Someone once said that the Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—They had gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and many others. But in all of their galaxy of gods, there never was one called “god of hope” or the “god of mercy” or the god of love” (Evie Megginson).
Those nations had numerous gods… but they didn’t have gods who cared for them. Their gods had to be appeased and bribed not to harm them.
By contrast, one ancient scholar said “I have read from Plato and Cicero sayings that are very wise and beautiful; but I never read in either of them: ‘Come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’” Augustine of Hippo
According to our text in Acts 17…Paul was preaching in Athens, and Athens was the intellectual center of the world. They had one of the greatest universities of that day. Their city was a center of philosophy, literature, science and art. Some of the greatest philosophers and thinkers lived there: Euripides, Plato and Socrates, and it was here in Athens… where the idea of Democracy took root. (Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible)
They also had lots of gods… just like every other nation did. Someone noted that in Athens it was easier to find an idol than it was to find a man. It’s estimated that they had over 30,000 idols in the city that they worshipped - and just in case they missed one they had an idol to an “unknown god.”
30,000 idols??? That’s a lot of gods. And Acts 17:16 tells us that Paul’s “spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.” It had been drilled into the minds of God’s people (like Paul) that idols were essentially worthless. Not only did they NOT offer mercy, hope or love they didn’t offer anything else either.
Psalm 115:3-8 mocks the idea of idols. It says “OUR GOD is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (But) their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; Eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; Noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; Feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.”
Their gods couldn’t say anything, do anything or go anywhere without help.
Essentially, anyone who worshipped these useless idols was foolish. And the Psalm ends by saying “O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is your help and your shield.” You can count on your God. He will always be there for you! Not like those lifeless idols.
So here in Athens – the center of wisdom and learning in the ancient world - the place where the true intellectuals of the day lived – the city of Athens had 30,000 of these worthless idols. And now Paul has been invited to preach to these folks at a place called the Areopagus - a place where respected leaders and intellectuals would gather to discuss important matters. (https://www.gotquestions.org/Areopagus.html)
One of the internet sites I visited said that this was the classic confrontation of reason and religion. NO IT WASN’T! This was the confrontation of faith and foolishness. It was the confrontation of the one true God vs. the graveyard of empty idolatry.
Now Paul knew that you never get a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, and so Paul doesn’t start by insulting or demeaning his audience. Instead, he says “I can see you are a very religious people.” And he was right… they’ve got like 30,000 idols. But then he said something like this: “You know I couldn’t help but notice that you had one idol to an unknown god. So, let me tell you about Him.”
And then he says: 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…” Acts 17:24-26
You know, that’s why we’re here today. We believe that every nation on earth has descended from a man named Adam, and this is our UNITY SUNDAY. It’s a special worship, to celebrate the fact that we are one people. One family. We may come from various parts of globe - South America, Mexico, Burma… and more, and we may speak English, Spanish, and Burmese. But our God created all of us from one man (Adam). We are one people, one family, because there’s only one RACE of people on earth - the race of Adam. We are all descendants of Adam and Eve.
Now, didn’t the Athenians believe that? Didn’t they believe there was only ONE RACE of people. Well, not really! As far the Athenians were concerned, they were superior to everybody else. Everyone who wasn’t like them was a foreigner and were subjected to discrimination and mistreatment. Other folks just weren’t worth their time. Athens believed that their gods (all 30,000) favored THEM, and so they believed they were superior to everyone else.
You know - it’s what you think that determines what you’ll do.
ILLUS: When I was 5 years old, I was a fan of old westerns. I knew all about the Lone Ranger, Gene Autry, and others. And after watching all those western heroes on the screen I became convinced that if you could just get to Texas, there was much silver and gold just lying on the ground, that if you could get there, you’d get rich in a hurry. So, I convinced another 5-year-old to join me on a trip to Texas. We saddled up our ponies (a horse head on a stick) and started out for Texas.
Now, the only major city we knew of was Angola… about 5 miles to the east. That was a long way off from our homes. And in case you wondered, Texas was way South and West of our homes. But we didn’t know that. As far as we were concerned… Texas just had to be just on the other side of that city. That was all we knew about our entire world. So… that’s where we went.
Well, we made it about ½ way to Angola when my dad caught up with us. He took me home... and he explained to me (in no uncertain terms) that I was NEVER to do that again. And I had a hard time sitting down for a while. You see - what I thought (about Texas) determined what I did.
In the same way - what you think about God, will determine what YOU do. Paul said “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…” Acts 17:24-26
We are ONE people. ONE family. ONE RACE who’ve descended from ONE MAN. And that ONE man was created by the ONE GOD. That one true God was NOT made in our image - we’ve been made in His.
And because of that (the fact that we’ve been made in His image) we ALL are equal in His eyes. Each one of you here has value. And do you know why you have value? You have value because… He loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for your sins.
Now, there was one more thing that caught my attention here. He’s given us everything that we have. 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. But while God doesn’t NEED anything… there is one thing God wants. He wants YOU!
CLOSE: Acts 17:30-31 tells us “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."
You know what Paul was saying here? He was saying - YOU NEED Jesus! God knows all the shameful and sinful things you’ve done in the past, and He’s willing to overlook all that if you’ll do one thing. JUST REPENT! Determine to change your life! Decide to turn to Jesus and receive His forgiveness
ILLUS: My 3-year-old granddaughter was eating breakfast, and suddenly she held out her hands and said “Jesus died on the cross for us”. And I told her… that must have hurt a lot, and she agreed. Jesus suffered for us. Jesus suffered, and died… and then rose from the dead that we might be forgiven of our sins.
That’s why Acts 2:38 says "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
