“Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them for three Sabbaths and reasoned with them from the Scriptures.
Explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “this Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” (Acts 17:2-3)
The Holy Spirit had directed Paul to Macedonia because their was a great work to be done in the region. We always want to go where the ground is most fertile for the gospel.
So far the Philippians, Thessalonians, and soon the Corinthian churches will be birthed on this part of the mission.
Every church formed here in this portion of Acts was because Paul reasoned from the scriptures. Those who listen and received became born-again, and those who did not, hassled, or just left without any response at all.
Paul’s method of evangelism had been interpreted by the higher knowledge people as nothing more than babble. Much like our culture today, Athens represent our post-modern ethos. Six out of every ten Americans blend their religion. This is the spirit of Anti-christ.
This babblers message struck a cord for the men of Athens.
It bought Paul a ticket as a key-note speaker at the University of Aeropagus.
New agers, philosophers. mystics, astrologers and perhaps professors of religious studies all gathered this day at the UA to hear something new, and Paul the great apologist went to work.
It seems they were familiar with all the gods, except the one true and living God-man, Jesus.. Just as it is today in 2010.
In his brief appearance at AU- Paul preached the deity and supremacy. These two distinct doctrines alone are sufficient for salvation, and these cultural intellectuals needed to understand monotheism, as opposed to their pluralism. Using Pagan examples to preach divine truth was Paul’s way showing us the efficacy of the method.
Paul, an intellectual himself, related to their way of thinking, and carried the simplicity of the message to a level they could understand.
There will always be a little truth in a whole lot of lie. We can educate ourselves to use the lie to preach about the truth and it can end of being the right provision for the right miracle. Some just may believe.
Take whatever community God has placed you in, guard yourself with truth, and embrace the challenge.
Preach deity and supremacy and leave the rest to God.
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