Berea and Athens
Introduction: Paul left Thessalonica because of threats of physical harm after he had declared the gospel among the Jews for several weeks, and he went to Berea and began to witness about Christ in the synagogue. The unbelieving Jews who had threatened him in Thessalonica soon followed him to Berea with the same intent to harm him. Some of the believers quickly escorted him to the seashore and his next stop was Athens where he planned to wait for Silas and Timothy to join him. Paul had considerable interchange with idolatrous Gentiles while in Athens, and this study considers the various reactions to the word of God in both Berea and Athens.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the King James 21st Century Version.
A — Paul Shared the Gospel of Christ at Berea
Acts 17 “10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea, who arriving there, went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, also honorable women who were Greeks, and of men not a few.”
Comments: When Paul arrived at Berea, he began to teach about Jesus in the synagogue of the Jews. His reception in Berea was much different from that in Thessalonica because the people being “more noble” were willing to listen carefully and search the well-accepted Jewish scriptures to determine if the word that Paul shared was consistent with that scripture. The result was that many Jews believed what Paul taught about Jesus, as well as some prominent Greek women and Greek men in Berea.
B — Enemies of the Word of God Pursued Paul
Acts 17 “13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica became aware that the Word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the people. 14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go down to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there still.”
Comments: When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul preached at Berea, they stirred up the people. Paul had many times experienced how the gospel of Christ becomes a strong point of disagreement. Paul was not deterred by the extreme divisions and even threats to his safety caused by the preaching of the gospel, and Jesus had said those divisions would even take place within family units.
C — Paul Was Disturbed by the Public Display of Idolatry in Athens
Acts 17 “16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the marketplace daily with those who met with him.”
Comments: What Paul observed in Athens gave clear indication of the widespread idolatry in that important Greek city. The Epicureans and the Stoics were followers of centuries-old systems of so-called logic and reasoning that was structured to explain the complexities of the universe without acknowledging the existence of the true and living God who is creator of all.
D — Paul Was Invited to the Place of Public Philosophical Discussion
Acts 17 “22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill and said, ‘Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: “To the Unknown God”. Whom therefore ye worship in ignorance, Him I declare unto you. 24 God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.’”
Comments: They brought Paul from the common marketplace to the honored Areopagus because they wanted a more in-depth discussion. Paul began by saying that his perception of them was that in all things they were too superstitious — they held irrational and illogical beliefs contrary to reasoning about the evidence available to them. Paul told them that he had seen among the other altars, one to the Unknown God. He said he would explain to them about that one they worshipped without understanding. Paul started by declaring that this God is the creator of the world and everything within, and since he is Lord of Heaven and earth he does not dwell within temples made by man.
E — Paul Referred to Writings of Greek Poets
Acts 17 “28 For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as also certain of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 30 The times of this ignorance God overlooked, but now He commandeth all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He hath appointed a Day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained. Of this He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”
Comments: Paul used a reference to the writings of certain Greek poets to emphasize how close to the truth their thoughts had been, and then used that to show how sound reasoning should have carried them even closer to knowing the true God. Since the poets had written that all men were the offspring of God, then it was in God that we had life, and activity, and even our essential being. If we are the offspring of God and we possess these living qualities, then we should not think that God himself can be represented and worshipped through inanimate idols that are the work of man’s hand.
F — Mention of the Resurrection Divided the Listeners
Acts 17 “32 But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked and others said, ‘We will hear thee again on this matter.’ 34 However, certain men cleaved unto him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.”
Comments: Paul’s emphasis on the resurrection of the dead brought an end to the general discussions at the Areopagus because some mocked him while some others accepted the truth. Among those who believed was a man named Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus who had been reached by the truth even though he had been in that select group who held very pagan beliefs. Damaris is the only mention in all of the New Testament of this woman, so it must be significant that there was a woman who became a believer from among that select group of intellectuals.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, the synagogue at Berea was another example of the way you had used the centuries of scattering of the Jews to spread your saving Word, and to also draw Gentiles to that truth. The Bereans received Paul with readiness of mind as they used scripture to verify what he was teaching, and still today this is an essential practice for any group of believers to assure that truth is being taught. Thank you, LORD, that your Spirit prompted Paul to engage in discussion with individuals who had pride in their membership in an intellectual society with many beliefs that kept them from recognizing the truth about spiritual matters. I thank you, LORD, that even as I had much exposure to the scientific theories of man devoid of belief in a Creator, you opened my understanding to the wisdom of God found in your Word. LORD, your omnipresence allows you to be close to anyone who comes to the point of surrender to your Word and your will. May I worship you with my whole heart, and give all praise to my Creator and Redeemer! Amen.
Published 8 September 2014