His formidable forehead concentrates its whole expression: with a fixed frown and threatening eye, he surveys the object of his indignation. They searched the Scriptures, i.e. Maybe God will be merciful and spare us." For people take some of these weird, far out ideas that these guys say and they just run with them. He is the Lord over the heaven and the earth. Therefore many of them believed From the manner in which they heard, received, and examined the word preached to them, it was not likely they could be deceived. And we have that kind of a mentality developed of exalting the man who has given to God, as though God needed something. What can you do for God?We're so weak in these areas, and yet, we hear that as the constant emphasis in ministry. How many people today are still worshipping God in ignorance? Sent away Paul and Silas by night Fearing some farther machinations of the Jews and their associates. God has made us all one. See Bp. But God, meet us at this place. And so this body-conscious life, and thus, I relate to the animals. He declared that pleasure came from a simple life. He waits, with an inclined head, in passive and serene expectation. The first survey of this figure conveys the nature of his peculiar philosophy-dignity and austerity. This city, which was the capital of Attica, and the seat of the Grecian empire was founded by Cecrops, about A.M. 2447, before Christ 1557, and was called by him Cecropia. He isn't worshipped by the works of man's hands. And what did he tell them about the unknown God? And they whip people into these hand-raising, praising experiences that I might be blessed. His expression, however, is evident: malice and vexation are depicted in his countenance; his stride, and the action of his hand, are characteristic of his temperament. The Jews of Thessalonica - stirred up the people. They should have said, "These men who have turned the world right side up have come hither." Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him ( Acts 17:18 ). So it had been over 300 years since the death of Epicurus. 1. Holloway's description of Raphael's Cartoon of Paul preaching at Athens. Therefore, I should not think of God as some lifeless statue that cannot see, that cannot speak, that cannot walk. lib. The Stoics said that the chief good was virtue. Where signs unerring show when best the soil. He fills the universe. But men are still worshipping Him ignorantly. 4. By this time, they had said the chief good of life was pleasure, thus you are to pursue after pleasure above everything else. StudyLght.org. The Jews in different parts had other places of worship called proseuchas. Others, to whom truth was of less value than the idle amusement of vain disquisition, felt no other motive than curiosity. And some said, What will this babbler say? So many times we want to make a big deal about our gifts to God. That there is another king, one Jesus. What do you give to someone who's got everything? The skill of Raphael in this instance is eminent. Brought him unto Athens This was one of the most celebrated cities in the world, whether we consider its antiquity, its learning, its political consequence, or the valour of its inhabitants. cap. And as we look around today we see man in his fallen state. Verse Acts 17:19. Now in times past God winked at ( Acts 17:30 ); Or overlooked the ignorance. His countenance expresses disgust, approaching to horror. And here in the Agura down there, I passed by this one little altar to the unknown god. Both these sects agreed in denying the resurrection of the body; and the former did not believe in the immortality of the soul. Earlier the charges were made against Peter by the high priest that he had filled the city of Jerusalem with the doctrine of Jesus Christ. "Beyond is a character in whose mind the force of truth and eloquence appears to have produced conviction; but pride, vanity, or self-interest, impel him to dissemble. And Paul was observing their devotions and he said. Apollon. People say a physical infirmity. Now it is interesting where Paul was persecuted, where they threw him in jail, where they beat him, he was ready to go right back to continue preaching. And to watch the people coming on their knees and dropping on their knees and crying and weeping as they're praying to this saint for some miracle to take place. Dionysius the Areopagite There can be no doubt that this man was one of the judges of this great court, but whether the president or otherwise we cannot tell. ( Psalms 116:12 ) And you know what he decided he could do? By well-timed culture, shall repay our toil, &c., &c. Aratus was a Cilician, one of St. Paul's own countrymen, and with his writings St. Paul was undoubtedly well acquainted, though he had flourished about 300 years before that time. Different Greek word entirely, but you know, this evangelist is espousing his doctrine that nobody should ever be sick. xxiv. And in describing the city of Athens in his history book, he also speaks of this altar to the unknown god. Please! So these brethren brought Paul, they accompanied him down to Athens while Timothy and Silas continued there in Berea to strengthen the brethren. Made of marble or gold or silver that is standing here on the corner that