These small group Bible studies of Acts 17:16-34 contain commentary, discussion questions, and practical application. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Acts 17:16-34 Bible Study and Questions – Paul Preaches to the Greeks in Athens
Outline
I. Paul in Athens (16-21)
II. Paul preaching in the Areopagus (22-34)
I. Paul in Athens (16-21)
Discussion Questions
• How did Paul react to the idols in Athens?
• Why was he so bothered? What does this show us about his character?
• Have you experienced this feeling?
• What would it say about a person who is apathetic about the sins and darkness around him?
• What might “reasoning in the synagogue” have looked like?
• How might it have been different reasoning in the marketplace than in the synagogue?
• What do you know about Greek Epicurean and Stoic philosophy?
• What was their opinion of Paul, Jesus, and the resurrection?
• Why did they invite Paul to share with them?
• What does verse 21 tell us about them and their culture?
• What do you like to spend time on when you are free? Is this more or less productive than the Athenians’ use of their free time?
• What is a group or place in your culture that may offer a similar opportunity for sharing about Jesus?
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:18 – They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
James 4:17 – So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Matthew 21:12-13 – And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”
Hebrews 10:22 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Proverbs 18:2 – A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Paul’s spirit was provoked –
Acts 17:16 -Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
A 2nd-century Greek traveler, Pausanias, described Athens as having more idols than the rest of Greece combined. A 1st-century satirist, Petronius joked that it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man. Many major temples were located in Athens. Some estimate that there were over thirty thousand idols in Athens at that time.
Paul had traveled all over the place and through many pagan cities. Yet his conscience was still sharp. He had not been desensitized to sin. Seeing all of these idols bothered him. It bothered him in a similar way to Jesus, who was provoked by the greedy traders exploiting pilgrims to the temple, and distracting them from true worship of God.
Paul hated sin, and he hated to see people separate from God. His conscience didn’t allow him to stand by and do nothing. He had a burden from God and had to speak up.
1 Corinthians 9:16 – For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Reflect – Is your conscience sensitive like Paul’s? What are some common cultural sins that we might start to become dull to because we see them so often? How do we keep our consciences sensitive?
2. Paul reasoned in the synagogue and marketplace –
It was Paul’s habit to find the synagogue in each city and first share with the Jews there. He would use the Old Testament Scriptures to show how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies.
In Athens, Paul also reasoned in the marketplaces. It says he talked with whoever “happened to be there.” I have gone to wholesale clothing markets in Asia to share with people. But they were so busy, most wouldn’t make time to talk with you. The market in Athens seems to have been very laid back and people had plenty of free time.
In the market, Paul likely primarily shared with Greeks. The way he shared with them would have been different than with the Jews.
Paul went where the people were and adjusted his tactics depending on his audience.
Reflect – How have you had to adjust your outreach strategy depending on the situation and environment?
3. Epicurean and Stoic philosophy –
Epicurus lived from 341-270 BC. His philosophy became popular in Greece. He taught that the main goal of life is pleasure. That wasn’t wild indulgence, but a life free of pain and anxiety. He believed that the gods existed, but were distant and uninvolved, that the universe came about by chance, and that there is no afterlife.
Stoics believe that anyone can live a happy and fulfilling life by practicing virtue. They advocate focusing on what you can control and practicing four key virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperament. A key idea of stoicism is that you can’t control what happens to you, only how you respond. Therefore, the wise person responds to pain and hardship calmly and without complaint. Emotional outbursts happen when you are ruled by your emotions instead of reason. We still use the word “stoic” today for someone who is not fazed by adversity.
There is some truth in stoicism. The Bible also teaches that we are responsible for our own actions and responses, not for others.
These were two of many popular Greek philosophies at the time.
Reflect – Is philosophy good or bad? How does man-made philosophy fall short?
Man-made philosophies fall short in many ways. It is not that they are always totally wrong or contain no truth. God gave us a conscience and we naturally know many things that are right and wrong. But a person without the Spirit or divine revelation cannot fully understand God or how to have a relationship with Him.
Stoicism falls short in many ways. Here are a few.
• A Christian finds his strength in God, while a Stoic looks to himself for strength.
• Christians believe in eternal life with Christ, while Stoics believe death is the end.
