Acts 17:16-21

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate 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. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Separation

A wife was frustrated with her drunkard husband. She said, “It is better for us to separate if you won’t change yourself!”

“Why do we need to separate? We are not fastened, we are not physically attached to each other,” the husband jokingly said.

The wife became more furious and said, “”You, philosopher!” and threw plates, cup, platters, and anything she can grab to her husband.

An ordinary minded person assumes that the word philosopher pertains to people who manipulate the truth to their favor. The word “philosopher” literally means “lover of wisdom” but an ordinary person thinks that philosophers are twisters or distorters of truth.

Based on his experience in Athens Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18-22… ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom….

Athens is more or less 50 kilometers from Corinth; Athens is the intellectual capital of Greece.

From Berea Paul went to Athens. As he was waiting for the arrival of Timothy and Silas, Paul went sight-seeing and was angered and provoked at the sight of idols.

1. Distress

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 

When the Holy Spirit is at work in our life, He would cause us not to be comfortable but to be more agonized with worldly lifestyle.

Our human sinful nature can be easily attracted with what the world would offer. Many of us are attracted to go places and take pictures of other people’s projects. If we are to observe those tourist attractions, they are mostly constructed or built to earn the money for the owners. God’s creations [waterfalls, rainbow, aurora borealis, or galaxy], are more beautiful, wonderful and free, than man-made recreations. God’s wonderful creation is free but humans are very slow to acknowledge or praise the Creator of all things.

I haven’t been to Athens but I would assume that it could be compared with Buddhist nations in relation to those idols that Paul saw in Athens. In many Buddhist nations, almost if not all establishments owned by Buddhists have spirit houses where food or flowers are offered.

Be prayerful; you would be surprised at the revelation of God about spirit houses.

Guarded Buddha

One time, our students brought us to Thousand Buddha Temple where thousand of Buddha images are. Lyka was 8 years old at that time asked: “Why do they guard their gods? Should not gods guard people?”

Man-made gods are dead and can’t help themselves and their worshippers.

What are other man-made gods that humans worship and praise?

Many would argue that their idols are just reminders or image of true gods. Christians believe that nobody has ever seen the true-living God therefore, to make an image of God is an insult to the true God.

Imagine a child sketching an image of human and says, “This is you!” You know by the look of it that it’s not even near to your picture but the child would argue, cry, and insist that the image is actually you. It has similarity to those who insist that an idol is just an image of God.

2. Debate

¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate 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. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 

 Epicurean philosophers were followers of a Greek philosopher named Epicurus.

Epicureanism asks: “If God is good, then why did He allow evil?”  They believe that the highest good is pleasure, interpreted as freedom from disturbance or pain.

Stoic philosophers were followers of a Greek philosopher named Zeno.

They teach that people that should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complain to unavoidable necessity.

To debate with these philosophers is very frustrating if you aim to convert them.

²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Paul debated with those Greek philosophers. Should Christians use this as biblical basis to get involved in a debate with anybody about our faith in the Lord?

Please, let it be known that Paul was very knowledgeable with the Scripture. He personally saw and heard the Lord Jesus. He studied under Gamaliel who was the most respected professor of the law in his time.

If you are not properly equipped with the art of debate, it is not advisable to debate. By wisdom Paul cannot persuade the Athenians; by wisdom people cannot know God. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that a person to believe in Jesus.

So if your purpose is just for friendly debate or an exercise of explaining spiritual truths in human language, then debate could be helpful. But if your aim is to help a person to believe in Christ, rely upon the Holy Spirit.  Debate may help but cannot be relied upon to convict anybody.

Refugee

A Christian recalled that his family was brought to Canada and sponsored by a Christian church when he was younger as refugees. As a show of gratitude, his family attended the church but he confessed that he never believed in God; he became Canadian citizen. He heard about Christ but never put his faith in Him.

He was divorced and longed for his son to live with him. He prayed and challenged the Lord that if his son would be allowed to come and live with him, he would sincerely believe and serve God faithfully. God answered his prayer – his son lived with him until he graduated in high school.

God gave him a vision to initiate a mission project that could help his people in modern farming style and technologies, an instrument to introduce the gospel. His story provides a glimpse of how God works in many wonderful ways.

When we share the gospel, we can present it very articulately but we should rely upon the Holy Spirit if we wish to have better harvest in witnessing. Learning about the Scripture and being trained should not be licenses to become better debater but to grow more in our dependence upon the Holy Spirit. The more we know the Scripture, the more we should depend upon the Holy Spirit.

Success in witnessing or enjoyable Christian living is a consequence of our closer relationship with the Lord.

To enjoy reading the Scripture and to be concerned in sharing your faith, these are practical manifestations that you are enjoying your relationship with God.

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