the city where Paul reasoned on the Sabbath with both the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. But Paul also spent time every day in the marketplace (agora), which was not only the commercial hub in Athens but also the center of business, law, and politics. He witnessed to the Athenian people who happened to be there. Paul engaged anyone he met. These were more than 138 Session 12
just chance meetings, however. He looked for every opportunity to share the gospel message with the people in the city. 4 Verse 18. There were several philosophical schools of thought in Athens at the time Paul was there. Epicurus (341 270 B.C.), who lived about three centuries before Paul, taught that pleasure and materialism were the highest priorities of life. His teachings lived on through the Epicurean philosophers. While not denying the existence of gods, Epicureans believed them to be unengaged and unconcerned deities. The Epicureans also believed that the human soul ceased to exist at death. Zeno (335 263 B.C.) was another philosopher who lived at about the same time as Epicurus and taught in the marketplace from a beautifully painted portico, or stoa. It was this stoa that gave Zeno s philosophy its name Stoicism. The Stoic philosophers believed that the divine principle (logos) was present in all things, including human beings, and held the universe together; however, they argued that human reason, self-sufficiency, and moral integrity were of highest importance in this life. Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in the marketplace heard Paul s words and argued with him. That he was in the market daily implies that they talked with him on more than one occasion. Even so, they apparently didn t understand the message he was speaking. Some of them referred to Paul as a pseudo-intellectual. The Greek word for this term pictures a bird that moves around in a barnyard picking up a seed here and there. The philosophers used this term to disparage Paul, suggesting his thinking was not developed; they were implying he only taught bits and pieces of information he had picked up from others. Others thought Paul was preaching about foreign deities. By this they were referring to his words about Jesus and the resurrection. They may have thought he was advocating two new gods. Acts 17:22-23 22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. SUMMARIZE: Use Bible Commentary 3 on page 142 and this page to show how Paul engaged the Jews in the synagogue when he entered a new city. 1. He reasoned with Jewish people to point them to Jesus, the Messiah. 2. Non-Jewish god-fearers gathered outside the synagogue to learn more about God. Paul shared the good news of Jesus with them. 3. He engaged those in the community with the message of Jesus and the resurrection. GUIDE: Share information from the Bible Commentary 4, KEY WORDS (p. 141), and Digging Deeper (PSG, p. 139) about the Epicureans and the Stoics. TRANSITION: Say, The values taught by the Epicureans (pleasure and materialism) and the Stoics (human reason and selfsufficiency) are still in play in the reasoning of people in our culture. Both of these world-views are in opposition to the values of the Bible and the gospel message of the resurrection of Jesus. 139
THE POINT The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 17:22-23 10 minutes 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 17:22-23. GUIDE: Use Bible Commentary 5 to share information about the Areopagus. Also refer to the KEY WORD (PSG, p. 140) and the Biblical Illustrator article titled The Areopagus on pages 136-139. SUMMARIZE: Use the information in Bible Commentary 6 to explain that Paul took a very different approach to sharing the gospel in Athens. He chose to build a bridge to his audience by connecting to their culture. In this setting where many gods were worshiped, he bridged the cultural divide by sharing his observation of the inscription to an unknown God, and revealed to them the One true God. KEY WORDS: The Areopagus (v. 22) This hill of Ares was above the marketplace (agora) and beneath the Acropolis in Athens. It was a meeting place where lectures were given and also the site of a prestigious court that judged civil, criminal, and even some religious cases. Extremely religious (v. 22) The Greek word for religious is a compound of two words meaning fearful and a god. This ambiguous word can mean either extremely dedicated (pious) or highly superstitious. Find a common ground for introducing the gospel. 5 Verse 22. Eventually Paul was taken to the Areopagus. This word means hill of Ares. Ares was the Greek god of war, whose Roman equivalent was Mars. Thus the Areopagus was also known as Mars Hill. The Council of the Areopagus (sometimes referred to simply as the Areopagus) traditionally met at this location. This was an esteemed court that had existed for centuries and gave rulings on various moral and religious cases. There is some uncertainty regarding whether Areopagus is referring to the hill itself or to court by that name. Some biblical scholars believe Paul was brought to the Areopagus simply to address the philosophers and others in Athens. Luke noted, Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21), so at the Areopagus Paul could have shared his teaching with a larger audience. But certain elements in the biblical text seem to indicate Paul was brought there to face some type of legal proceedings (but not necessarily a trial) because of his preaching. This would be consistent with what happened to Paul in several other cities where he was brought before courts and magistrates to answer for his preaching. 6 Whatever the reason he was brought there, Paul took advantage of the opportunity to witness for Christ. But he was careful to build a bridge to his audience to find a common ground for sharing the gospel. Since he was not 140 Session 12
