17:22-32
Paul seized the opportunity to preach. He addressed the philosophers in the context of their knowledge and practice, sounding like a Hellenist. But, that does not mean he did not give them scriptural truth. Though he did not quote the Hebrew scriptures as he did in the synagogue, the does refer to the ideas taught there.
Paul first acknowledged that the Athenians were very religious. In fact, he said, he had even seen an altar with an inscription “to the unknown god”. (23) Paul used this as a springboard to his sermon, saying I am going to tell you about this god you do not know. He proceeded to tell them about the one true God. The things he told them are all things set out in the Old Testament.
First, Paul said that God created the world and everything in it. (24) That is how the Old Testament begins: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”. (Genesis 1:1) It goes on to describe how God created everything in heaven and on earth. This fact is repeated in several places in scripture. And, because God made everything, he is the Lord of creation, the “Lord of heaven and earth”. He made it, owns it, and rules it.
Paul would later write:
“what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although the knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became foolish, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:19-23)
That is a good description of the spiritual condition of the Athenians.
You can also see why the atheist must believe in an evolutionary beginning to the universe. If the universe came into being on its own, there is no God to whom we must give account. But, If God created it, he is Lord of it, and we must account to him.
Second, Paul said this creator God does not live in temples made by man and is not served by human hands. Since there were temples all over Athens, and priests who brought their gods sacrifices of food and drink, that was a startling statement for the Athenians. Even the Jews had to be reminded of this fact, as they revered the temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah did that, saying in Isaiah 66:1-2:
Thus says the LORD:
Heaven is my throne and the earth my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me
and what is the place of my rest?
In fact, not only could men and women not meet any of God’s needs, God gave them all they had, including life and breath. (5) In Psalm 50:12, God said “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine”.
Certainly, some Greek philosophers had said similar things. Heracles wrote “God, if he be truly God, has need of nothing”. Plato said that the gods got no benefit from the things men gave them.
Third, Paul said God made every nation from one man, testifying to the historicity of Adam. (26) Additionally, he said he made them to live on all the face of the earth (26), alluding to God’s command to both Adam and Noah to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. (Genesis 1:28; 9:1)
Fourth, he said God determined the places and times where nations would dwell. This reflects Deuteronomy 32:8, that says God fixed the boundaries of the peoples.
Paul anticipated a question: why did God do all these things? Paul said God did it that men and women would seek God in hope that they might find him. (27)
Since Paul was speaking to Greeks, he inserted quotes from two Greek poets. The first one said “in him we live and move and have our being” and the second said “for we are indeed his offspring”.
Those poems were talking about Zeus. Paul was not validating Zeus, or equating God (Yahweh) with him. He was showing them their own poets had some recognition of the nature and character of God. And, because even the Greeks wrote that all people were created by God, all people owe God the honor and worship to which he is due. And that honor is not accomplished by making statues and buildings.
Tying in to his original statement pointing out the Greeks ignorance of God, as shown in the altar to the unknown God, Paul said that God, in his mercy, had previously passed over this ignorance. He had not judged them for their ignorance. (30); (Romans 3:25) But now (that Jesus had come), God called, and still calls, for repentance of this false perception of God. In other words, Paul was saying God demanded that the Greeks acknowledge that their gods were false and turn away from them.
The reason it is the time to repent, Paul said, is that God a fixed a day for judgment. (31) That judgment will be done in righteousness by the man he appointed, Jesus Christ. God showed them, and us, that this is true by raising Jesus from the dead. Yet again, we see that the resurrection was central to the presentation of the gospel. Later, Paul would write “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
As always, some believed and some mocked. Some wanted to hear more. (32)
You can follow Paul’s train of thought in his presentation of the gospel to the Romans. Although the audience was difference, the ideas are the same. Paul wrote that what can be known about God was plain to people, but they suppressed the truth. (1:19-20) There will be judgment for those who have abandoned God and made up their own rules. (2:1-2) Judgment is coming. (2:6) Salvation is through faith in Jesus. (3:21-22)
The message of salvation is the same for us today. “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
The only way to salvation is through Jesus. (John 14:6) You can have pardon for sin, relief from guilt, peace with God, and eternal life by faith. Believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and was raised to life by the Father. Confess him. Follow him. Be saved.
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