III. Paul's Second Tour (continued) 15:36 - 18:22
K. Paul's Discourse on the Unknown God (vv. 22-34)
v.22 The Areopagus, one of the hills on which Athens was situated, the center of learning. Perhaps a better rendering of "too superstitious" would be "very religious." That is, Paul could see by all of the gods being worshipped that religion of some sort was part of the Athenian lifestyle.
v.23 Paul could not introduce Jesus through the use of the OT scriptures. Why not? First he must present God, the father. uses this idol to "An Unknown God" to begin his sermon. The Athenians were demon worshippers, that is, deified men were worshipped. Paul will present an argument opposed to their thinking, namely a god made into a man.
v.24 Paul distinguishes the true God from their demons. The Creator of everything could not be expected to dwell in a man-made house. To the Greeks no one god was the ultimate creator,
v.25 The heathen catered to their idols, adorning the images with expensive clothing, jewels, and precious metals. The true God needs none of these things because He is not a taker, but a giver. No heathen god had the power described in this verse.
v.26 All races of men have common origin, God caused that common origin to exist. The Greeks believed that they were a superior race, Paul is trying to dispel this thinking. God has fixed the boundaries of the countries and determined the length of their existence. One God-One Religion-One Origin-One Salvation.
v.27 The things God has given us should cause us to seek after Him. The one searching is depicted as a blind man feeling for something that he does not realize is nearby.
v.28 We must be close to God for He is our creator as well. Paul quotes Cleanthes, a Stoic philosopher and poet of 300-220 BC
v.29 These heathen, as with all idolaters, had too low of a conception of the Godhead. This Godhead is not gold, silver or stone.
v.30 The time when God would deal only through one chosen race has now come to a close, all men should repent. Does this mean that all heathen prior to the gospel escape punishment for sins committed?
v.31 Judgement day has been chosen, the judge (Christ) has been chosen . Christ was shown to be the chosen one through his resurrection.
v.32,33 Neither the Epicureans nor the Stoics would believe in resurrection of the dead. Perhaps the Athenians could not see the connection between resurrection from the dead and true religion. However, even though some mocked Paul, others wanted to hear more. Paul saw that his speaking was done , so he departed to other parts of the city.
v.34 There were believers in the crowd; among them Dionysius, a member of the city government. Damarias is mentioned because women were generally not among the ranks of the philosophers.
L. Paul begins the work in Corinth (18:1-4)
v.1 Paul leaves the center of learning of Greece and moves to the center of commerce and politics. Athens to Corinth- 50 miles. The city was morally degenerate I Cor. 5:1, 6:9,10.
v.2 Paul finds Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Jews, tentmakers, who have recently been banished from Rome, along with all Jews.
v.3 Whether Aquila and Priscilla were Christians before their meeting with Paul or after they had begun working together is unclear (v.26). It was not unusual for Paul to go to work to support himself. Acts 20:34; 1 Cor. 4:12; I Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8.
v.4 Paul continued preaching on the Sabbath days. Both Jews and Greeks were in attendance at the synagogue. The word "reasoned" is from the same Greek word as disputed in17:17.