The Unknown God Made Known

Passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul came to Thessalonica. For three Sabbath days he reasoned from the Scriptures. He explained and showed that the Christ had to suffer and rise again, and he said, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." Some were persuaded. But others, moved with envy, gathered a mob and set the city in an uproar. They accused the believers of acting against Caesar's decrees, saying there was another king, Jesus.

The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica. They received the word with all readiness of mind and examined the Scriptures daily. Many believed, including prominent Greek women and not a few men. When agitators arrived from Thessalonica, Paul was sent to the sea and then to Athens.

Waiting at Athens, Paul saw the city full of idols, and his spirit was provoked. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers called him a babbler and a setter forth of strange gods, because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. Standing in the middle of the Areopagus, Paul said they were very religious. He had found an altar TO AN UNKNOWN GOD, and he would announce to them what they worshiped in ignorance.

He declared that the God who made the world is Lord of heaven and earth. "He isn't served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath and all things." From one blood he made every nation and set their times and boundaries, that they should seek him. He quoted their own poets: in him we live, move, and have our being, and we are his offspring. God overlooked the times of ignorance but now commands all people everywhere to repent. He has appointed a day and gave assurance by raising a man from the dead. Some mocked; others wanted to hear more; and some joined him, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.