A Trip to Mars
Acts 17:22-29
Vv.22
Then Paul stood in the mist of Mars Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious,
*** Notice how calm Paul is.. he is not ripping them a part for there worship, but calmly
stating to them that they were missing the point of worship.
***Superstitious means they were giving reverence to all gods or demons. Giving them a
compliment on there worship and that they are very religious, even to the Unknown
God.
***Athens was a city of great teachers, scholars, attorneys, and judges. Men and women
of great smarts, people from everywhere were gathering there, and as the result of all
the gods they worshiped came with. And Paul calmly gives a reply to “there” sign!
Vv23
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found a altar with the inscription, To The Unknown God, whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
*** Paul again calmly is talking to them expressing there ignorance of who God is!
Vv24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
***He is stating to them that it is foolish to compare the Creator to the creature. Or to
limit him to 1 place, or to try to lure him with gifts, He the all supreme, all knowing,
all loving, all for giving, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Vv25
Neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.
***This, as easy as it is , is a direct smack in the face to them, telling them that there
would be no images made of him or offerings and sacrifices made to him.
But that He himself would be the sacrifice to them.
And He is not to be worshiped by hands, for He does not have need of anything, He is the giver of all life, breath, and all things!
***THESE PEOPLE WERE THERE ON THE HILL TO SEE AND HERE THE NEW
AND LATEST THING IN RELIGION THAT WAS TO COME BY!
***IT WAS A CAPITAL OFFENCE TO PREACH A NEW DEITY IN ATHENS,
PAUL JUST USED THE INSCRIPTION THEY HAD POSTED AS HIS TEXT,
AND THEN DECLARED THE UNKNOWN GOD TO THEM.
***HE WAS NOT BRINGING IN A NEW DEITY, BUT JUST MAKING KNOWN
THE ONE THEY ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED!
Vv26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of there habitations.
*** God is wonderful in all his works, but especially in the work of man. Not that we
should stand amazed at his work, but we should lift our eyes unto the workman (God)
and His wonderful grace.
Vv27
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, & find him, though he be not far from every one of us.
***That they might grope after Him, ’ feel for hHim ’ as a blind person would do, to find
there way.
He is close to us, we can sense Him, and even feel His presence among us.
Vv28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being, as certain also of your poets have said, for we are also his offspring.
***He is our very source of existence: the principle of life and motion come from Him.
“and we have our being” which means we are alive in Him, work though in Him, and
are in Him.
***With out Him, we not only can do nothing, but we are nothing. We are, or continue to
be because His is everlasting.
Vv29
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold,silver, or stone, graven by art or mans device.
***If we are his offspring, He cannot be like those images of gold, silver, or stone,
which are formed by man and art, the parent must resemble his offspring.
***If we being alive! And are much more alive that images, even more intelligent beings,
how much more is the creator?
Vv30-32
Read and comment on as the Lord leads to close the service !!!
Pastor Stepp
4/29/08