men come by and pray to and bow to and worship. The justice administered in this court was so strict and impartial, that, it was generally allowed, both the plaintiff and defendant departed satisfied with the decision. As though He needed anything. Men who are living after the flesh are not living as God intended men to live. The whole of this fine advantage, this grand stroke of rhetorical prudence, is lost from the whole account, by our translation, ye are in all things too superstitious, thus causing the defendant to commence his discourse with a charge which would have roused the indignation of the Greeks, and precluded the possibility of their hearing any thing he had to say in defense of his conduct. They took him, and brought him unto Areopagus The Areopagus was a hill not far from the Acropolis, already described, where the supreme court of justice was held; one of the most sacred and reputable courts that had ever existed in the Gentile world. They did not believe that any good was received from the hands of their gods; and considered, as Seneca asserts, that any good and wise man was equal to Jupiter himself. This is a case which frequently occurs where the Gospel is preached in its spirit and power. "When, from this detailed display of the cartoon, the eye again glances over the whole subject, including the dignity of the architecture; the propriety of the statue of Mars, which faces his temple; the happy management of the landscape, with the two conversation figures; the result must be an acknowledgment that in this one effort of art is combined all that is great in drawing, in expression, and in composition." And again, in vi. You can worship God beside your bed at home. They were wicked men of the forensic tribe. And I encourage you, don't just take what I say. "The Athenian writers give the same account of their fellow citizens. His disciples were called Stoics from the , a famous portico at Athens, where they studied. So we need to know, not what we can do for God, but what God has done for us. It stood in an island in the river Strymon, and had its name of Amphipolis because included between the two grand branches of that river where they empty themselves into the sea, the river being on both sides of the city. for he has given to all life, and breath, and all things ( Acts 17:25 ); So our emphasis should not be on what we should be giving to God, but the emphasis should be on what God has given to us. Whoever examines the remains of this city, as represented by Mr. Stuart in his Antiquities, already referred to, will be satisfied of the truth of St. Luke's remark: it was full of idols. Bp. Not so. And I can never have a satisfactory relationship with the animal kingdom. The other young man turns his head round, as though complaining of unreasonable interruption. Sufficient for the present, to prove that the apostles were upright, peaceable, and loyal men; and that Jason and his friends were the like, and would be, at any time, forthcoming to answer for their conduct. He applied these to Jesus Christ, showing that in him all these scriptures were fulfilled, and that he was the Saviour of whom they were in expectation. May God bless you. But the Jews taking, c., leaving out the words, , , which believed not, moved with envy: these words do not appear to be genuine there is the strongest evidence against them, and they should be omitted. Antecedently to the scene described in the picture, among the various characters already encountered by the apostle, many undoubtedly, in their speculations upon Divine subjects, had often imagined a sublimer religion than that commonly acknowledged: such, therefore, would make it their business to hear him again. They heard the doctrine of the Gospel attentively. But Strabo, Tzetzes, and Zonaras, say that it was called Thessalonica, from Thessalonica, wife of Cassander, and daughter of Philip. Giveth-life, and breath, and all things These words are elegantly introduced by St. Paul: God gives life, because he is the fountain of it: he gives breath, the faculty of breathing or respiration, by which this life is preserved; and though breathing or respiration, be the act of the animal, yet the , the faculty of breathing, and extracting from the atmosphere what serves as a pabulum of life, is given by the influence of God, and the continued power thus to respire, and extract that pure oxygen gas which is so evident a support of animal life, is as much the continued gift of God as life itself is. And so the unknown God, whom you are ignorantly worshipping is the one that made the world and everything that is in it. Verse Acts 17:2. So lift your hands! Apion, ii. His eye is fixed on the apostle: he longs to tell him his conversion, already perhaps preceded by conviction wrought in his mind by the reasonings of the sacred teacher on previous occasions, in the synagogue, and in the forum or marketplace. 