Acts 17:22-31 Paul Demonstrates the Inclusivity of God
22 Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortal’s life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 29Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
The Acts of the Apostles: This book is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke. In it, Luke describes in graphic detail the life of the early Christian movement. The stories describe a community of people transformed and empowered by their personal and corporate experiences of the risen Christ. Acts was probably written in the generation immediately following the fall of Jerusalem, the middle period of New Testament history. It is generally thought to have been written around 85 A.D. which would have been about 50 years after Jesus’ ministry. The book is concerned with the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. That work of the Spirit is understood as the continuation and fulillment of salvation history.
The Areopagus is a prominent rock outcropping located northwest of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Its English name is the Late Latin composite form of the Greek name Areios Pagos, translated Hill of Ares, or Mars Hill. The name Areopagus also referred, to the Athenian governing council, later restricted to the Athenian judicial council or court that tried cases of deliberate homicide, wounding and religious matters, as well as cases involving arson of olive trees, because they convened in this location. The war god Ares was supposed to have been tried by the other gods on the Areopagus for the murder of Poseidon's son Halirrhothius. It is likely in this passage that Paul is speaking to the governing council as they meet in that place.
Today’s Passage: Paul has made his way to Athens on a preaching tour sometimes accompanied by Silas and Timothy. All three men are illed with the energy of early converts. They see signs and wonders in everything everywhere. The whole world looks like love to them now and more than anything else they want others to experience what they have experienced of life with the risen Christ. Finding a common denominator to speak to people with different beliefs and cultures about Christ has never been easy. How do we respect others deeply held views and still offer our own experiences? Paul masterfully finds a way to help them see that, even though they did not know it, they have been worshipping Christ all along.
About Judgement in the Bible: The word used here for “judged” means ‘to sort’ or ‘to sift.’ It is not just about pronouncing a sentence, although that can be part of it. The day of judgment is the day in which Christ will show us the truth of what our lives and choices have wrought. It is crucially important to note that judgment in the Bible is about truth telling. It is ALWAYS rendered for the purpose of truth and helping people make new and more life-giving choices. It is not punishment. It is opportunity. Its purpose is to redirect and to allow us to escape further pain through insight, awareness and new choices. While seeing our truth and the consequences of our actions can be daunting and painful, judgment, it is always intended for a good outcome.
Word Study
Vs. 22 – religious – In Greek this is a fascinating word (deisidaimonesteros) that refers to piety that leads to fear instead of worship. The motivation of faith and practice becomes the fear of consequences rather than the bliss of being loved and in the presence of God. Paul is saying, “I see how fear saturated your religious life is.”
Vs. 23 – looked carefully – This means to examine from all directions with an eye toward making connections.
Objects of worship – This refers to specific items used in worship. For us it would be things like our chalice, candles, hymnbooks, etc. They are objects that are intended to take us into a deeper state or worship or into the mysteries of God.
To an unknown God – The word here (agnostos) refers to one who is unknowable. The implication is that the worshippers know that there is something beyond what they have been able to comprehend. And they think that they can never comprehend it. They know, however, that that awesome unknowable one is worthy of their worship.
Worship – This word means to be in pious fear.
Unknown – this word means to not recognize, or to be unacquainted with.
Proclaim – (kataggello) means to declare openly, plainly, loudly.
Vs. 24 – God who made the world (kosmokrator) refers to one who has authority, makes the rules and puts everything in order.
Lord – This word refers to one who wields authority for the common good.
Shrines – (naos) Temples, the habitation of God.
Vs. 25 – life – (zoen) This word refers to the eternal life force in a person, not to biological life.
Breath – this word refers to wind, breath that is fit to breathe.
Vs. 26 – nations – (ethnos) This word usually refers to people groups. Paul ordinarily uses it, as here, to refer to all of humankind.
Allotted – Set boundaries upon
Live – This word means ‘to dwell.’
Vs. 29 – image – An object that is engraved.
Vs. 30 – overlooked – This word means to look past, to not allow something to define relationship.
Times – There are two different words in Greek for time. Kairos refers to a special, unique or ripe time. The word used here is a form of chronos which is like clock or calendar
time. The important thing in this construction is that it refers to a succession of moments, or an on-going situation.
Commands – I would render this word ‘declares.’
Repent – (metanoeo) This word is not the same as remorse. It is not just feeling sorry for an action, or for having been caught and called out. It means to turn and go in a different direction. It means to see things so clearly that it changes your whole worldview and paradigm.
Fixed – (histemi) Set or placed. The point is that God will intervene in our ignorance at some set point in life.
Judged – (krino) – see above
A Man – Paul is referring to Jesus
Assurance – This is the word for concrete proof.
Questions for Personal Reflection
1. Paul is illed with zeal for the people to whom he is speaking. He wants them to experience Christ as he has. Can you think of a time when you have felt that way? Who in your life today do you long to experience Christ?
2. Paul is dealing with people from an entirely different culture and religion. He is amazingly respectful of them. He recognizes that they long for God in the same way he does. He never tells them they are wrong, only that there is more. How do you relate to people who have different religious experiences or expectations than you? How can you enter into relationships of respect with them?
3. Paul looks for a common denominator with the people he is addressing. What are the common denominators that you might ind to address those with different or no faith in our day?
4. The people Paul is addressing have a faith tradition that seems to be energized largely by fear. Many in our day do as well. How do you see fear being used as a motivator for faith or morals in our time? How might you interject grace into those fear based places?
5. Judgment is a confusing and misunderstood topic in Biblical theology. We tend to think that God is mad at us and will push the smite button with the slightest provocation. This text argues against that notion with the statement that God overlooks our ongoing ignorance and will set a time to help us see more clearly and change our ways. Have you every experienced a moment of clarity like that that changed your direction dramatically?
6. Repentance is what happens, often, after a moment of judgment awakening. It leads us to go in a different direction and change our whole worldview. It leads us to sort the lies from truth, the good from bad, the better from best. Have you had moments of true repentance? How did those moments change you?