Athens

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. (Acts 17:16-18)

Athens was the ancient capital of the Greek province of Attica. Named after Athene, the goddess of wisdom, it was situated about 8 kilometres from the seaport of Piraeus on the Aegean Sea. Athens was connected to the port by a road between two long walls over 80 metres apart. Surrounded by the mountains of Parnis, Pentelicus, Hymettos and Aigaleon, the Athenian backdrop is often stark and barren.

Founded well before 1000 B.C., Athens became the first city to experiment with democratic government. Destroyed by the Persians in the fifth century B.C. Athens was rebuilt by Pericles on an impressive scale. Using tribute money from the Athenian empire, as well as from trade and commerce, beautiful buildings were erected which centred on the Acropolis, a 170 metre high focal point of the city. The Parthenon, for example, was dedicated to the goddess Athena and contained a spectacular frieze of a great procession containing four hundred people as well as two hundred animals. The Areopagus, named after Mars, the god of thunder, was situated on a spur on the western side of the Acropolis above the Agora marketplace.

With a population of 250,000, Athens was the seat of Greek culture and learning, science and philosophy. The university became the most prestigious in the world with four great schools of philosophy - Platonic, Epicurean, Peripatetic and Stoic. It was the home of both Aristotle and Plato, who founded his own Academy there in 388 B.C. Socrates fared less well and was put to death in Athens in 399 B.C. Even under Roman rule from 146 B.C. Athens continued to play an important role as the foremost university town of the empire, its influence reaching as far as Tarsus, Antioch and Alexandria.

Athens was also famous for its tolerance of religious belief, and was renowned for its temples, shrines, statues and monuments. Paul was deeply upset by this misguided religious zeal. The word Luke uses to describe the idols of Athens is found nowhere else in the Bible. It implies Athens was smothered or swamped by a forest of idols. Paul made one brief visit to Athens on his way from Macedonia to Corinth (1 Thessalonians 3:1). While there he seized the opportunity to teach and preach about Jesus Christ among the Jews in the local synagogue and also in the open air at the market place (Acts 17:17).

Areopagus is also the name of the venerable court which met to debate questions of religion and morality and authorise which teachers could lecture in public. Paul was therefore brought before the Areopagus to be examined regarding his teaching. So frequently did Paul speak of the resurrection of Jesus, they thought he was actually promoting two different gods, Jesus and Anastasis.

Despite their pantheon of gods, the Athenians had also built an altar 'to an unknown god' just in case they had missed one out. This Paul took as his starting point. He began by identifying with them and emphasized what they could agree about God, quoting from their own poets. He stressed, however, that the one true God does not live in temples made by people but created the whole world and revealed himself fully and finally in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 17:24-31). Although the Athenians did not believe in the resurrection or in a future judgement day, Paul refused to compromise his Gospel and stressed both. He spoke of the facts of the resurrection of Jesus and challenged his hearers to consider the implications for their own destiny. Our generation is very similar - dismissive of the supernatural claims of Jesus Christ yet incredibly superstitious and fascinated by the paranormal. While we must look for common ground in our evangelism we must not compromise the truth, and must make repentance and faith in Jesus Christ the issue.

It appears that only a handful of people came to believe as a result of Paul's initial ministry in Athens. However, Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, is specifically mentioned as well as a woman named Damaris (17:34). We must not be surprised if many people will not believe our testimony either. By God's grace, some will, and in his own good time, God will use them to lead others to himself also (2 Timothy 2:2). Our responsibility is to remain faithful to the Gospel and, like Paul, God will make us fruitful.