32-To the Unknown God (Acts 17:16-34)

Today, we pick up our study of Paul’s second missionary journey where we find him alone in the great city of Athens. Acts 17:15 tells us that he had been escorted on the 300 mile trip to Athens by some fellow believers due to Jewish opposition in Berea. Once they arrived with Paul, they immediately returned home with instructions from Paul to send Silas and Timothy as soon as possible.

 

Although Athens was no longer politically important, having been conquered by Rome in 146 B.C., the city was still the intellectual center of the world:

1. It was the site of the Acropolis and the Parthenon, one of the architectural wonders of the world.
2. It was a center of art, beauty, culture, and knowledge.
3. It was the academic and intellectual capital of the Greco-Roman world.
4. It was the home of the great philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and others.
5. It was the home of numerous idols and altars of worship:

           a. It was the home of the worship of Zeus and Bacchus

           b. It was the home of over 30,000 idols:  3,000 devoted to the goddess                         Aphrodite. Petronius, one of the ancient historians, said that is was easier                 to find a god in Athens than a man! (The population was approx. 10,000                   at the time)

Paul had heard about Athens since his earliest youth. But now, for the first time, he had the opportunity to actually visit and tour of this famous Greco-Roman city. Verse 16 tells us of his immediate and strong reaction!!