The God Who Made the World

Acts 17:16-34

Key Verse 17:24

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”

What distressed Paul about Athens? (16) What then did he do? (17) Why do you think he went out to the marketplace as well? What is the significance of the expression "day by day" in verse 17?

** Verse 16b, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” 

** Verse 17, “So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” Paul went to his usual synagogue ministry, but he also goes out to the marketplace day by day to reason with whoever happened to be there. 

** He was so distressed that he didn’t wait for the synagogue members to reject the message before going to the public areas, he did both concurrently. Paul engaged in a fishing and Bible study ministry “day by day”. He “reasoned” with both groups, in the synagogue and the marketplace. It means that he did not have simply one-sided preaching, but he engaged with them to know and accept the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. His fishing and bible study ministry was the way to combat the satanic influence which was so great in Athens which was the capital of Greece. He tried to urgently fight the idolatrous influence and meet as many people as possible.

Who began to dispute with Paul? (18a) What are the main characteristics of the two groups (Epicurean and Stoic)? What was Paul preaching? (18b) How did they respond? (19-21)

** Verse 18, “A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.” 

** Philosophers. Both groups sought to find the best way of life, but without God. Epicureans are a branch of Hedonism. They sought to maximize pleasure, particularly through reducing pain. Stoics tried to exceed in intelligence and morality. They also tried to reduce pain through doing away with destructive emotions which caused wanting and consequently suffering. Both groups, though different, were interested in Paul’s message. Despite their knowledge and philosophy, they did not have life. 

** The good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

** They did not understand Paul at all. They called him a “babbler,” meaning his words were like blah blah blah—without understanding. They also weren’t even sure if he was advocating foreign gods, it wasn’t clear to them (18). So they brought Paul to the Aeropagus for investigation. The Aeropagus had a tradition for being a place to investigate corruption in the city.

Read verses 22-25. What did Paul teach them about: 1) themselves; and 2) God? How is God different from the Athenian gods (or idols, in general)? Why is it important to teach that God is the Creator? 

** 1) they were very religious—the proof was that they even had an altar to an unknown God. Although they were focused on philosophy and ideas, they were also seeking God. He was trying to hook them to listen to the message. 

2) God: God is the Creator of all things in heave and on earth. He is the Lord of all things.

Here, Paul changed the focus of his message. He realized that his previous message was not understood, so he adapted to their level to help them, and had a Genesis Bible study with them.

** God is very different from their idols. He is not designed by humans in any way, either in his living place, his form, or service. He is not needy at all, but completely self-sufficient. In fact, he is the source of life for all things. “He gives all men life and breath and everything else.”

** So that we would seek him and have life. He is the source of life. But when people do not know where the source of life is, they chase after all kinds of other things only to be led to death. For example, these philosophers chased ideas to find life, but were completely unsatisfied and slaves to sin. 

How did God work in human history? (26) Why? (27) What happens when men "seek him" and "reach out for him"? (27) What does it mean that "he is not far from each one of us"? (27b-28)

** Verse 26, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” 

** So that men would seek him and find him.  God worked from one man, Adam. Although Adam sinned, he did not give up on Adam. From this one man he made every nation of men, even setting the times and dates and locations. God wants to restore man to himself. He did not give up on mankind. 

** They will find him.

** Actually, God is infinitely far from sinful man, for a man cannot restore himself to God and take care of his sin problem. But God is not far from each one of us because he can be sought and found. He has arranged all things for each person to come to him. He made the way possible through sending his Son Jesus Christ who paid the price of sin and opened the way of justification and life through his resurrection.

How should we not think about God? Why? (29) What does God now command all people everywhere? (30) What day is coming? (31) Who is the man appointed to judge the world? How did God reveal this?

** We should not think of God as an idol, meaning something that we make up or serve or design or take care of. God is not our toy or vending machine.

** We are his “offspring”. It means that we must think of God and come to him as our Father.

** The day of judgment.

** Jesus Christ.

** God raised him from the dead.

How did the people respond? (32-34) Why is it important to teach about the day of judgment and resurrection? What do you learn from Paul's ministry in Athens?

** They listened well until he spoke about the resurrection. They had a problem with this. If one accepts the resurrection, then he has no excuse, but must repent and turn to God. The resurrection is very practical and it moved the Athenians beyond the level of ideas and thinking, so some had enough when Paul got to this point.

** To help people to turn to God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. We need to know the direction of our lives and how we will be accountable for what we have done.