TO THE UNKNOWN GOD
ACTS 17:22-25
ACTS 17:22-25 NKJ
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
OBSERVATION:
This passage is part of Paul's message to the Greeks at the Areopagus, better known as Mars Hill.
The city of Athens was well known for being an intellectual center and a city with many idols. When the philosophers heard Paul speak in the marketplace, they brought him to Mars Hill, more out of curiosity than anything else.
As Paul addressed those gathered, he used a different approach than his appeal to the Jews. In the synagogues, Paul would reason with the Jews out of the scriptures. Earlier in Chapter 17, we see him at Berea, where those Jews searched the scriptures to discern the accuracy of Paul's message.
On Mars Hill, Paul approached his listeners by relating to their acknowledgment of an unknown God. Paul did not try to reason with these Greeks out of the scriptures because he knew they had no knowledge or appreciation for the Jewish writings.
This appeal by Paul was not a watered-down version of the gospel. Paul first credits God with the creation of the world. It is interesting to note that Paul starts with God being the source of all that is created. He is the source of all life and all things. He winds up his sermon with Jesus being raised from the dead in verse 31. And it's the resurrection that ended his message. Some listeners mocked, others delayed, and some believed.
APPLICATION:
Today we still have to gauge our approach to people based on their knowledge of scripture. To those who know, we can reason. To those without knowledge, we have to look for a place to connect.
Acknowledging God as the Creator of heaven and earth is a good place to start. If people can accept that this world we live in did not just happen, that our world was created by a loving God, it makes everything else in the Bible totally plausible.
We start with the unknown God. We end with God sending His Son to be the Savior of the world. And that God raised Jesus from the dead.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge You as the Creator of the universe and everything that is in it. Thank You for loving me enough to send Jesus.