21-The Power of Reason

Acts 17

Places in Acts 17:

  • Thessalonica—Was the capital city of Macedonia, and the main hub along the Via Egnatia trade route that connected Byzantium with Dyrrachium on the way to Rome. After the fall of Rome, it became the second leading city and co-capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
  • Athens—The center of Greek culture and philosophy, it was housed many famous temples, including the Parthenon and the Temple of Appollo.
  • Areopagus—The Rock of Ares, or Mars Hill, was an outcropping on the western slope of the Parthenon, where the governing council (court of appeals) would convene to regulate corruption and insurrection, protect the worship of the gods, supervise religious and moral conduct, and oversee education of the youth. Socrates was condemned to death there in 399 B.C. Its members (such as Dionysius) were elected for life.

1.Building our foundation on the Word of God. (1-9)

2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.

2.Examining the scriptures for our own selves. (10-15)

11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

3.Recognizing the truth in the midst of counterfeit philosophy. (16-21)

18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.”

4.Encountering the real God in the midst of empty religion . (22-23)

22 I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.

5.Experiencing God’s presence outside of manmade buildings. (24-28)

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

6.Rediscovering the reality behind all of the symbolism. (29-33)

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.