Paul and Silas faced so much persecution in Thessalonica that the church thought it best to send them away. They traveled first to Beroea and then to Athens. There, Paul discovered a city filled with idols.
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” (Acts 17:16)
When I first learned about idol worship in Greek and Roman culture, I was amazed by how many idols people worshiped. One article noted that there were so many gods in the Roman world they could not be counted.
Here is one example of how common idol worship was in the Roman world: if someone wanted to cut down trees to expand farmland, they would first sacrifice a pig. They believed a god might live in the tree and did not want to offend it.
No doubt, Paul was troubled as he walked through Athens and saw so many temples devoted to Greek gods. These temples were gathering places, much like restaurants, where people discussed religion and philosophy.
A typical meal included members of the elite class, and a lavish place setting was reserved for the god of that temple. After eating, guests drank plenty of wine and discussed the evening’s topic. Often, after the meal and discussion, prostitutes were brought in to entertain the men.
In some of his letters, Paul had to address temple activity among Christians. Believers often needed to visit the temples for business connections, but the food offered to idols and the sexual practices there were clear traps for the followers of Jesus.
The Man for the Job
Paul was clearly God’s chosen man for the task. Scholars who study his speeches note that he used Greek rhetorical forms to challenge Jews in the synagogue and, especially, the philosophers of the Gentile world.
“So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him.” (Acts 17:17-18a)
Status was very important in ancient times, and men often raised their status through their ability to debate others. Philosophical arguments were not only a popular pastime but also a way to prove one’s place in the community.
“Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.” (Acts 17:21)
Paul had a different purpose. He was not concerned with his status; after all, he had just been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. Instead, he argued to help people discover God’s love through Jesus Christ.
Few People Are Like Paul
Few people have the skill and training Paul had. He was uniquely prepared, gifted, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God’s work in places like Athens. One of his most powerful messages is the speech he gave in Athens, which will be featured in tomorrow’s blog article.
We may not have Paul’s gifts or calling, but we all have a story to share. Here is a simple, proven way to tell what God has done in your life. It involves three steps.
First, briefly share what your life was like before you met Jesus. Some people have painful stories, but they should avoid focusing too much on them or glorifying their past. Others followed Jesus from childhood and may feel they have little to share. But they can always say, “Without God’s grace, I would be lost today.”
The second part of the story is about how you met Jesus as your Savior. For me, I was sitting in church because a friend kept badgering me to go. The preaching was not very good, and the music was even worse, but it did not matter. God called me.
I did not know how to pray. All I could say was, “God, You can have my life.” Right then, He took my life, and for the past sixty years, it has been “showtime.”
I got a little ahead of myself. The third step is: what is your life like now?
I already shared mine. From the day I met the Lord until today, my life has been magnificent. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have abundant life.” That is my paraphrase of John 10:10, and my experience is that it is absolutely true.
You may not be able to argue like Paul, but no one can argue with your experience. You may be like the blind man Jesus healed when religious leaders questioned whether a miracle had truly taken place:
“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
Your experience belongs to you. People may doubt it, but they cannot refute what God has done in your life.
You never know when you may have a chance to share what God has done for you. I encourage you to sit down, think through these three steps, and learn to summarize them in just a few minutes.
You do not need to preach a long sermon. Simply being able to explain your story clearly could help a friend find God’s love through Jesus Christ.
YouTube Discussion
For more insights into Acts 17:10-21, please join Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and me on YouTube today.