3, notices the same thing, though he appears to refer to several altars thus inscribed: , , And this at ATHENS, where there are ALTARS even to the UNKNOWN GODS. You can know God; you should know God. I will only find myself as I am relating again to God. Against the doctrines taught by the Epicureans and Stoics, several parts of St. Paul's discourse, in the following verses, are directly pointed. By raising him from the dead, God has set his seal to the doctrines he has taught: one of these doctrines is, that he shall judge the world; his resurrection, established by the most incontrovertible evidence, is therefore a proof, an incontestable proof, that he shall judge the world, according to his own declaration.". and versions read simply, . Be like the Bereans, more noble than they of Thessalonica. The agora was probably like the Roman forum, and like places of public resort in all countries, where people of leisure assembled to converse, hear the news, &c. Verse Acts 17:18. Verse Acts 17:26. "Now, we are told by Quinctilian, in Inst. It doesn't yet appear what we're going to be: but we know when he appears, we're going to be like him" ( 1 John 3:2 ). God has declared and then proved His point through the resurrection. Pearce. I am God's offspring. He observes: 1. He knows the circumstances by which I will depart from this tent. He alone would engage to confute him, or punish his temerity. "Innocence, when summoned before it, appeared without apprehension; and the guilty, convicted and condemned, retired with out daring to murmur." If you feed the flesh, of the flesh you're going to reap corruption. God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. Verse Acts 17:6. Pearce. You know, we want men to say, "Oh, aren't you marvelous. Epicurus actually lived from 342 to 271 B.C. The preacher is imprisoned, his hearers fined for listening to that Gospel which has not only made them wise unto salvation, but also peaceable and orderly citizens, and which would have had the same effect on the unprincipled magistrate, the parish squire, and the mob, had they heard it with the same reverence and respect. The times of this ignorance God winked at He who has an indisputable right to demand the worship of all his creatures has mercifully overlooked those acts of idolatry which have disgraced the world and debased man; but now, as he has condescended to give a revelation of himself, he commands, as the sovereign, all men every where, over every part of his dominions, to repent, , to change their views, designs, and practices; because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness; and, as justice will then be done, no sinner, no persevering idolater, shall escape punishment. Several eminent men suppose that this unknown god was the God of the Jews; and, as his name was considered by the Jews as ineffable, the may be considered as the anonymous god; the god whose name was not known, and must not be pronounced. Now the words too superstitious are a poor translation. As they were greatly addicted to religious services, and acknowledged that there was a Being to them unknown, and to whom they thought it necessary to erect an altar, they must, consistently with their character as a religious people, and with their own concession in the erection of this altar, hear quietly, patiently, and candidly, a discourse on that God whose being they acknowledged, but whose nature they did not know. "Next to these, but at come distance, is a Stoic. If they who brought Paul to Areopagus wanted only to satisfy their curiosity, they had an opportunity of doing that in the market, mentioned Acts 17:17. And this is the idea which the inimitable Raphael took up in his celebrated cartoon on this subject, and which his best copier, Mr. Thomas Holloway, has not only engraved to the life, but has also described in language only inferior to the cartoon itself; and, as it affords no mean comment on the preceding discourse, my readers will be pleased to find it here. And, as the text does not necessarily point any out, so we need not have recourse to any. They had deified the forces of nature, they had deified the various emotions of man, they had deified various concepts. Careful, that cost eighteen million dollars. We can't escape the presence of God. And yet, this is what Paul is declaring. Now, two hundred years later there was an explorer who passed through Athens who was also a historian. And hath determined the times before appointed Instead of , the times before appointed, ABDE, and more than forty others, with both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Coptic, AEthiopic, MS. Slavonian, Vulgate, and Itala, read , the appointed times. Verse Acts 17:7. The god of war, the god of peace, the god of love, the god of hate, the god of jealousy, the god of anger. For in him we live, and move, and have our being He is the very source of our existence: the principle of life comes from him: the principle of motion, also, comes from him; one of the most difficult things in nature to be properly apprehended; and a strong proof of the continual presence and energy of the Deity. He doesn't learn to converse any more. As though God needed from me to give Him something. The Phaenomena of Aratus, in which these words are found, begins thus:-, , ' . It would be easy to multiply examples of this use of the word; but the reader may refer, if necessary, to Wetstein, Pearce, and others. I'm going to be translated one of these days soon. We are God's offspring. We cannot really create our own gods, though man does that. About thirteen or fourteen hundred years