“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the market-place day by day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17:16-17)
Athens of the first century was not as politically influential as it had been hundreds of years earlier, but it was still regarded as a great center of learning, philosophy, and mythology. It was the latter that distressed Paul when he arrived in Athens on his second trip proclaiming Jesus.
The statement that “the city was full of idols” was not an understatement. Pliny recorded that there were more than 3,000 public statues – or idols – of gods, demigods, and heroes. One Roman poet remarked that it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man. Barclay in his commentary on Acts of the Apostles wrote: “there were more statues of the gods in Athens than in all the rest of Greece put together” (1955: 141).
This gives you a flavor of why Paul was so distressed as he walked around this city. When tourists visit Athens today they are in awe at the art and architecture – Paul saw this for what it was: idolatry.
He had discussions with all that he could, including the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (Acts 17:18). In order to learn more from Paul they finally took him to the Areopagus. Luke tells us what it was like to be in Athens at that time. “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas” (Acts 17:21). From what is recorded elsewhere, the common greeting of the day in Athens was: “What is new?” or “What is newer?” They lived to learn the latest new idea and philosophy. So when someone came along with something that sounded “different” they wanted to know more.
Paul spoke to them about a shrine he had seen, one that was dedicated to “the unknown God” (Acts 17:23). It would seem they were afraid of leaving any “god” out so they had shrines to “unknown gods” just to be on the safe side. Paul took his cue from this: he would tell them about the “unknown God” which they were trying to worship but doing so without knowing anything about God.
The God Paul served was different from the gods of Greek mythology. He is the Creator of everything. In fact he doesn’t need temples and shrines because he can’t be contained in them. He doesn’t even need offerings of food. Instead of relying on humans for his support, he is the one who gives all people life and everything they have. Statues or pictures cannot accurately portray him. And this God wants to have a relationship with people – we need to seek him because he is not far from any of us. What God wants is for all people to change their lives because there is a coming day of judgment by a man that God has appointed. He has proven this by raising this man from the dead.
This is not only what the Athenians needed to hear, this is what people need to hear today. Are those around us far different from those in Athens? Aren’t people attracted by the latest, newest idea and teaching? For some reason people think what is new must be better than what we find in the “old” Bible. They embrace the latest ideology, no matter how illogical it may be.
The message for people today is the same message that Paul gave those in Athens: all need to change their lives and serve the God who created all things. We all need to be ready for the coming day of judgment. May we seek God and help others to seek and find him.