Posted: 5/10/07
BaptistWay Bible Series for May 20
Sharing the gospel with skeptics
• Acts 17:10-11, 16-34
Baptist Standard, Dallas
Sharing the gospel is work, and hard work, if it is taken seriously. There is no substitute for personal, verbal witnessing.
In chapter 16, the Apostle Paul, for the first time, experienced Gentile hostility, not from religious sources but from secular ones. The opposition was strong and determined with unfounded charges. Paul encounters a crowd that had little knowledge or respect for the Scriptures or the worship of God. What happened would have sent most people packing for home and security.
The Holy Spirit had led Paul out of the frying pan and into the fire. Struggles and persecution do not signify a mistake by Paul. Paul could have been the inspiration for our saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Confronting a more secular crowd brought out the courage, desire and perseverance of Paul.
Paul had come to the base of the hardest and highest mountain of skepticism and began his climb through frigid glaciers of adversity to the crest. The miraculous release from the dungeon jail in Philippi gave him encouragement that nothing would deter the work of the Holy Spirit, not even the hardest and most skeptical mindset.
The studied genius of Paul welcomed the intellectual challenges to his faith in Christ as he longed earnestly for their salvation. The Macedonian call would require a great effort in persistence and faith.
A skeptic is a skeptic, whether Jew or Gentile. Skepticism crosses all life views. A skeptic will deny the possibility of real knowledge and generally will doubt, question or suspend judgment on accepted truths such as religious beliefs.
The Pharisees were skeptical of Christ, relying on their traditions and covenant law. The philosophers were skeptical of Christ, relying on human reason. Both law and reason have their respective places but are inadequate as a complete guide to life. Both need faith to function with astuteness and fairness. Thomas was skeptical of the resurrection and would not believe until he could touch the wounds of the risen Christ.
1 John 1:1 attacks skepticism by referring to that “which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched.” An open mind is needed for Scripture or reason to overcome skepticism and will lead to faith. Faith supports law and reason and then searches for what lies beyond them. Law and reason are human, while faith is divine.
Scripture as the primary tool in witnessing (Acts 17:1-15)
After the earthquake at Philippi, the magistrates released Paul and Silas to “go in peace” (16:36). Paul did not slink out of town but rebuked the magistrates, accusing them of violating his rights as a Roman citizen by beating and incarcerating him without a trial. Returning briefly to Lydia’s home, Paul and Silas left, taking Timothy with them, leaving behind Luke to assist the new little congregation at Philippi (16:38-40).
Leaving Philippi, this missional team traveled about 100 miles west, through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, the central city of the area. The local synagogue was his first stop, and he preached to them on three successive Sabbaths, striving to prove to them the Scriptures had been fulfilled, and Christ was the suffering Messiah who had risen from the dead. Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead” (17:2-3).
Luke describes his success: “Some of the Jews were persuaded … a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women” (v. 4). Jealous Jews, opposing Paul and Silas, “rounded up some bad characters … formed a mob and started a riot in the city” (v. 5) with a similar kind of accusation as at Christ’s crucifixion that “they are defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus” (v. 7). The opposition was radical, making it impossible to continue the mission.
Paul and Silas are sent away by the brothers from Thessalonica to Berea, where they would find a more “noble” crowd. Reason told them to seek safety, but in spite of the previous uproar, these two went to the synagogue to preach, and their hearers “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (vv. 10-11). An honest and open search of Scripture revealed to the seekers the identity of Christ, and many, both Jews and Greeks, responded.
People who have a respect and appreciation for God’s word are easier to bring to faith. Scripture becomes a vital participant because it is “living and active.” “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates … and … judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). When Christians go and share the truth of Scripture, the Holy Spirit can pierce the open heart and bring people to faith.
The angry, evil rowdies from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up opposition. Paul was escorted 200 miles to Athens. Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea to reunite with Paul “as soon as possible” (Acts 17:13-15).
The Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica and Berea provided Paul with a congregation knowledgeable of the sacred text. Those who worshipped God, practiced monotheism and were familiar with the contents of Scripture were better equipped to understand and grasp the meaning of the expected Christ.
Paul’s rabbinical studies in Scripture gave him the tools to logically show Jesus was the Christ, along with sharing his testimony of salvation. The Bible is God’s word, the revelation of God, God-breathed by the Holy Spirit, and the authoritative guide for faith and behavior. Notice Paul’s messages were scrutinized, tested and evaluated on the basis of God’s word. Our authoritative source for God’s teachings is the Holy Scriptures.
Reason as the primary tool in witnessing (Acts 17:16-34)
Athens was and is an awesome city, the mother of culture and brilliance, of art and architecture, of politics and power, of philosophy and reason, and the sacred seat of paganism. The accomplishments of Greek civilization was so extraordinary and famous that the people had every reason to be proud. One of the most extraordinary sights in the world is the majestic Parthenon, alluringly dominating the Acropolis. Under profound and brilliant leadership, Greek independence developed its democracy, art, science, philosophy, institutions, poetry and architecture. Statues of idol gods were everywhere made of marble, stone, wood, silver and gold, artistic symbols of man’s search for spiritual meaning.
Athens was the glory of sophisticated civilization, though its significance had waned some by the time of Paul. At this time, the Athenians lived mostly in past glories. Together, let’s note Paul’s assessment of Athens, his passion and boldness for his purpose, his appropriate strategy, and his intended results.
