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Paul Teaches in Athens Acts 17:16-31

BIBLe BACKGROUND FOR LEADERS

Saul Is Converted altars and sacrificed to the unknown god—among all their “known” gods—just to be sure. Paul proclaimed the true God and even quoted two ancient poets of As Saul traveled on the road to Damascus, he met the region: Epimenides and Aratus (Acts 17:28) in an Jesus and was powerfully converted. Saul quickly effort to connect the truth about God with the stories became the outspoken follower of Jesus that we about their false gods. know today as the Apostle Paul. The name “Paul” is simply the Greek version of “Saul,” and as Paul The Jesus Connection ministered among non-Jews, he was referred to by the Greek name. Friendship with Jesus is so powerful that the desire Paul Travels and Preaches for it lies in each of our hearts. While people may look for satisfaction in false gods, only Jesus can bring true peace. Following his conversion experience, Paul preached about Christ everywhere he went, and he traveled a Read Acts 17:16-31. Keep an eye out for how each lot. He was persecuted numerous times for his faith, group of people was different from Paul. Why was even escaping from prison once. His missionary he able to love people with different beliefs instead travels included trips with Barnabas, Silas, and of judging them? In your life, who lives according to Timothy, and he covered much of Greece and what is values radically different from yours? How can you now Turkey. show Jesus’ love to that person? Pray that God will reveal how you can connect with different people in Today’s passage finds Paul waiting for Silas and order to show them his love. You can write your prayer Timothy to join him in Athens. But rather than sit and here. relax, Paul toured the city and was troubled by the false worship he saw.

Paul Engages the Philosophers of Athens

The two types of philosophers Paul debated were almost exact opposites. The Epicureans taught that people couldn’t connect with the gods at all, so there was no reason to seek moral good. Their highest value was pleasure. The Stoics saw God as the sum of logic and reason. But they saw God as distant— no one could have a personal relationship with him. Emotions were to be denied; personal discipline and morality were highly valued.

Before the Areopagus, Paul addressed the Greeks’ fear of accidentally offending any god by failing to recognize and worship it. That’s why they erected

Adult Lesson 13 Spring Quarter