Key Verse: "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." - Acts 17:23 KJV
Paul arrives in Athens and finds a city filled with idols. As he walks through the city, he sees evidence everywhere of people searching for something beyond themselves. Among the many altars, he discovers one bearing the inscription: “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” Paul sees an opportunity.
Rather than beginning by condemning the Athenians, he begins with something they already recognize, their desire to worship and understand the divine.
Then he tells them about the God they do not know.
He explains that the true God is not confined to temples made by human hands. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, the giver of life and breath.
Paul also makes an extraordinary statement about God's nearness:
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being.”
The people of Athens were searching for God, but they were looking in the wrong places.
That is still true of humanity today.
People search for meaning through wealth, success, relationships, pleasure, philosophy, possessions, and countless other things. Yet the deepest longing of the human heart can only ultimately be satisfied by knowing its Creator.
Paul doesn't stop with simply telling them about God. He brings the message to Jesus.
God has appointed a day of judgment, and He has provided assurance of that coming judgment “in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
The resurrection is once again at the center of Paul's preaching.
The response in Athens is mixed. Some mock Paul, some want to hear more, and some believe.
Paul couldn't control the response.
His responsibility was simply to faithfully proclaim the truth.
This is an important lesson for us. We don't have to win every argument or convince every person. We are called to faithfully represent Christ, speak the truth, and trust God with the results.
Life Application
- Look for opportunities to share Christ in everyday conversations
- Meet people where they are without compromising God's truth
- Remember that God is the Creator and giver of life
- Don't allow worldly pursuits to replace your relationship with God
- Share the gospel and leave the results in God's hands
Prayer
Lord, help me recognize opportunities to share the gospel with those around me. Give me wisdom to speak to people with grace and understanding while remaining faithful to Your truth. Help those who are searching to find You, the living God. And help me remember that my purpose and very life are found in You. Amen.
