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Acts 17:32–34
“When [the Athenians] heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, ‘We will hear you again about this.’ So Paul went out from their midst” (vv. 32–33).
As we conclude our look at Paul’s proclamation of Christ at the Areopagus in Athens, we should briefly consider what we can learn from the event regarding how Christians should engage the culture. First, the Apostle’s willingness to preach at the Areopagus indicates that we should not shy away from speaking truth to the intellectuals of our day. Paul’s audience at Athens represented the intellectual elite of the city, those who had the time and means to talk about religious and philosophical ideas. These elites did not have a true grasp of what they were talking about (see Acts 17:23), but Paul nevertheless did not refuse their invitation to speak to them. Some believers have read Paul’s statement that not many of the Corinthians were wise by “worldly standards” to mean that we should not even try to explain the gospel to the learned or to scholars (see 1 Cor. 1:26). Yet Paul’s actual practice at the Areopagus says otherwise.
Note also that the Apostle was not afraid to rely on general revelation—the truths about God available to all people through the created order—in his gospel presentation. Where Paul could find a point of contact with an unbeliever’s discovery of truth, he did so, quoting even pagan thinkers when they had gotten something right (see Acts 17:28). He looked for places where unbelievers had some correct notions about God and started from there to explain the fullness of the truth. To do this required him to bring in special revelation, including the truth of Jesus’ resurrection (v. 31). Things such as proofs for God’s existence drawn from the world around us have their place and should be used when necessary, but these elements of general revelation will save no one. It is not enough to believe that one God exists; people have to believe in the correct deity, and this is possible only through knowing the gospel, which comes to us only in special revelation—the Bible.
Once Paul declared the resurrection of the dead, some of his hearers mocked him (v. 32). Greek philosophy had no place for the resurrection of the body. Many Greek thinkers affirmed the immortality of the soul, but the notion that the physical creation would be redeemed and restored was ridiculous to them. Not everyone mocked Paul, for some asked to hear more (v. 32). A few others actually believed the Apostle’s message and became Christians (vv. 33–34), for the truth of the gospel always converts God’s elect.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
At Athens, Paul engaged the intellectuals of the city without compromising the truth. He declared to them both the things that he knew they could accept and the ideas that he knew they would find foolish. As we are preaching the gospel, we must follow this example. Let us present all the truth that God has revealed, even those truths that are ridiculed or hated in our day.
For further study
- Jeremiah 1:4–10
- Ezekiel 3:1–4
- 1 Corinthians 1:18–25
- Galatians 1:8–9
The bible in a year
- Psalms 80–84
- Romans 8