Acts 17:22-23 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 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.
Bravo, Bruh Paul, Bravo! Now most of us couldn’t do that, but Bruh Paul was a different being. Yesterday we saw him talking in the marketplace of Athens. Today he’s preaching Christ on the Areopagus, (Mars Hill), where all the moral, philosophical and religious matters were promulgated and debated. Philosophers of the leading schools of thought, the Stoics and Epicureans, had encountered him in the market, and though some considered him a ‘babbler’ of no account, others thought him ‘to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.’ (vs.18) But such was the Athenians love of discourse and new ideas, that even though they did not rate him highly, they put Bruh Paul on their stage, ‘saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know thereof what these things mean.’ (vs.19-20) Hn,hn! But Friends, little did they know that giving Bruh Paul a pulpit to preach from, was music to his ears. And preach he did, that eventful day on Mars Hill, people. Note, he didn’t condemn the Greeks, though he called them superstitious. Some Scholars suggest that ‘religious’ was a better translation of the Greek word. Anyway, smart orator that he was, Bruh Paul knew he had to establish a rapport with them, if he hoped to advance Christ. Apparently, in his wanderings around the religious section of the city, he came upon an altar inscribed, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ Friends, that’s the Lord in drama creating mode, giving him a sure fire opening. ‘Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.’ (vs.23) He was going to make their ‘UNKNOWN GOD,’ KNOWN. This he did by proclaiming the true ‘God that made the world and all things therein, …Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with man’s hands; as though he needed anything; seeing he giveth to all life, breath, and all things, And hath made of one blood, all nations of men…determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.’ (vs.24-26) Yes Friends, He’s our Creator, sets and appoints our time, is very involved in our affairs. ‘That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being…’ (vs.27-28) And that’s the living truth people! We exist through and for Him, and He’s always found by those who sincerely seek him. Then Bruh Paul explained about the need for repentance with the resurrection and judgement day in the offing. Obviously some laughed and mocked, while others wanted to hear more. But Bruh Paul left Athens soon after. However, his preaching was not in vain, for some believed, including a woman named Damaris, and Dionysius, a member of the City Council. The Lord had sown some seeds, in high places too. Friends, that means we’re to enthusiastically welcome every opportunity to talk about Jesus, for, with the Lord’s help, anything is possible. Much LOVE!…even a single soul saved…brings immense glory to God…
Bravo, Bruh Paul, Bravo! Now most of us couldn’t do that, but Bruh Paul was a different being. Yesterday we saw him talking in the marketplace of Athens. Today he’s preaching Christ on the Areopagus, (Mars Hill), where all the moral, philosophical and religious matters were promulgated and debated. Philosophers of the leading schools of thought, the Stoics and Epicureans, had encountered him in the market, and though some considered him a ‘babbler’ of no account, others thought him ‘to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.’ (vs.18) But such was the Athenians love of discourse and new ideas, that even though they did not rate him highly, they put Bruh Paul on their stage, ‘saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest is? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know thereof what these things mean.’ (vs.19-20) Hn,hn! But Friends, little did they know that giving Bruh Paul a pulpit to preach from, was music to his ears. And preach he did, that eventful day on Mars Hill, people. Note, he didn’t condemn the Greeks, though he called them superstitious. Some Scholars suggest that ‘religious’ was a better translation of the Greek word. Anyway, smart orator that he was, Bruh Paul knew he had to establish a rapport with them, if he hoped to advance Christ. Apparently, in his wanderings around the religious section of the city, he came upon an altar inscribed, ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ Friends, that’s the Lord in drama creating mode, giving him a sure fire opening. ‘Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.’ (vs.23) He was going to make their ‘UNKNOWN GOD,’ KNOWN. This he did by proclaiming the true ‘God that made the world and all things therein, …Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with man’s hands; as though he needed anything; seeing he giveth to all life, breath, and all things, And hath made of one blood, all nations of men…determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.’ (vs.24-26) Yes Friends, He’s our Creator, sets and appoints our time, is very involved in our affairs. ‘That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being…’ (vs.27-28) And that’s the living truth people! We exist through and for Him, and He’s always found by those who sincerely seek him. Then Bruh Paul explained about the need for repentance with the resurrection and judgement day in the offing. Obviously some laughed and mocked, while others wanted to hear more. But Bruh Paul left Athens soon after. However, his preaching was not in vain, for some believed, including a woman named Damaris, and Dionysius, a member of the City Council. The Lord had sown some seeds, in high places too. Friends, that means we’re to enthusiastically welcome every opportunity to talk about Jesus, for, with the Lord’s help, anything is possible. Much LOVE!…even a single soul saved…brings immense glory to God…
SCRIP-BITS 