before Christ, in the reign either of Erechtheus, or Erichthonius, it was called Athens, from , a name of Minerva, to whom it was dedicated, and who was always considered the protectress of the city. [The word babbler in Greek is seed picker or cotton picker.] PETRONIUS, who was contemporary with St. Paul, in his Satyr. I'm desperate! "Now, if you'll just fast for two weeks, then God will start giving you visions and you'll start doing this and you'll get this and this and this. Bless me! "These, and the two young figures previously described, are not introduced merely to fill up the group; they may be intended as pupils to the philosophers before them, though by some considered as young Romans, who have introduced themselves from ennui or curiosity. of the Antiquities of Athens, has given correct representations of those that remain, with many geographical notices of much importance. Besides these two sects, there were two others which were famous at this time; viz. He isn't worshipped through idols. Acts 17:26 KJ21 And He hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, ASV and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; His countenance, which is highly pleasing, and full of natural gentleness, expresses only a smile of pity at the fancied errors of the apostle, mingled with delight derived from his eloquence. That complacent attitude towards Christ is one of the most difficult to deal with. As God by His Spirit restores that which was lost because of the fall. Don't you see my hands are up! They saw the scriptures were confirming. Thou bringest - strange things to our ears The doctrine of the apostles was different from any they had ever heard: it was wholly spiritual and divine; thus it was strange: it was contrary to their customs and manners; and thus it was strange also. 1, that Athenis affectus movere etiam per praeconem prohibebatur orator: among the Athenians, the orator was prohibited by the public crier to move the passions of his auditory. And so if I decided to go in and watch that show, I had to leave the Lord outside and just hope that He would be waiting for me when I came out. lib. This is a most foolish saying: had Paul done so, how much would such a begging of the question have prejudiced his defence in the minds of his intelligent judges! Going back in Matthew, the parable of the sower. The flux of students was in consequence great; and these, having much leisure time, would necessarily be curious to know what was passing in the world, and would frequently assemble together, in places of public resort, to meet with strangers just come to the city; and either, as St. Luke says, to tell or hear some new thing. 3. These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also The very character our forefathers had for preaching that Gospel, in every part of the land, by which the nation has been illuminated, the mob disciplined into regularity and order, and the kingdom established in the hands of the best of monarchs. And as the result, they had given themselves over to sensual lust.The Epicurean philosophy was expressed in the Roman orgies where you would eat at these feasts all that you could hold of the first course. What a shame. Let this be the place where we can come and meet You. Because all he thinks about is eating and existing. I move, wherever I move, He is there. And thus the assembly became dissolved before the apostle had time to finish his discourse, or to draw all the conclusions he had designed from the premises he had laid down. Jove's presence fills all space, upholds this ball; All need his aid; his power sustains us all. And thus, through the work of God's Spirit, that which man lost through the fall is being restored to Jesus Christ as man is being restored back into the image of God. And the ministry should not be emphasizing what you should do for God; we should be emphasizing what God has done for you. Thus St. Paul, by acknowledging their religious disposition, and seizing the fact of the altar being inscribed to the unknown God, assumed a right which not a philosopher, orator, or judge in the Areopagus could dispute, of bringing the whole subject of Christianity before them, as he was now brought to his trial, and put on his defense. Diogenes just shook his head and said, "What a shame. The most important knowledge man can ever attain.You may be studying various subjects, but the most important subject any of you could ever study would be theology, to know God, to know the truth of God. Or, by taking a vessel at that part of the sea nearest to Berea, they might have coasted it to Athens, which was quite a possible case; and, as we do not hear of his stopping at any place on his journey to preach, it is very probable that he went by sea to this city. And Paul was going to try to persuade them to his belief in Jesus Christ. What a glorious charge! The Gentiles, who had not a revelation, must grope after God, as the principle of spiritual life, that they might find him to be a Spirit, and the source of all intellectual happiness; and the apostle seems to state that none need despair of finding this fountain of goodness, because he is not far from every one of us. Feel after him , That they might grope after him, as a person does