addressing a Jewish audience, who believed in one God and already accepted the law and the prophets, he did not begin with an Old Testament foundation and build upon it. Instead, as he stood in the middle of the Areopagus, he began by acknowledging that the men of Athens were extremely religious. The Greek word for religious means fearing or reverencing the gods. Depending on the context, it can be either a positive or negative word. Paul may have used this word intentionally, since the Athenians saw themselves as very devoted to their gods while Paul viewed them as nothing more than superstitious pagans. The people would have been honored by this description of them. But soon enough they would understand what he really thought of their religious nature. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 142): What principles and practices can we gain from Paul s approach to sharing the gospel? (Alternate: How can we use the things we have in common with others as a gateway to sharing Jesus?) Verse 23. Paul then shared his experience of passing through the city walking the streets where he was confronted with so many idols. Paul referred to these as objects of worship for the Athenians. Most of the statues or altars placed throughout the city had inscriptions identifying a particular god or goddess to whom the structures were dedicated. Paul had actually paid attention to these inscriptions, and discovered one that was dedicated TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Many people in Athens were polytheists they believed in multiple gods who ruled the world and influenced human affairs. But because they were superstitious they wanted to be careful not to offend any of the deities, whether the ones they knew or others they did not know. Paul started with the beliefs of the Athenians, and used those beliefs to transition to the truth he wanted them to know. He noted that the people worshiped this unknown deity in ignorance. To be ignorant was not a demeaning term as it is often used today (sometimes synonymous with stupid or idiot ). Rather, it simply referred to someone who didn t know or understand. And because of this, Paul was prepared to teach them about this God they didn t know. In just a few sentences Paul told them about the God of creation who is Lord over all (vv. 24 29). Paul was careful to emphasize that this God does not exist in inanimate, man-made statues but is a personal God who wants a relationship with all humanity. Paul even referred to the words of a Greek poet the Athenians would have recognized to emphasize some of his message. Paul s intent wasn t for the people simply to add God as one of the many deities they acknowledged and feared. Rather, He wanted them to know the One true God who could transform their lives. SAY: We need to follow Paul s example and connect with our culture so that we can build a bridge for the purpose of sharing the gospel. TRANSITION: Say, It is not enough to observe the false gods that people embrace in silence. We must be willing to take the initiative to make known the One true God that we serve so that others can know Him, too. 141
THE POINT The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 17:30-31 READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 17:30-31. 10 minutes GUIDE: Refer the group to 2 Peter 3:9 to discover the heart of God, who is patient, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. Use Bible Commentary 7 to lead the group to understand the meaning of repentance and why now is the time to repent. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 143): What risks do we take when we re comfortable in our silence? Acts 17:30-31 30 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead. Help others understand the truth of the gospel. Verse 30. Paul noted that previously God had overlooked their ignorance, their lack of knowledge about Him and their worship of false gods. The Greek word for overlooked does not mean that God condoned their idolatry (sin). He did not. But for some reason God in His forbearance had delayed in bringing judgment upon all who worshiped false gods. Ultimately we know it s because of God s mercy, which is in some ways difficult for us to fully understand. Probably God was being patient as Peter noted, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). While God had previously overlooked their ignorance, Paul insisted this was no longer the case because the people were no longer ignorant. Paul was proclaiming the truth and the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Now they were without excuse for their idolatry. 7 Paul clearly stated what God expected the people to do: repent. This word translates a Greek term meaning after understanding. Repentance was emphasized by John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter, and refers to a radical change of thinking. God commanded the people of Athens to change their thinking about gods and God after hearing the truth Paul shared with them. But the word repent also includes a change of action acting on the truth they had just heard. It involves a transformative change in the direction of a person s entire life, turning away from sin and turning toward God. Rather than continuing to recognize or worship a multiplicity of false gods, they were to acknowledge and be devoted only to the one true God. And just as Paul was clear in what God expected the people to do, he was also clear on when God wanted them to do it: now. 142 Session 12
