Introduction

Paul was the first apostle to set foot on the European continent to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this post, you'll learn how he introduced this new religious idea in Greece without once mentioning the name of Jesus to the leaders of the city.

Introduction

Athens, Greece was once considered the pinnacle of modern thought but the people there - at the time of Paul's visit - had descended into a hotbed of paganism and idol worship.

This visit to Athens was, originally, meant to be just a rest stop during this missionary trip (sometime between 47-52 A.D.) while the apostle Paul waited for the arrival of a couple more of the brethren to join him for the rest of the trip.

But, as Paul walked the streets of this once great city, he grew despondent at all the idols displayed everywhere that were worshipped by the pagans. The revelation came to him that he had to do something to be true to the Lord. But what?

Paul Started With What He Knew

Paul and his family were wealthy influencers in the Jerusalem Temple. He and his father were both Pharisees and both spent endless hours at the Temple discussing the laws of Moses with other members of this group. Paul was completely comfortable with Jewish traditions and being around other Jews.

Therefore, it was natural that he would visit various synagogues around the city or worship days to spread the gospel of Jesus. Paul was also a polished speaker who sought out anyone in public places to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Scripture describes it like this:

But He Soon Got Invited To The "Big Dance" In Athens

A man from afar can't just blow into town (then or now) and begin to talk about a new, strange - to Athenians, at least - religion. He was noticed by some of the more important residents of the city and asked to present his ideas before a sort of council of Athens. The Good Book records it like this:

The Areopagus on a rainy afternoon (In the background the Acropolis).

Image Credit: George E. Koronaios, Usage approved under Creative Commons License, SA 4.0 DEED. This work has not been modified in any way. However, the creator of this website has added a shadow behind the work.  

What Was The Big Deal About Presenting Ideas At The Areopagus? 

"The Areopagus of Athens, also known as Mars Hill, is located just northwest of the Acropolis. Basically, it’s a small mountain of marble where people met. During the Classical period, it was used as an assembly place for judicial tribunals for major crimes. When Paul was in Athens, the Areopagus had also become a popular gathering place to discuss and debate ideas. The council of the Areopagus was composed of 100 members, including philosophers, scholars, and former officials of Athens.

According to Acts, Chapter 17, it was here at the Areopagus that Paul engaged the “professional thinkers” of Athens. Paul very wisely acknowledged the broad spiritual curiosity of the Athenians, which provided a natural opening for a conversation about God." - from Drive Thru History.

The Areopagus Sermon Is A Model Of Cross-Cultural Evangelism

"The Areopagus sermon refers to a sermon delivered by Apostle Paul in Athens, at the Areopagus, and recounted in Acts 17:16–34. The Areopagus sermon is the most dramatic and most fully-reported speech of the missionary career of Saint Paul...

The sermon addresses five main issues:

• Introduction: Discussion of the ignorance of pagan worship (verses 23–24)
• The one Creator God being the object of worship (25–26)
• God's relationship to humanity (26–27)
• Idols of gold, silver and stone as objects of false worship (28–29)
• Conclusion: Time to end the ignorance (30–31)

This sermon illustrates the beginnings of the attempts to explain the nature of Christ and an early step on the path that led to the development of Christology."

Areopagus sermon. (2023, December 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areopagus_sermon//

St. Paul Preaching At The Areopagus Of Athens

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The Areopagus Sermon Shows Us How To Speak To Different Cultures Of Non Believers About Jesus (Acts 17: 22-31, New American Standard Bible (NASB))

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 

²³ For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 

²⁴ The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; 

²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 

²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 

²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 

²⁸ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ 

²⁹ Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. 

³⁰ So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 

³¹ because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”

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So, It Was The End - And Another Beginning

Paul often was chased from places by nonbelievers who meant to do him harm. This was not the case in Athens. He had presented a foreign religion to the city of idols and pagan gods and lived to tell about it. His time in Athens was over.

Paul was free to leave the city and go on his way. However, his preaching in the synagogues, public spaces and the Areopagus had made a solid impact. There were many (including some notable citizens) who accepted Jesus as their savior because of his work.

Many scholars to this day laud Paul's work in the pagan city of Athens. The scriptural record proves he was able to deliver a masterful sermon to a crowd that could have become hostile. He preached at an important landmark to a powerful group of attendees and came away with converts to carry on the work of Jesus. And he never even used the name of Jesus.

Paul's work there had ended, but It was a new beginning for the Christian church in Athens - and beyond.

Author's Note:

Please understand I'm just another sinner saved by grace who is doing my best to follow Jesus and overcome the challenges in our wonderful world to fulfill any missions given to me by God. He has blessed me with with the ability to research and write and the gift of discernment. I pray these writing and images add enjoyment, depth, and understanding to your missions as you progress in the Christian faith.

The Blessing

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)