his way who is blind or blindfolded. That's true praise. "Behind is Damaris, mentioned with him as a fellow believer. And, of course, if you will read the epistles in conjunction with your reading of Acts, it really begins to put it together, and you begin to really tie the scriptures together, and it's a very helpful thing. Because a day is coming in which God is going to judge men through Jesus Christ. The American Authorized has a better translation. "For we with open face are beholding the glory of the Lord and we are being changed from glory to glory into the same image" ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ), because the Spirit of God is conforming me into the image of Christ. Verse Acts 17:9. The finest light imaginable is thrown upon the sitting figure; and, as necessary, a mass of shade is cast upon the two others. And, speaking of a riot that happened among the Jews on occasion of a Roman soldier's burning the book of the law, he observes that the Jews were drawn together on this occasion, , by their religion, as if it had been by an engine; .-De Bell. I'll listen to you again sometime." And almost up to the Parthenon, maybe two thirds of the way up is this outcropping of rock where was known the stone of impudence, where men would go to espouse their philosophies and all their ideas. And it is that which arises spontaneously from the recognition of what God has done for me. 2. You'll never guess. Pausanias, in Attic. Upon which Diogenes handed him two fish and he said, "Carry these around for two weeks and you will then be my disciple." And he said, "Now where else in the Bible do we find the word thorn? That they should seek the Lord This is a conclusion drawn from the preceding statement. It would be the feeling that you would get perhaps in going to portions of Hollywood or San Francisco. But I wasn't assured of that. I depend upon God for my very existence. He therefore began to declare that glorious Being to them whom they ignorantly worshipped. He knows the day of my departing from this tent. So Paul said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious ( Acts 17:22 ). But he went beyond that. The difference between the two words is this: signifies to place before others; but is to command, decree, appoint. God is not our offspring. And at one time, God overlooked the ignorance of man concerning Himself, but no more.". p. 769, uses this form of an oath: , I swear by the UNKNOWN GOD at ATHENS. Humanly speaking, his conversion must have been an acquisition of considerable importance to the Christian religion; for no person was a judge in the Areopagus who had not borne the office of archon, or chief governor of the city; and none bore the office of judge in this court who was not of the highest reputation among the people for his intelligence and exemplary conduct. So he declared unto them that He doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. ZENO, the founder of the Stoic sect, was born in the isle of Cyprus, about thirty years before Christ. "I've given you the message. "You're very religious people. My life is totally bounded by Him. And, as it was the truth that was proclaimed to them, it is no wonder that they apprehended, believed, and embraced it. He dwells in the universe. And when the Holy Spirit has completed His work in my life, I will be fully restored back into the image of God, and I will stand in His presence faultless with exceeding joy. So they were busy measuring degrees and intensity of pleasure.This degrading of the Epicurean philosophy ended in the pantheism, the worship of everything, anything. With what implacable malice did these men persecute the Gospel! PAUS. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. It is now in the hands of the Greeks; but the Turks, who held it till lately, have turned the celebrated Parthenon, or temple of Minerva, into a mosque. This unknown God rules over all. Now Paul took their scriptures and out of their scriptures he pointed out and showed to them the necessity of the Messiah dying. And Alexander the Great became incensed and went off mumbling to himself about the stupidity of this man. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter ( Acts 17:32 ). Didn't you know? Of honourable women which were Greeks Probably mere heathens are meant; and these were some of the chief families in the place. Berea This was another city of Macedonia, on the same gulf with Thessalonica; and not far from Pella, the birth place of Alexander the Great. Under him, the only remaining figure is one who listens with malignant attention, as though intending to report every thing. 3. Or with man's handiwork. But the true praise is, "God, You have given so much. 16, that Athenis actor movere affectus vetabatur: the actor was forbidden to endeavour to excite the passions. God that made the world and all things therein ( Acts 17:24 ). "Sir Joshua Reynolds has observed that 'the same idea is continued through the whole figure, even to the drapery, which is so closely muffled about him that even his hands are not seen;' and that, 'by this happy correspondence between the expression of the countenance and the disposition of the parts, the figure appears to think from head to foot.'