God s message was not just for the people of Athens. The call to repentance is for all people everywhere. No one is exempt; everyone is called and commanded to turn away from wrong thinking and their lives of sin, and embrace the truth of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ through repentance. Verse 31. Paul went on to explain why repentance is so important and why it was crucial not to delay. He had already introduced them to God as their Creator. Now Paul added that God would also be their judge. In His providence God has set a day when judgment will be carried out upon all people. This will be the day when God will finally and completely deal with the problem of sin. No one knows the day or the time, so it is imperative for everyone to be prepared. The basis of God s judgment will not be arbitrary; rather, God will judge the world in righteousness (as noted in Pss. 9:8; 96:13). God is righteous (or just), in that He is perfectly righteous Himself and will judge everyone fairly; and before the judgment of God all people who refuse to repent will be justly declared guilty of sin. Righteous also refers to those in right standing with God or a right relationship with God. The Man God has appointed as judge Jesus Christ will decide whether each person has right standing with God. This righteousness comes only through a relationship of faith in God s Son. Through His sacrificial death on the cross Jesus made it possible for all people to receive forgiveness for their sin and to be freed from the penalty and power of sin that separates them from God. But only those who repent and through faith trust in Jesus will experience the forgiveness, freedom, and righteousness God offers. Though Paul had not mentioned the name of Jesus, there could be no doubt of the identity of the judge. There was only One who was worthy of such an honor Jesus. And God provided proof to everyone that Jesus is the rightful judge by raising Him from the dead. During his encounters in the marketplace Paul had spoken to people about the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:17 18). With his words in the Areopagus Paul had come full circle back to Jesus resurrection that was the climax of his message. Ultimately it is the good news that because Jesus experienced death and resurrection, every human being has the opportunity to receive forgiveness for his or her sins and experience eternal life. But this comes only to those who repent and believe in what Jesus did for them. Like the Athenians, every person must make a decision either to accept or reject what God offers. GUIDE: Encourage the group to realize that different cultures are not just people from a different country or nationality, but cultures can refer to different world-views. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 144): How can our group help reach the people in our community who are not just like us? (Alternate: How do we talk ourselves out of sharing the gospel?) DO: Refer the group to the Building Bridges activity (PSG, p. 144), to discover how we can use things we have in common to build bridges with others so that we can have conversations that will lead to opportunities to share the gospel. 143
THE POINT The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: The gospel of Jesus Christ can impact any culture. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 145; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs. Wrap It Up GUIDE: We build bridges to people not like us so we can share the gospel with them. LIVE IT OUT We have an imperative to take the gospel to the world, but the nations have also come to us. You can begin sharing Christ right where you are. > > Learn. Learn about the different cultures of people in your community. Ask about their customs, heritage, and beliefs. Attend an ethnic festival or performance. Become a student of their culture in an effort to start discussions. > > Share. If you have a relationship with someone of a different culture, take your conversation to the next level. Use what you know about them and their worldview to explain how God provided a way to meet their deepest need through Jesus. > > Commit. Commit to participate in missions this year either internationally or with a different cultural group in the U.S. SAY: We can be the people to help others come to know Jesus as we engage our culture by building bridges. PRAY: Thank God for those who built bridges to you or people in your family so that you now know the One true God. 144 Session 12
ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ (11/11/19) Law courts, possibly from the time of Paul, in the Athenian Agora. Areopagus in the Greek text is actually two words. Areios refers to Ares, the Greek god of war; and the term pagos means a rocky hill. The King James Version translated the terms Mars hill, a reference to Mars, the Latin god of war. It would seem natural then that the reference in Acts 17 would apply to the 377-foot-high rocky hill just northwest of the Acropolis. However, the term was also used to designate a council or court of but in the Agora, a public marketplace. A stele discovered in 1952 indicates the Areopagus met near the administrative council chamber in the Agora. The hill itself stands out as a major feature of the skyline of Athens and looks over the Agora to the north. The approach to the summit of the hill can still be identified by the 15 steps cut into the rock, and perhaps some rockhewn benches can be evidence of the ancient assemblies that took place there. Areopagus could then refer to this hill as the place where meetings of the council or court took place, and Paul could have come to this place of meeting to address a group of Athenians. The testimony of history since that day is that a Christian community was established as a result of Paul s preaching and that its presence and witness has continued to this day. SHARING THE GOOD NEWS When we come to Christ we naturally affect others as we live out the gospel. As we proclaim Christ it impacts our culture for Him. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. the Areopagus. In fact, evidence shows the council did not always meet on the hill called Areopagus, The excerpt above is from the article The Areopagus in Athens (Fall 1997). More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator. > > Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >Grow > with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). > > Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 145
THE AREOPAGUS IN ATHENS BY GEORGE W. KNIGHT Luke reported in Acts 17:19 and 22 that the apostle Paul was in Athens speaking to Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in the Areopagus. Interpreters have long recognized the ambiguity of this term because it has been used to refer to a hill in Athens as well as to a body of philosophers that met in that location. Did Luke indicate that Paul went to a particular place to address the Athenians, or did Paul appear before a particular group of people to make his witness for Jesus as the Christ? If it was before a formal body, what was the nature of the group and thus the address that Paul gave? Areopagus in the Greek text is actually two words. Areios is a term referring to Ares, the Greek god of war; and pagos is a term meaning a rocky hill. The King James Version translated the terms with the phrase Mars hill, a reference to the Latin name Mars, for the god The traditional Mars Hill, taken from the Acropolis in Athens. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ (11/5/7) 146
of war. It would seem natural then that the reference in Acts 17 would apply to the 377-foot-high rocky hill just to the northwest of the Acropolis. However, the term was also used to designate a council or court of the Areopagus. In fact, there is evidence that the council did not always meet on the hill called Areopagus, but in the Agora, a public marketplace. A stele was discovered in 1952 that indicates the Areopagus met near the Bouleuterion, the administrative council chamber in the Agora. 1 Again, in a speech attributed to Demosthenes, the Areopagus is described as meeting in the Royal grew. By the time of Pericles it had given up many of its functions of government and remained as a court that had jurisdiction over certain kinds of homicide cases. However, when the Romans came to power, they returned significant authority to the Areopagus under a new membership that included Romans as well as Athenians. This new council was charged with responsibility for many aspects of public life including judicial, educational, and governmental sectors. This was the Council/Court of the Areopagus of the first century when Paul was in Athens. History records that a Christian community was established as a result of Paul s preaching and that its presence and witness has continued to this day. Portico that was also in the Agora. 2 Thus, an appreciation of the range of meaning in the term Areopagus will aid our understanding of this event in Paul s ministry. The hill itself stands out as a major feature of the skyline of Athens and looks over the Agora to the north. In this central district of the city was located much of the business, government, and religious activity of the people. The importance of this site was established in the Greeks memory by the account of Aeschylus in which Athena participated with the council in their hearing of the case against Orestes for the murder of his mother. 3 Pausanias also reported a tradition in which Ares himself was tried on this spot for the murder of Halirrhothius. 4 The approach to the summit of the hill can still be identified by the 15 steps cut into the rock, and perhaps some rock-hewn benches can be evidence of the ancient assemblies that took place there. Areopagus could then refer to this hill as the place where meetings of the council or court took place, and Paul could have come to this place of meeting to address a group of Athenians. The history of the Areopagus as a court goes far into Athen s past. It has been described as a Homeric-style council of elders that advised the king... long composed exclusively of aristocrats, and in the transition from monarchy to aristocracy it gradually assumed many previously regal powers and functions. 