Acts 17:22-28
22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects.
23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands;
25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;
26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’
Athenian Evangelism (5)
God the Creator (v 24-25)
Having completed his introduction, Paul moves into his main argument: “The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands.” (1) God is the Creator of heaven and earth. (a) This statement challenges the Athenians’ worldview. (b) Some believed that if the world was created, it would have been the work of a being called the Demiurge. (c) Others held that matter was eternal and indestructible. (d) Additionally, the Stoics taught pantheism. (e) The typical Greek belief was in polytheism. (2) God made the world and everything in it. (a) Therefore, He cannot be confined to temples made by human hands. (b) Even the majestic Parthenon on the Acropolis cannot contain God. (c) Behind these words lies the teaching of the Hebrew Scriptures. “Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” (1) God is self-sufficient. (a) The Athenians believed they could please the gods through offerings. (b) But God has no need to be served by human hands. (2) Humanity lives sustained by God. We have received life and breath from Him, along with everything else we need.
The Hebrew background of Paul’s Gentile evangelism
God is far greater than any temple. (1) This is the teaching found in 1 Kings 8:27: “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” (2) This teaching is also found in Isaiah 66:1-2: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being,’ declares the Lord. ‘But I will look to this one, at one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” (3) Acts 7:46-48 teaches the same truth. Let us remember the greatness of the God we believe in. All things are from Him and to Him. Amen.
Today's prayer
God the Creator, all things are from You and to You. I remember Your greatness and walk in praise. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.