. Kuhn., says that the Athenians were not only more humane, , but more devout towards the gods; and again he says, , , it appears plainly how much they exceed others in the worship of the gods; and, in cap. And the people all repented in sackcloth and ashes. Verse Acts 17:24. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof you speak, is? Not so.The true praise isn't, you know, "Okay, God, give me now." Verse Acts 17:17. He is not a creation of man; He is the Creator of man. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman name Damaris, and others with them ( Acts 17:34 ). Sophist. God is knowable. But man fell, and thus, man is fallen from the image of God. And when they had taken security of Jason ( Acts 17:7-9 ). But the sentiment is found in several others, being very common among the more enlightened philosophers. (For all the Athenians, and strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.) Certain philosophers of the Epicureans These were the followers of Epicurus, who acknowledged no gods except in name, and absolutely denied that they exercised any government over the world or its inhabitants; and that the chief good consisted in the gratification of the appetites of sense. I find it fascinating. "After all, he said the Greek and I don't know Greek, so it must so." x. cap. Lift your hands and praise the Lord because you want God to bless you tonight, and God will bless you when begin to praise Him. And again, cap. You can worship God out there under that tree. As his manner was He constantly offered salvation first to the Jews; and for this purpose attended their Sabbath-days' meetings at their synagogues. The more possessions we have, the more we have to worry about taking care of them. "The painter has proceeded, from the warmth of full conviction, through various gradations, to the extremes of malignant prejudice, and invincible bigotry. This would appear to them tantamount with the deification of heroes, &c., who had been thus honoured for their especial services to mankind. "All this has little foundation.". It appears that the Bereans were a better educated and more polished people than those at Thessalonica; in consequence far from persecuting: 1. God's just going to translate me right into glory. Now Paul affirms that these poets were right. And I just am overflowing as I'm trying to respond to Him. This figure exhibits perfect repose of body and mind: no passions agitate the one; no action discomposes the other. I hate to be radical, but you know, I dare say that if you left the T.V. This is philosophical and correct. cap. The word , which we translate, to wink at, signifies simply to look over; and seems to be here used in the sense of passing by, not particularly noticing it. 12, s. ii. Herodotus says of Orpheus, he led men, , to be religious; and exhorted them, , to piety; where it is manifest that must mean religion, and not superstition. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, c.] This inference of the apostle was very strong and conclusive and his argument runs thus: "If we are the offspring of God, he cannot be like those images of gold, silver, and stone, which are formed by the art and device of man; for the parent must resemble his offspring. But to this attitude of, "Well, interesting," but that noncommittal attitude, Paul had no further words to say. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and received a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed ( Acts 17:13-15 ). And seeking to measure the intensity of pleasure each taste brought to you. Verse 29. Now Jason has received them into his house: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, a fellow by the way of Jesus. ' , , ' . These were founded to be seminaries of learning and religion; and their very statutes suppose religion to be essential to learning; and their founders were in general religious characters, and endowed them for religious purposes. From all these authorities it is palpable that St. Paul must have used the term in the sense for which I have contended. cap. He's not worshipped with ornate altars overlaid with gold. The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them Instead of this sentence, the most correct MSS. I consider the Athenians, therefore, acting in conformity to their own laws and religious institutions; and Paul grants that they were much addicted to religious performances: this he pays as a compliment, and then takes occasion to show that their religion was defective: they had not a right object of devotion; they did not know the true God; the true God was to them the unknown God; and this an altar in their own city acknowledged. And then we find him going to Ephesus by the end of the chapter, and so the Ephesian epistle would help you there. 10: ; Every body says that the Athenians are the most religious people of all the Greeks.-See Bp. They don't search the scriptures to see if it be so. "This figure is altogether admirable. Praise the Lord that you might get a blessing!" You have no excuse to be ignorant of God. tube. They went home and did their homework. p. 56, he says, , , , that the Athenians are abundantly more solicitous about Divine matters than others. 