The Apostle Paul and the Unknown god (Acts 17)

The Apostle Paul was a very educated scholar in the scriptures and was one of the religious leaders called a pharisee. He was also the son of a pharisee. Paul, a Jew, was also a Roman citizen which gave him additional rights under Roman law, especially when the Jews were trying to imprison him.

God called Paul to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the risen savior, to both Jews and Gentiles. In many of his travels to various cities outside of Israel, he would find Jewish synagogues and go and preach and argue the scriptures with those who would listen. Many believed and became Christians but others were angry and tried to imprison him. Paul would flee to another city to avoid imprisonment. On one such occasion, Paul left the northern area of Greece and headed for Athens. The other brothers in Christ would join him later.  

Paul was distressed when he saw that the city of Athens was full of idols. He went into the Jewish synagogues and the public marketplace to debate and continue to proclaim the gospel of Jesus and His resurrection. There was a group of philosophers called epicureans and stoics who began debating with him. The Greeks were very interested in philosophy and new ideas and were curious about what Paul had to say. They took Paul to a forum called Areopagus where he could address the thought leaders of the city.

Paul got up 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.” He continued, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Paul continued to preach the gospel of Jesus and His resurrection. Some scoffed and others  became believers.

Like the days of Paul, when the gospel is proclaimed, there will be scoffers who reject the good news, and then there will be those who believe and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. When we don’t know the true God, we make our own idols hoping that they will bless and help us. An idol can be money, status, our looks, other people, and material things. Why seek worldly idols when we have the great creator who loves and cares for each of us? 

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