The Pilgrim Path---Acts 17: 22 – 28

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being LORD of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for

“’In him we live and move and have our being’; (probably Epimenides of Ancient Crete)

As even some of your own poets have said,

“’For we are indeed his offspring.’ (from Aratus’s poem “Phainomena”)

“THE AREOPAGUS…”

---Paul goes where the action is: the supreme tribunal / Mars Hill, the Council that met below the Acropolis in the royal portico. In Roman times they made determinations about everything from education to religion.

---Paul has a different manner with these Gentiles---but not a different Message than he had with the Jews in the synagogue! The Gospel is still the same…

---Paul gives us incredible Holy Spirit guidance as to “how” to speak to a culture full of gods. It is said of ancient Athens that it had, “more gods than men.” Our land is full of “isms”---error---and religions galore. Do you ever “wonder” how do we begin to speak to these idolatrous souls about us?

---Paul says I see you Athenians are very particular in your “religious” observance (gracious gesture). Then he notes they have an altar that is “empty”---but designated to the “unknown god.” Wow---how beautifully he capitalizes on that! “I am here to introduce you to HIM.” HE made everything---and we live and move and have our being in HIM!

---Paul is quick to point out this Creator God made the “first” man---from whom we all descend. Wow---now Dr. Luke does not expand on this part of the sermon, but I just bet Paul briefly talked about the First Adam “separating” the world (v. 26) from God by his rebellion---because God sent the Second Adam into the World (Jesus)---the One by Whom he will judge ALL humanity at the resurrection…

---Paul beautifully tells these hearers that they are not accidents, cosmic fodder, specs in universe---NO, they are image bearers of the Living God---and Paul is “building” in his sermon toward a caring Redeemer ---who did not leave humanity to be forever lost---HE sent His Son! This is amazing and grand. Like the missionaries with New Tribes Mission (now—Ethnos360)---Paul goes to creation---and tells the story of redemption from the first man---to the Perfect Man…

---Paul must have really loved these LOST people. LORD help me care about LOST people…

From Thomas Manton: We were made for God; it is the end of our creation. Therefore, this must be the business of our lives. God made us for himself, and man can never be happy without him. The purpose of God’s gracious forbearance with sinful man, after punishing apostate angels, was that we would seek and find him (Acts 17: 27)…The door of grace stands open for all comers!

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason