Welcome to this continuing series recorded in Greece called “Journeys with Paul.” This is Session #10 and it was recorded in Athens. NOTE: This was a very, very windy day, so I apologize for the not-so-ideal audio in this 20 minute video.
After Paul visited Berea in northern Greece, he sailed along the eastern coastline of mainland Greece and arrive in Athens. This was the next stop on his 2nd Missionary Journey.
Here in Athens he was challenged in many ways. No doubt Paul spent most of his time in the Agora (Forum) and in the Royal Stoa. On occasion I would have to think he ascended to the top of the Acropolis. Here stood the famous Parthenon and the Erechtheion. These were built in the 5th century BC. Athena was the primary god honored here in Athens.
Acts 17 records Paul’s experience when he shared his faith in the Rock of Areopagus (or Mars Hill). Most likely this was the location (although some are not sure it was here but rather in the Royal Stoa below) where Paul was dragged/seized (the Greek word used in Acts 17 is epilambano) to stand in front of the legal counsel of Athens to defend what he had been sharing about Jesus. Paul was not being invited to share in a “weekend philosophical seminar” of some kind or another. Rather, his life was on the line! This is how the encounter unfolded:
"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'People 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. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship-and this is what 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 by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any 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 gold or silver or stone-an image made by human 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 everyone by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:23-31).
While some sneered at Paul’s reference to the resurrection of Jesus, the text ends this way: "Some of the people 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.” (Acts 17:34)
Paul found affinity (i.e. commonality) with the religious people of Athens. He shared the truth about Jesus, and a “number” of people believed. He even mentions two by name! Paul’s boldness was on display once again as was it on many other occasions during his mission journeys! While Paul shared, he trusted the results to God! He was used of God to bring people into the kingdom of Christ through faith.
While our “on-site” recorded videos comes to a close, stay tune for a few more sessions in this series as we appreciate the “Words of Paul” next.
We hope that each session has allowed you to travel with us to these important sites in Greece. This series specifically retraces the footsteps and ministry of the Apostle Paul. The teacher in this series is Rev. Dr. John DeLancey, the Founder & Director of Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT).
Please subscribe to this channel and share this video with your family and friends. If you are interested in going on a biblical, non-touristy trip to Israel, Greece, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, or Italy, visit our web site at www.biblicalisraeltours.com and check out the “Upcoming Tours” page. We welcome you to join us!
Blessings in Christ!
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