Acts 17:16-34

Jesus set a pattern for “preaching Christ” that was copied by the Apostles in Acts.  Having noted the context of the crowd He would then set forth, in some way, His claim to be Messiah or Son of God.  This would be accompanied with verification by miracles, signs and wonders.

Today’s reading provides an important illustration as Paul preaches to an entirely Greek audience.  He had drawn attention to himself and his message of “Jesus and the resurrection” (v18).  So now others of philosophical bent wanted to hear for themselves.  These “others” are said to be Epicureans and Stoics, the primary popular philosophers of the day, as well as other thinkers.

While they ridiculed Paul (this babbler) Paul did not ridicule them.  Being deeply disturbed by their idolatry (v16) he politely acknowledged their religion (v22) and offered to identify their unknown god (v23).  Here is how he did it.

·        v24-25: Paul identified God as the Creator, the Lord of heaven and earth.  He did not begin with “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” of course.  He began where Gentiles must begin: with God who made everything, and thus needs nothing from those He created.  This is not something that needs an Old Testament reference attached to it.  It is something men can understand.

·        v26-28: Then Paul makes an amazing point.  Quoting a poet of the day (for we are also His offspring), he declares the Biblical idea that man is created in God’s likeness and able to have a relationship with God.  For this reason the Creator put man in a geographical context where he would seek God.  Where we live is intended by the Creator to move us to desire this relationship.  As Romans 1:18-20 says, most of mankind suppresses this truth.  But this is what God intended.

·        v29-30: Next Paul points out the sin of the Athenians and calls them to repent.  If we are His offspring then obviously the end result of Greek worship, with all it’s god-statues, is wrong.  The Creator has overlooked this until now.

·        v31: Now Christ has come.  The One they call Jesus was appointed by God to judge the world for it’s worship.  And this is proven by His resurrection from the dead.   

Do you see how the resurrection of Christ is critical in the gospel?  Paul has not yet mentioned the cross.  But you can be sure that for those who recognized the Lordship of Christ in the resurrection, certainly Paul told them the good news as to how God would forgive their idolatry.  We must preach Christ crucified.  But let us give THE sign given by God that the preaching of the cross is true.  Let us preach “Jesus and the resurrection”.

Did you see the responses to Paul’s preaching?  Some ridiculed the idea of a man being raised from the dead.  Others wanted to put off dealing with the matter.  But some were moved by God to follow Christ.  What is your response?