5 It became the chief authority of government by the early seventh century b.c. but slowly lost its authority as democracy William Ramsay represents those who understand Luke to have described Paul s appearance before the Areopagus as before a council. The language of standing in the midst of the Areopagus and he went forth from the midst of them (Ramsay s translation) persuaded Ramsay that Paul stood before a great council. For Ramsay, Paul s appearance was not a trial nor even a preliminary inquiry. It was to present his teachings to this august group and have them judge the suitability of such teachings for public consumption. 6 Barnes has offered a more refined argument for this appearance to be viewed as a trial before a court. He included in his consideration that Paul had encountered hostility elsewhere in Asia Minor and Greece, and Athens would have be no exception. The language of the passage also allows the understanding of trial as Paul is taken hold of (writer s translation), a term used by Luke in six other passages of which four relate to violence (Acts 16:19; 18:17; 21:30; 23:19). Barnes recognized that the end of the account does not appear to support the trial proposal, but he has suggested that it also does not refute it. The possibility remains a consideration in interpretation. 7 Those who understand Areopagus to refer to the hill itself may be represented by Ehrhardt who assumed that the term denotes the hill where the court customarily met, rather than the court itself, and that St Paul s sermon was introduced as a philosophical discourse given in a public place. There was no trial by court. 8 One could argue that the summit of the hill was too small to accommodate 147
the large audience supposed by the account 9 but there is ample room available below the summit for large crowds. Morrice recognized the ambiguous nature of the location in the text but also appealed for the meaning of Paul s speaking on Mars Hill and thus denying the interpretation found in some recent translations of the Bible that spell out Paul s appearance before a court. 10 (see New English Bible; New International Version; and Good News Bible: Today s English Version). Luke was ambiguous in his use of the term Areopagus while describing Paul s experience in Athens. Yet he was unambiguous in his report of Paul s preaching about God s grace in Jesus Christ before a group of Athenians. This audience was composed of philosophers and other curious people who listened and inquired further of Paul s claims. Some others accepted his claims and became believers. These included a woman named Damaris, some other unnamed people, and Dionysius the Areopagite. According to tradition this Dionysius became a leader of the church at Athens and was martyred by the Roman Emperor Domitian at the end of the first century. His memory was honored by a church built on the hill of Areopagus, and today he is considered the patron saint of Athens. Luke left the impression that Paul left Athens disappointed after his only recorded visit. The testimony of history since that day is that a Christian community ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ (11/11/19) Law courts, possibly from the time of Paul, in the Athenian Agora. 148
An overview of the marketplace of ancient Athens from atop Mars Hill with Athens in the background. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ (11/1/9) was established as a result of Paul s preaching and that its presence and witness has continued to this day. The babbler spoke of Jesus and the resurrection. Some mocked and others believed. So it is today whether on a hillside, in a courtroom, in the business place, or the worship center: our own Areopagus is the place of testimony to those who stand in hopelessness before the altar of an unknown god. I 1. Jack Finegan, Areopagus in The Interpreter s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1, ed. George A. Buttrick (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962), 217. 2. Demosthenes, Against Aristogeiton, 1.23. 3. Aeschylus, Eumenides, 681-753. 4. Pausanias, Description of Greece, 1.28.5. 5. Hubert M. Martin, Jr., Areopagus in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. in chief David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 1:370. 6. William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1942), 243-49. 7. Timothy D. Barnes, An Apostle on Trial, Journal of Theological Studies, N.S., 20, no. 2 (October 1969): 414, 418-19. 8. Arnold Ehrhardt, The Acts of the Apostles (Manchester: Manchester Univ. Press, 1969), 98. 9. Ernst Haenchen, The Acts of the Apostles, trans. Bernard Noble and Gerald Shinn (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1971), 518. 10. W. G. Morrice, Where did Paul speak in Athens on Mars Hill or before the Court of the Areopagus? (Acts 17:19), The Expository Times 83 (1972): 377. This article by George W. Knight originally appeared in the Fall 1997 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to www.lifeway. com/biblicalillustrator, by using your church s quarterly literature order form, or by calling 1-800-458-2772. 149