By Apostle Aje Pelser
Act 17:15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Paul in Athens
Act 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
Act 17:17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
Act 17:18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
Act 17:19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?
Act 17:20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”
Act 17:21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Apostolic Perspectives on Outreach to win souls:
1. While Paul waited. Make the best of your time on earth to be a witness, in season and out of season being ready to give people an answer of hope.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
2. His spirit was provoked
G3947 paroxunō
Thayer Definition:
1) to make sharp, sharpen
1a) to stimulate, spur on, urge
1b) to irritate, provoke, arouse to anger
1b1) to scorn, despise
1b2) provoke, make angry
1b3) to exasperate, to burn with anger
3. Notice the spiritual climate: The City was given over to idols
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
4. Be prepared to argue your point: “Therefore he reasoned” G1256 dialegomai
Thayer Definition:
1) to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought
1a) to ponder, revolve in mind
2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: middle voice from G1223 and G3004
G1223 dia
A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act;
G3004 legō
A primary verb; properly to “lay” forth, that is, (figuratively) relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse;
Reasoning with people is your channel through which to
communicate your set system of beliefs.
This is where Apostolic Doctrine in outreach becomes essential. That is why every Believer should be engaged in a systematic and through foundational Bible Study with new covenant realities and apostolic perspective. When we say apostolic perspective, we do not mean personalize perspectives by men. Apostolic perspective according to the New Testament is always pointing to Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church, the Lord and Saviour and who died on the cross and rose again enforcing the promises of the Old Testament and enforcing the Inheritance of the New Testament.
Apostolic Perspective sees Christ n every scripture enthused by the Holy Spirit who empowers to become as witness of the living Christ in every generation.
5. He preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
6. Spark People’s Curiosity of some new thing.
The rival Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers – to hear some new thing
Epicurean – “The Epicureans taught that the world came by choice. The gods did not trouble themselves about men. So the
