By Michael Yong

“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.” (Acts 17:17-18 ESV)

Athens was filled with idols and teachings of all kinds. The people were religious. They even had an altar “To the unknown god,” for fear of missing out! They also had ears for all things new. In this city, philosophies flourished from great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and others. The teachings of these men still influence the way people think today.

When Paul came to Athens, he went about talking with people (Acts 17). He moved freely among those who knew the Old Testament and those who did not. Among the latter, he met the Epicureans and Stoics in the marketplace. Epicureans sought pleasure in this life since they denied there was life after death. This way of thinking has its supporters in today’s “existentialists,” those who live for the moment.

Stoics were fatalists, accepting whatever came their way. This viewpoint is found among those today who take whatever life throws at them, good or bad.

Paul engaged the Athenians with their different points of view. And he caught their attention with “some strange things to [their] ears” (17:20) when he spoke of Jesus and the resurrection. He was therefore brought before the Areopagus to present and defend his teaching. It is instructive how Paul presented the gospel in Acts 17:22-31 in that pluralistic culture. He used the thinking within their culture, for example, that men owed their existence to God and they were His offspring (17:28). Yet he made his points without compromising the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (17:31-32).

Paul earned a listening ear because he was able to engage with the ideas of his times.

This is what our staff are doing today. In this REACH, read how they gain a hearing for the gospel by drawing out the thoughts of the young people they are reaching out to.