Paul was alone in Athens waiting on his missionary mates to come. His eyes saw the beauty of the city, but his mind was on the idols, which were an affront to God who declared in Scripture: “I am the Lord your God … You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything” (Deuteronomy 5:6-8).
Paul’s spirit was stirred and he was “greatly distressed to see the city was full of idols” (17:16). What Paul saw provoked a holy rage within his spirit. Paul understood that by worshipping many gods, the Athenians worshipped nothing at all.
Paul was not on vacation in Athens, taking tours around town while he waited for his colleagues. His spirit provoked, Paul took the initiative to look for his audience, starting “in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks” (v. 17). Next, the marketplace, the focus of public life, provided daily opportunity to discuss his Christian faith with “those who happened to be there” (v. 17). Paul also challenges the “Epicurean and Stoic philosophers” who “dispute with him” (v. 18).
Paul takes on all levels socially, spiritually and intellectually. His confidence in the Lord and his preparation emboldened him to share with anyone who would engage him in conversation. He was fearless of opposition, mockery, insult, debate or failure. He used different methodologies in different situations and different groups. His “reasoning,” his “preaching” and his disputing attracts considerable attention (v. 18). As he witnesses, he must have researched their mindset, arguments, logic, devotion, carnality, family life, world view, education, values and issues.
The Epicureans, accepting the teachings of Epicurus of Athens, believed pleasure was the highest good of all and should be the god of life. They were materialists, fond of luxury and excess, who acknowledged distant gods who were uninvolved in human affairs.
The Stoics, founded by Zeno of Cyprus, harmonized life through reason, believing that all things are governed by unvarying natural laws. A wise man must follow virtue or morality, discovered through reason, and must remain indifferent to the external world, to passion, pleasure, joy, grief and pain. Theologically, god was in everything.
Both of these rational, philosophical systems were spiritually antithetical to Christianity. With no common ground to build on, Paul had to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit, his reason, his debating skills, his compassion for sinners and the truth he possessed.
Held in contempt, Paul was mocked as a babbler (v. 18). However, curiosity won out to hear and know about this new concept, new philosophy, new system of ideas (vv. 19-21). Paul was led to the Areopagus, a highly respected community council with the authority to judge on matters of public concerns, to present his explanation or lecture. Around him are the inquirers, the idol images and symbols of decadence and he preaches to them the resurrected Christ.
Finding common ground (Acts 17:22-23)
Paul chose an introduction that adapted to the context of his listeners, but focused on his issue of proclamation by complimenting them on being very religious, an indication of an innate, unfulfilled spiritual desire. Without the benefit of Scripture, Paul sought a common denominator that would link him to his audience. He quoted from local authorities to support his point and uses a familiar altar inscription, “To An Unknown God,” to make his point.
Paul is brilliant in playing off the basic spiritual need, using visuals of their own design, taking advantage of their cherished leaders and leading them to his message with “… what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you” (v. 23). In a few brief words, Paul has commanded their attention and created a teachable moment.
Presenting the thesis (Acts 17:24-29)
Addressing the skeptics who have no background in Scripture or worship of one living God, Paul led them to monotheism by identifying the “unknown god” they worshipped as “the Lord of heaven and earth” who “does not live in temples built by hands” (v. 24). God is first a gracious giver who made all mankind and determined their place of habitation.
Because of his creation, man is to seek and search for God though God is near and everywhere and “in him we live and move and have our being” (v. 28). Paul reasoned that since Athenians believed their poet who says of this “unknown God” that “we are his offspring,” how could they “think” a god can be a lifeless statue of stone, an idol, “an image made by man’s design and skill” (17:29).
How can life or offspring come from a slab of marble? Rather, mankind is the offspring of the one God. Man can know God who is personal, powerful, living and who can be one with the spirit of man.
Summon to action (Acts 17:30-31)
Paul was direct but not unkind when he refers to such “ignorance,” for he already has addressed the issue of the “unknown.” God, who once overlooked such ignorance, now calls for every single person to “repent” for there is a day to come when God will “judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed” (vv. 30-31). Then comes the crucial but essential issue of faith in that God’s eternal proof to “all men” was raising Christ from the dead (v. 31).
Response (Acts 17:32-34)
The very mention of the “resurrection of the dead” brought smirks and sneers to some while others responded with curiosity for additional discussion. Paul had preached his sermon and left the council having fulfilled his mission to preach the gospel to the astute minds of these skeptics. He was successful in that “a few men became followers of Paul and believed” (v. 34). Without any background in Scripture, God’s Spirit worked through the rational logic of Paul to bring the miracle of faith.
Summary
Paul used reason, the primary tool of the rationalist, to shatter their flawed logic and cut through the wrapping to get to the heart of the matter. He out-thought the thinkers and out-rationalized the rationalists to unmask the chinks in their system of logic. He argued for faith in a personal God of the universe by proving the rationalist had come to the wrong conclusions. Paul’s reasoning brought him to the living God while their reason brought them to idol statues. The difference was faith in the resurrected Christ. Faith and reason go together like two sides of the same coin.
Discussion question
• How can churches share the gospel with people who do not believe the Bible or have a high opinion of the church as previous generations did?
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