The Holy Spirit's Discerning Ministry
Sometime later, Paul and Silas carried on their journey. One of the places they visited was Athens. While walking through the city, Paul was greatly disturbed by the many temples, as we can read in Acts 17:16
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
How did Paul deal with these idols? Did he go into the temples and physically try to destroy them? No, for that would have been of no use. Paul knew that in order for people to give up their idols, they would need a change of heart, and that could only happen if they heard the gospel, so Paul went among the people and preached the good news of Jesus Christ to them, as we can read in Acts 17:17
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
And Acts 17:22-31
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men 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. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built with by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, “We are his offspring.” Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like silver or gold or stone – an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
And some people did accept his gospel message, as we can read in Acts 17:34
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
QUESTIONS
1. Which other city did Paul and Silas visit?
2. What did Paul see when visiting that city?
3. According to Acts 17:16, how did Paul feel about seeing all these temples in Athens with idols in them?
4. Did Paul physically try to destroy these idols in Athens?
5. Why did Paul not physically try to destroy these idols in Athens?
6. What did Paul begin to do in Athens?
7a. According to Acts 17:17, where did Paul go to preach in Athens?
7b. According to Acts 17:17, who did Paul speak with in Athens?
8a. According to Acts 17:22-31, who did Paul speak with as well in Athens?
8b. According to Acts 17:22-31, what had Paul observed about these people in Athens?
8c. According to Acts 17:22-31, in what way had Paul noticed that these people in Athens were very religious?
8d. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul proclaim to these people in Athens who this unknown God is?
8e. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul tell these people in Athens that this God lives in temples built by human hands?
8f. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul tell these people in Athens that this God needs anything?
8g. According to Acts 17:22-31, why did Paul tell these people in Athens that God does not need anything?
8h. According to Acts 17:22-31, what did Paul tell these people in Athens about how God had made every nation of men?
8i. According to Acts 17:22-31, what did Paul tell these people in Athens God had determined for men?
8j. According to Acts 17:22-31, what did Paul tell these people in Athens God had determined for men who were to inhabit the whole earth?
8k. According to Acts 17:22-31, what did Paul tell these people in Athens as to why God determined the times set for men and the places where they should live?
8l. According to Acts 17:22-31, why did Paul tell these people in Athens that they should not think that the Divine Being is like silver or gold?
8m. According to Acts 17:22-31, what did Paul tell these people in Athens God commands all people to do?
8n. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul tell these people in Athens that God has set a day when he will judge the world with justice?
8o. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul tell these people in Athens by Whom the world will be judged?
8p. According to Acts 17:22-31, did Paul tell these people in Athens what kind of proof God has given that this Man is the One He has appointed as the Man who will judge the world?
9. Did anyone in Athens accept Paul’s gospel message?
10. According to Acts 17:34, who weresome of the people in Athens who believed?