4. The original is, . That you may come to know Him in a deeper, fuller, richer way. But a man cannot know virtue who is emotionally involved. And eating for the pleasure of eating. So if a man can just live a very simple life, that is the key to pleasure, and pleasure is the chief good.Diogenes, who was following the Epicurean philosophy, was very content and happy to possess nothing more than just a tub to sit in. When Paul came to Berea he began to reason with these people, but they were more noble than those in Thessalonica. Again, a good work was established in Berea. Verse Acts 17:5. Oh, wait a minute, but you just told me nobody ever suffers according to the will of God. "We are told that one effect of his preaching was, that he converted Dionysius the Areopagite, Acts 17:34; and this seems to show that he, who was a judge of that court, was present, and, if so, probably other judges were present also. There was the god of the arts, the god of the carpenters, the god of the masons, and gods for everything. As though He needed anything. Pearce properly asks, Is it likely that Lucian, speaking thus, (whether in jest or in earnest,) should not have had some notion of there being at Athens an altar inscribed to the unknown God? And, even in this moat favoured kingdom, the most scandalous excesses of this kind have been committed, and a justice of the peace has been found to sanction the proceedings; and, when an appeal has been made to the laws, a grand jury has been found capable of throwing out the true bill! But it is more likely that his conductors, in order to his greater safety, left the public or more frequented road, and took him coastwise to Athens. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the eaRuth ( Acts 17:26 ). seeing that he is Lord of heaven and eaRuth ( Acts 17:24 ). "The action of the young man, pointing to the apostle, characterizes the keen susceptibility and impetuosity of his age. Really a person who is really upset and yelling at you because you've witnessed to them about the Lord is far closer to salvation than the person who says, "Well, I think that's very nice for you and I'm glad that you found something that makes you happy." xvii. He doesn't learn the art of conversation or relationships. Verse Acts 17:34. They received this doctrine with readiness of mind: when the evidence of its truth appeared to them sufficiently convincing, they had too much dignity of mind to refuse their assent, and too much ingenuousness to conceal their approbation. Apollonia This was another city of Macedonia, between Amphipolis and Thessalonica. As though He needed anything. Because they searched the scriptures and saw that it was so. The buildings of Athens were the most superb, and best executed, in the world; but every thing is now in a state of ruin. These figures are not only thrown into shade, to prevent their interference with the principal figure; but, from their posture, they contribute to its elevation, and at the same time vary the line of the standing group. That the original word, on the right interpretation of which I have laid so much stress, is taken in a good sense, and signifies religious worship and reverence, I shall show by several proofs; some of which may be seen in Mr. Parkhurst, under the word , which Suidas explains by , reverence towards the Deity. They worship the creation of man, the created things by man rather than worshipping God. Verse Acts 17:27. We are also his offspring. he stayeth his rough wind on the day of his east wind. Not Yet a Member? There was no message of hope, no message of grace, no message of salvation. For in him we live, and move, and have our being ( Acts 17:28 ); I am totally surrounded by God. So this is God's work. In the beginning when God created man, He made man in His likeness and after His own image. But when Paul came to Athens, these fellows that brought him down said, "When you get back, tell Timothy and Silas to get here in a hurry." May it get better than it ever was before. By this fine turn he eluded the force of that law which made it a capital offense to introduce any new god into the state, and of the breach of which he was charged, Acts 17:18; and thus he showed that he was bringing neither new god nor new worship among them; but only explaining the worship of one already acknowledged by the state, though not as yet known. 2." That this was strictly forbidden, both at Rome and Athens, Acts 16:21. 2d. I'm dependent on Him. Had I not witnessed such scenes, and such prostitution of justice, I could not have described them. No matter where you are, you're surrounded by Him. What you gave to God. lib. