June 13, 2010
Evening Service

Acts 17:16-34

 

Review:

1.      In the beginning of chapter 17, we see the Apostles being accused of turning the world upside down with their teaching the gospel.

2.      We also see many people believing the message in Thessalonica.

3.      Then on to Berea.  Where these people were considered more noble because they studied the Scriptures to see that the things they were being told were true.  Also, many of the Bereans believed. 

 

So we can see that the Lord’s work is growing, everywhere they go people are believing that this Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God.

The main religions that they are confronting at this time is Greek Mythology, Roman gods, and goddesses, and Judaism.  Greek, and Romans had basically the same Gods, and types of worship.

Judaism of course was the beginning of the one true God, but no one had an understanding of God.  Christianity explains God.  The word God means ( object of worship.)  The N.T. writings explain what Almighty God wants us to know concerning Him, and His attributes.

 

In chapter 17 the Apostle Paul has an opportunity to tell these Grecians concerning the one true God.  Let’s begin:

 

Paul has left Berea, and is now in Athens.  He has sent for Timothy, and Silas who are on their way to be with him.

Act 17:16-34  Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.  (17)  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 

• Paul was using arguments based on the O.T. Scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.  This was meaningful to those of Judaism, but I’m sure those of the Mythology persuasion was not impressed, but very curious.

(18)  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?

• Many of the Mythology group considered Paul a Looney toon, a babbler.

other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.  (19)  And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?  (20)  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 

• Then Luke explains what these people are all about.

(21)  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 

• Now this opens the door for Paul to begin to preach to them.

(22)  Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  (23)  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 

• Ye are too superstitious.  Paul is not cutting them down, he is just acknowledging that they are very superstitious.
• Even to the point they didn’t want to miss any gods.  To the unknown god.
• Paul tells them you worship this unknown god, and know nothing about him, I want to tell you who He is.

(24)  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;  (25)  Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;  (26)  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 

• You can bet ears are perking up. 
• Act 7:48-50  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,  (49)  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?  (50)  Hath not my hand made all these things?
• Paul had heard Stephen say this just before being stoned.  However, Paul knew that what Stephen was saying was true, because Paul knew the Scriptures.  This was one of the goads that pricked Paul heart.
• And how about this;  our God doesn’t need anything.  He accepts our praise with joy, and thanks, but He sure doesn’t need us as much as we need Him.
• He gives us everything we need.  He is our provider, protector, sustainer, He is our everything.
• Then this is a good one.  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.   Anyone for a transfusion?   In all nations I believe Paul is saying that there blood would mix with ours if we needed a transfusion.  That’s amazing.  Only God could do this.
• These people have probably wondered about this all their lives.  Thinking that Zeus or some other god had provided these things for them.  Little would they know that the one they worshipped as the unknown god would be the one.
• This unknown God that you worship is the One that has determined everything in your nations.   Where they would be located, the boundaries of where you would live, so on and so forth. 

(27)  That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 

• That all men should seek this One true God.  You can find Him if you seek after Him with your whole heart, for He is everywhere.

(28)  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 

• Paul was very much acquainted with the Greek poets.  This would have been part of his schooling.  This also is impressive to these people he is witnessing too.

(29)  Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.  (30)  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

• God is not all these godheads you have made with your hands, He is not made of gold, or silver, or stone.
• Now Paul gets a little offensive;  “and the times of this ignorance God winked at”.  We might say God has put up with.  But now is one of His appointed times that he is revealing to you the true God.
• And He commands all men everywhere to repent.  Turn from this unbelief, and the worship of these false gods, and turn to the One living God.

(31)  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;

·         He has appointed a day-----He will judge the world in righteousness, that is what is right, for our righteousness comes from Christ, not our own.  By that man whom He has ordained.  

·         Jesus said, “Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the                                                                                     

whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 

• Here again we see Paul using the power of the resurrection to bring force, and attention to his sermon.

(32)  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 

• When we see these types of reactions I remember what Peter said concerning the last days;  2Pe 3:3-7  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  (4)  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  (5)  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  (6)  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.  (7)  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
• This time is fast approaching.  We somehow have got to get people to see that the end is near.
• Some were curious, and wanted to hear more.

(33)  So Paul departed from among them.  (34)  Howbeit certain men cleaved unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

• So we can see that God is still opening the hearts of some, and allowing them access to the Kingdom of God.

 

Father help us to do what we can to point people to the Lamb of God before it is everlastingly too late.  Open their hearts that they might receive this engrafted Word that is able to save their souls.    Amen.