Paul's journey to Berea & Athens - chapter 3

1Thes:2:2: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

Then, after a short trip to Thessalonica, they spent a few weeks preaching the gospel there until one night they were “smuggled” out of town by those brethren they had recently won to the Lord. Why did they leave under such circumstances? Recall, if you will, the angry mob of unbelieving Jews getting that city into an uproar.But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. Acts 17:5,9,10

So now we catch up this group as we read what happened while in Berea, a town dating to antiquity and near the tomb of King Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great. It’s located on the Egnatia road, about 50 miles from Thessalonica, and in the very center of the Greek province of Macedonia. Here, Paul and his fellow laborers “went into the synagogue of the Jews.” Something that can be said for these apostles is that they were persistent and consistent. They did those things that worked in moving the gospel and in so doing, they angered those who didn’t believe the gospel. But how did this group of Jews in Berea react to the presentation of the gospel message as preached by Paul and Silas?

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

Truly a more noble reaction than what the apostles had faced so far. Moreover, “they received the word with all readiness of mind.” They wanted to hear about Salvation and the atonement made, once and for all, for Sin. Additionally, “they searched the scriptures daily” to find out if what these guys were preaching was true or not. Ultimately, we are individually responsible before the Lord for what we believe. What a great example to all of us these brethren in Berea are! The gospel message continued to be preached and more and more people were won to the Lord.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:12

In fact, though the message was first preached in “a synagogue of the Jews,” many Greeks both men and women believed also. It should be noted that so far, as recorded in the book of Acts, the gospel was primarily preached to the Jews with the exceptions being Lydia and the jailer in Philippi, including their households. Now, just as it seems real revival is breaking out in Berea, Those unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica get back into the picture.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. Acts 17:13,14

Once again this group of unbelieving Jews from Thessalonica got a city stirred up. Once again, the brethren immediately sent Paul away out of the city. I don’t imagine it was cowardice that drove him away, but rather prudence. The threat to his life must have been very real. Though Paul’s time in Berea must have been very short, a Church was established there and a great testimony to his apostleship is that as I write and you read these words, Jesus Christ is still preached in that city today. He is known as “the way, the truth and the life” by many which reside in Berea today. On the edge of a bluff over looking the plain below, there is a monument dedicated to Paul in remembrance of this record in the Scriptures. Tradition holds that it is the spot where he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now, as Silas and Timothy remain in Berea, Paul travels to Athens by sea. There we find him waiting for Silas and Timothy. It must be noted here that he has left the area known as Macedonia, and is entering the Greek province of Attica.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Acts 17:15

While the apostle is waiting for his travel companions, he is moved by what he sees.Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. Acts 17:16,17

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a city “wholly given to idolatry,” but even today people come from around the globe to visit some of the most famous temples ever built. The Parthenon, which housed a sixty foot gold and ivory statue of the goddess Athena, and the Propylea, housing a plethora of various lesser gods and goddesses are the destinations of millions and millions. Though Athens, capital of the “golden age” with its architecture, academies, universities, poets and philosophers, was not at its zenith during the time of Paul’s visit the better part of a truly wealthy, educated and advanced city and society remained. Lest we forget, this is the birthplace of democracy. Notice above he disputed in the synagogue and the market daily. Disputed. This disputing is a noticeably different approach than from his entrance into Thessalonica and especially Berea. Perhaps the idolatry had taken its toll. Idolatry is, after all, what Paul addressed when he was taken to a mound of marble just below the Acropolis.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. Acts 17:18-20

The setting forth of strange gods wasn’t the problem. After all, this city was “wholly given to idolatry.” They had statues and temples everywhere dedicated to this god or that goddess. In fact, they even had a temple dedicated to “the unknown god.” It wasn’t the setting forth of strange gods that bothered these people in Athens. It was the preaching of Jesus and the resurrection. You would think these people would have liked hearing the good news about Jesus and the resurrection, considering that they spent their time in doing nothing but “to tell, or to hear some new thing.”

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) Acts 17:21

Well, before Paul expounds upon “what these things mean,” we would do well to remember his background for a moment. Recall, if you will, that Paul was raised in the Hellenistic city of Tarsus located in the southern Asia Minor province of Cilicia. His childhood friends were probably Greek. Though he new Aramaic from his education and study of the Scriptures, he had a very good, if not a native, understanding of the Greek language and culture. As is not only evidenced from the exquisite use of the Greek language in his epistles to the Churches, but also his repeated quotes of the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament. In Paul, therefore, equal in education and understanding of any Greek philosopher, we see God’s wisdom in choosing this vessel to bring the gospel message to such a people. We mustn’t forget, however, that Paul had concluded something regarding this type of worldly wisdom.

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Phil:3:8:

Now Paul attempts to turn these Stoics and Epicureans from dumb idols whom they “ignorantly worship,” to “the living and true God.” (1Thes: 1:9c)

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.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

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; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:22-30

Notice how this presentation of the Gospel varies from Paul’s’ previous preaching. What had been a method of opening the Scriptures and alleging Jesus as the Christ, changes to a declaration of the knowledge of the one true God. Paul doesn’t set forth a new God to them, rather informs them of their ignorant worship. The basic premise is that there is a God, and that God is one God. The apostle Paul, confronting their ignorant and idolatrous ways, preaches that God, “that made the world and all things therein,” “seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” “For in him we live, and move, and have our being;” “commandeth all men every where to repent.” Notice that the apostle doesn’t quote from Scripture, but rather one of their own poets words are used to reach this crowd. How appropriate for his audience! Moreover, he preaches Jesus and the resurrection from the dead.

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31

As is the case with most who do not believe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is nothing like the subject of the resurrection of the dead that is so divisive.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. Acts 17:32

What a typical reaction one could say. Some mocked, others said that they would hear again about this matter (that is, they really didn’t repent and excused their own unbelief) while others, Glory to God, believed Paul’s preaching.

So Paul departed from among them.Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:33,34

In such manner was the Church at Athens founded. Though there is no epistle addressed to these believers in the Holy Scriptures, one can be assured that Paul ministered to them and visited them again in his journeys to and from other Churches. And while in Athens the remnants of many idols’ temples remain and are visited regularly by people from all over the world, Jesus Christ and the resurrection is still preached daily. Not only on a mound of marble called Mar’s Hill in the center of town, but throughout the vast city of four and a half million people. What started as a handful of men and women won to the Lord by the apostle Paul, is literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions of believers on the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly a living legacy to the ministry wielded by the Apostle to the Gentiles, known as Paul.

After these things Paul departed from Athens, Acts 18:1a

© Copyright 2002 Rev. Todd W. Pekel