The True And Living God Series

Acts 17:22-34 The True and Living God

Paul’s had come from Thessalonica, Greeks saved so Jews rioted forcing Paul and Silas to flee to Berea - Paul preached - Jews of Thessalonica followed - After the uproar, Paul came to Athens alone.

I. The Dilemma in Athens -

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens,

I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

(a) Their Confusion - ye are too superstitious - spiritual confusion

(b) Their Compromise - 23 as I passed by, and beheld your devotions,

I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

(c) Their Complacency - Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,

Mark 7:6 Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written,

This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

II. The Declaration in Athens - 23 him declare I unto you. He reveals:

(a) The Power of God - The Great Creator & Controller

24 God that made the world and all things therein

(b) The Position of God - seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth

Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

(c) The Presence of God - dwelleth not in temples made with hands

1 Cor.3:16 – Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(d) The Provision of God - 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;

(e) The Perception of God - 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

(f) The Pre-eminence of God - 26 hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

(g) The Pursuit of God - 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: - It's Possible and Profitable to know the unknown God

(h) The Patience of God - 30 times of this ignorance God winked at;

(i) The Precept of God -

30 but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Repentance is :- Compulsory - commandeth

Comprehensive - all men every where (No Exceptions)

Critical - To Repent - Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

(j) The Punishment of God - 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

(k) The Promise of God - 31 whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Rom.8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

III. The Decisions in Athens

(a) Rejection -

32 when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked.

(b) Reservation - others said, We will hear thee again of this matter

(c) Reception - 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.