ACTS SERIES: PREACHING ON MARS HILL – CHAPTER 17

After leaving Philippi, Paul and Silas traveled through several cities until they arrived in Thessalonica. They went to the synagogue for three sabbaths, and Paul shared with the Jews the Gospel of Christ, His life, suffering, and resurrection. This resulted in some Jews believing, a large number of Greek proselytes and many influential women.

The envious, unbelieving Jews were able to gather hoodlums who helped them stir up the people in Thessalonica against Paul and Silas. While looking for them, they went to Jason’s home, where Paul and Silas had been staying, but they were not there when the riotous crowd arrived. Unable to locate Paul and Silas, the men took Jason and other believers to the city rulers, and they accused Jason of lodging a person who committed treason. According to them, Paul was turning the world upside down by teaching things contrary to the decrees of Caesar and promoting another king named Jesus. Though disturbed by the accusations after they posted bail, the city’s rulers allowed Jason and his companions to leave. Meanwhile, that night, the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea.

In Berea, Paul and Silas went to the synagogue and found open-minded individuals who were students of the Word and daily searched for the Truth written therein. Once again, prominent Greek women converted along with men.

When the Jewish opposers heard that Paul was successfully sharing the Gospel in Berea, they followed him there and stirred up trouble. Concerned for his welfare, the brethren sent Paul to Athens, but Silas and Timotheus remained in the city until Paul sent a request for them to come to Athens speedily.

While awaiting his missionary companions, Paul surveyed the idolatrous city, which motivated him to discuss his concerns with the Jews who were in the synagogue, devout Gentiles, and individuals he met in the marketplace. When the Epicurean philosophers who were materialistic and thought pleasure was the greatest good, and the rationalistic Stoics philosophers who believed in self-sufficiency heard the Gospel shared by Paul, those who did not consider the message as nonsense took him to the court of Areopagus on Mars Hill. It was their desire that Paul share with them this new doctrine that they never heard.

Standing on Mars Hill, Paul used the inscription he saw on an altar in the city, which said, “To The Unknown God,” to draw in the listeners. He skillfully continued sharing the sermon of God, the Creator and Lifegiver of everything who is all-sufficient, needs not the assistance of humans, and cannot be contained in temples built by man. This God made all humankind from one man and gave them the opportunity to seek Him during their limited, predetermined lifetime. Furthermore, since man was God’s offspring, God could not be made of metal. God’s expectation of man was for him not to be ignorant but repentive. Unfortunately, Paul’s mention of a resurrected Christ who would eventually judge man caused some to ridicule him while others wanted to hear him speak at another time.s

The chapter closes revealing several new converts were gained from the Mars Hill experience. The names of two new converts were Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris.

Here are the nuggets I gained from Acts 17:

There will always be those who oppose the Gospel message.

Give all an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Your opposers will lie about you to others.

Do not allow the opposers to stop you; keep on the move.

In the world, there are those who are serious about studying the Word.

It is good to be a student of the Word.

Some people want to know the Truth.

Enemies of the Gospel will always attempt to discourage and squash evangelism.

Idol worship should ignite the Spirit of Evangelism in believers.

To win the lost, it is necessary to be wise in your presentation.

Man is part of God’s creation, and his life has been predetermined.

God the Creator did not need man’s assistance in His creative work.

Everyone born on earth has a common ancestor.

God wants man to seek Him.

God has a judgment day set for men.

All humans originated from one man.

God has set boundaries.