ACTS 17:22-23

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

TO PONDER

Talk about sharing boldly! This speech that Paul gave is known as ‘The Areopagus sermon’ and is said to be the most dramatic and fully reported speech of his ministry. 

Paul had been waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy to join him when ‘his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols’ (v16). So he started preaching everyday about the resurrection of Jesus. This caught the attention of the Athenians, who (as we read in verse 21) would ‘spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new’. He was then taken to the Areopagus to explain further. This was a hill in Athens where groups of respected local men discussed spiritual and philosophical ideas (similar to the Jewish Sanhedrin).  

At the beginning of Paul’s speech, I can’t help but wonder if there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, as he comments on how ‘religious’ they were. Paul boldly calls them out on their ignorance. The very words inscribed on their altar ‘To an unknown God’ show that the Athenians themselves admit they don’t know who or what God is. They had been worshipping idols and objects, but Paul uses this opportunity to introduce them to a ‘new’ God - a personal God. I bet that would have been really hard for the Athenians to wrap their head around!

Is there someone you know who desperately needs to be introduced to a ‘new’ God – the one and only God? Will you take inspiration from Paul’s speech and be bold in sharing Jesus with them?

 PRAYER

Dear Lord, Please give me the courage to be like Paul - bold in sharing who you are with people that desperately need to know you. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and help me to be aware of when it is nudging me towards opportunities where I can stand up and proclaim your love. Amen.  

Today's devotion written by Elysia McEwen, LifeWay Graphic Design and Communications