Paul preaches in Athens after leaving Berea. Some Athenians bring him before the Areopagus to explain his new teaching. Paul affirms the Athenians' religiosity by acknowledging their many altars and references an "unknown god" as a bridge to introducing his message. He explains that God created the world and humans, and though divine, does not dwell in temples or need anything from humans. Paul cites Greek poets to find common ground and fully explains the gospel message, including Jesus' resurrection, before leaving Athens for Corinth with some new believers.

1. Paul on Mars Hill
Acts 17:16-18:1

2. Review Acts 17

3. Philippi
Troas
Thessalonica
Jerusalem
Athens

4. Review
Thessalonica
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction

5. Review
Berea
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction
• Teachability: Receive the word eagerly

6. Review
Berea
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction
• Teachability: Receive the word eagerly
• Be Critical: Search the Scriptures daily to see if it is so

7. Review
Berea
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction
• Teachability: Receive the word eagerly
• Be Critical: Search the Scriptures daily to see if it is so
• No Gossip: Always go directly to the person with whom you have
an concern

8. Review
Berea
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction
• Receive the word eagerly
• Search the Scriptures daily to see if it is so
• No Gossip: Please go directly to the person with whom you have a
concern
• Kvetching: Please don’t kvetch behind someone’s back

9. Review
Berea
• For every action there is an opposite and equal reaction
• Receive the word eagerly
• Search the Scriptures daily to see if it is so
• No Gossip: Please go directly to the person with whom you have a
concern
• Kvetching: Please don’t kvetch behind someone’s back
• Don’t Major in Minors: If you can’t go to someone, then drop it

10. Athens, Greece

11. While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was
provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the
devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with
those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean
and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some
said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said,
“He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because
he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
(Acts 17:16–18 ESV)

12. They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying,
“May we know what this new teaching is that you are
presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears.
We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now
all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would
spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing
something new.
(Acts 17:19–21 ESV)

13. 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.
(Acts 17:22–23 ESV)

14. 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.
(Acts 17:24–27 ESV)

15. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we
live and move and have our being’; as even some of your
own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the
divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed
by the art and imagination of man.
(Acts 17:27–30 ESV)

16. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he
commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has
fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness
by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given
assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
(Acts 17:30–31 ESV)

17. When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about
this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men
joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius
the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others
with them. After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth
(Acts 17:32–18:1 ESV)

18. Synagogue in Athens

19. Acropolis in Athens

20. Areopagus in Athens

21. Paul Athenians
Jewish Concept Greek Concept
GOSPEL

22. Incarnational Ministry

23. Yeshua’s Incarnational Ministry
•Yeshua was born into Jewish world
•Yeshua learned Jewish culture & literature
•Yeshua was a citizen of ancient Israel
•Yeshua communicated to Jews as a Jew
•Yeshua engaged with Jews as a Jew

24. Paul’s Incarnational Ministry
•Paul was born into the Grecco Roman world
•Paul learned Greek culture & literature
•Paul was a citizen of Rome
•Paul communicated in Greek & Latin
•Paul engaged with Greeks as a Helenist

25. Paul immersed
himself

26. Hudson Taylor in
China

27. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews…To
those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not
being outside the law of God but under the law of Messiah)
that I might win those outside the law…I have become all
things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I
do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with
them in its blessings.
(1 Cor 9:20–23 ESV)

28. How did Paul Present the gospel

29. How did Paul Present the Gospel
Acts 17:16-18:1
1. Paul affirmed his audience
2. Paul identified a bridge to the gospel
3. Paul began with points of agreement
4. Paul used audience’s literature
5. Paul carefully explained ALL the gospel
6. Paul avoided alienating his audience

30. 1. Paul affirmed his audience
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

31. 2. Paul identified a bridge to the gospel
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.

33. 3. Paul began with points of agreement
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.

34. 4. Paul made use of audience’s literature
Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him
we live and move and have our being’; as even some of
your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his
offspring.’ (Acts 17:27–28 ESV)

35. Aratus
315-214 BC
Phaenomenon

36. 5. Paul explained ALL the gospel
He has
fi
xed a day on which he will judge the world in
righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of
this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the
dead. (Acts 17:31 ESV)

37. 6. Paul avoided alienating his audience
• Paul did NOT talk about the Jewishness of Jesus
• Paul did NOT highlight his own Jewishness
• Paul did NOT insult the Greek religion

38. 6. Paul avoided things that alienate
What are ways Christians offend & alienate seekers?

39. Only the Gospel
Should offend

40. So What?

41. So What?
1. Our message must be the entire gospel
2. Our method must start with personal connection
3. Our ministry must be incarnational

42. Messianic Incarnational Ministry

43. Getting to know your Jewish Neighbors

44. Christians in Love with Bible Jews

45. Christians in love with “Israel”

46. Christians in love with “Jewishness”

47. Those who care about Real Jews

48. Those who want to know Real Jews

49. How can you get to know Real Jewish people?

50. Pray
Together
If my people,
which are
called by my name, shall humble
themselves, zand przay, and seek my
face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.