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? He who considers the ancient glory of this city, whether in its heathen or Christian antiquity, cannot but sigh over its present state. we continue to be, because of his continued, present, all-pervading, and supporting energy. As certain also of your own poets Probably he means not only Aratus, in whose poem, entitled Phaenomena, the words quoted by St. Paul are to be found literatim, ; but also Cleanthus, in whose Hymn to Jupiter the same words ( ) occur. IN addition to what has been said in the notes on this subject, I may add, the original word , from , I fear, and , a demon, signifies, "greatly addicted to the worship of the invisible powers" for, as the word signifies either a good or evil spirit, and , I fear, signifies not only to fear in general, but also to pay religious reverence, the word must be here taken in its best sense and so undoubtedly St. Paul intended it should; and so, doubtless, his audience understood him; for it would have been very imprudent to have charged them with superstition, which must have been extremely irritating, in the very commencement of a discourse in which he was to defend himself, and prove the truth of the Christian religion. The drapery of both the front figures in this group is finely drawn: the opening action of the knees in the one is beautifully followed and described by the folds; in the other, the compression, in consequence of the bent attitude, is equally executed; the turn of the head gives grace and variety to the figure. We are God's offspring. They have been often engraved, but never so as to give an adequate representation of the matchless originals, till Mr. Thomas Holloway, who has completely seized the spirit of the artist, undertook this most laborious work, in which he has been wholly engaged for several years; and in which he has, for some time past, associated with himself Messrs. Slann and Webb, two excellent artists, who had formerly been his own pupils. 2. This is the only female in the composition; but the painter has fully availed himself of the character, in assisting his principle of contrast; an excellence found in all the works of Raphael. I've observed that. Hey, don't just take what they say. 180: , , , c. We have found out the UNKNOWN god at ATHENS-and worshipped him with our hands stretched up to heaven and we will gave thanks unto him, as being thought worthy to be subject to this power. and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation ( Acts 17:26 ); God sets the limits for our lives. The city still exists; the Acropolis in a state of comparative repair. Minutius Felix says of the Romans, Aras extruunt etiam ignotis numinibus. The sense of the argument is this: "Jesus Christ, whom we preach as the Saviour of men, has repeatedly told his followers that he would judge the world; and has described to us, at large, the whole of the proceedings of that awful time, Matthew 25:31, c. John 5:25. And Hesychius, by , the fear of God. 2. His dark hair and beard, which seem to have been neglected, and the keen mysterious gaze of his eye, certainly exhibit a mind addicted to unusual studies. Her discreet distance, her modest deportment, her pious and diffident eye, discovering a degree of awe, the decorum and arrangement of her train, all interest the mind in her favour. Philippi, represents the Athenians as , ; inquiring, in the place of public resort, if there are any NEWS. I find it interesting to watch the Muslims wash their feet, get out their little rugs, and bow towards the East. Verse Acts 17:33. I'm responding to that goodness. "It seems as if the old philosopher in profile, on the left, had offered some observations on the apostle's address; and that he was eagerly listening to the reply of his sage friend, in whose features we behold more of the spirit of mild philosophy. For He is restoring us into that image. But he moves on to Corinth, and if you want to really get a background to next Sunday night, you can read Corinthians, too, this week. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred ( Acts 17:16 ). And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come here also ( Acts 17:5-6 ); I like the charges that were made against Paul and Silas. Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill ( Acts 17:22 ), Areopagus is about, oh half way up from the Agura marketplace, to the acropolis, the top of the hill where stands the Parthenon. He was stirred inside. Verse 32. There's no excuse for not knowing God. He only withdraws his gracious presence from him, and then he necessarily perisheth." Thus we find that the preaching of Paul at Berea was made the instrument of converting both Jews and Gentiles. That is, to turn. No promise of mercy, but just a maybe, if by chance you might really feel God and find God. And so he was reasoning to them out of their own scriptures, showing them what the Messiah needed to suffer and die. And Alexander the Great was so totally impressed by Diogenes, because Alexander the Great had conquered the world and was still restless. Verse Acts 17:13. For He is not far from any of you. but now he has commanded all men every where to repent ( Acts 17:30 ): When the revelation of God was limited to the nation of Israel, God overlooked the pagan's ignorance of Himself. By proving this point, he corrected their false notion of a triumphant Messiah, and thus removed the scandal of the cross. To such the hungry sheep look up, and are not fed. See farther observations at the end of the chapter. Plug in, Turn on and Be Enlightened! The application of the term to prating, empty, impertinent persons, was natural and easy, and hence it was considered a term of reproach and contempt, and was sometimes used to signify the vilest sort of men. That revelation has been made known to you, therefore you're inexcusable. 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