• Stoics believe that if there is a god, he is impersonal, while Christians believe that we can have a personal relationship with God.
Man-made religions and philosophies fall short because they do not bring us into a personal relationship with God. Merely focusing on the physical, the natural, the here and now, and behaviors is not enough. Turning over a new leaf or being a better you is not enough. Because of our sin and separation from God, we need a transformed heart.
4. What does this babbler wish to say?
Many of the Greeks clearly had a low opinion of what Paul was telling them. They mocked him by calling him a “babbler.” Yet even so, Paul wasn’t fazed. If they would listen, he would share. So they took him to the Areopagus.
Application – Do not expect that you will always be lauded for sharing the gospel. Many will mock you, while others may go further and persecute you. Jesus said it is like sowing seed. Many seeds fall on rocky or thorny soil, but some of the seeds will land in the good soil.
5. Athenians loved spending their time debating new ideas –
Acts 17:19-21 – “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
These people seemed to have a lot of time on their hands. They were intellectuals and loved debating novel and new ideas. Though many were skeptical of what Paul had to say, they were interested because it was new.
Paul saw their curiosity as an open door to share the gospel.
Jesus said that the disciples were to be fishers of men. A skilled fisherman knows the environment and the fish. One kind of bait may be very effective in one river and useless in another.
Paul wisely adjusted the “bait” to attract different types of people to hear the gospel message. The gospel was never changed or compromised. But the introduction or hook to get people interested could be adjusted to suit various crowds. We will see how Paul did this in Athens in the next section.
Reflect – What creative methods can you use to share the gospel in your area?
II. Paul preaching in the Areopagus (22-34)
Discussion Questions
• What is the Areopagus?
• What are your observations about Paul’s message to the Athenians?
• What was good about his introduction?
• Why is the introduction of a sermon or presentation very important? What makes a good introduction?
• Was Paul right to associate God with an altar in the Areopagus?
• What key truths does he share with them about God?
• Do people seek God on their own? (Verse 27)
• What does it mean that “In him we live and move and have our being?” Is this a pantheistic thought?
• Are we all his offspring, as the poet said? Is God our universal father?
• Why did Paul quote unbelievers?
• Does verse 30 mean that God was not just in previous times? What does it mean?
• What does the “fixed day” in verse 31 refer to?
• When did Paul start to lose the audience?
• Why did the resurrection induce mocking, though the first parts of Paul’s message did not?
• What can you learn from Paul in this passage about preaching? About God?
Cross-References
Romans 1:19-20 – For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Colossians 1:17 – And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Luke 13:3 – No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Paul’s introduction –
Paul contextualized the gospel by starting from a point that was easy for his listeners to understand. While the gospel was not changed, in Athens Paul gives a master class on using a great hook in the introduction to build interest and engage his audience.
Here are some things we can note about his introduction.
• Paul complimented them on being religious. Though he could have, he didn’t start off bashing them for being pantheistic, pagan, idol-worshippers. Instead, he mentioned their good aspects. It was good that they were spiritual-minded and curious about religious things. Many of them were interested in finding God and that was a good thing.
• He had done his research. Paul had spent time seeking to understand the culture and mindset of the Athenians. He was thus able to approach the gospel from an angle that would intrigue them.
• Paul talked about the altar to the “unknown god.” Using this religious object from their own shrines was a great way to connect with his audience.
• Paul also offered value to them by sharing more with them about something they didn’t know much about. He told them what they would get out of listening to him and it was something that would be attractive to many of them, especially since they delighted in learning about new things. If Paul phrased his intro as, “I am going to tell you how you are all wrong,” many would have immediately either put up walls of defenses around their minds or even walked away. But billing it as an opportunity to learn something new was not an attack against them, but an opportunity for them.
The introduction to a message is very important. A good hook has several key elements.
• A hook to engage listeners’ interest.
• The “what” of the message to be shared.
• The “why” of why the audience should listen or care. This part is the value that will be gained by paying attention.
Activity – Let’s practice developing an intro to the gospel. Choose one of the following scenarios and write out a short 3-4 sentence introduction that can bridge into sharing the gospel. Assume the listener is interested and willing to listen.
• You are on a train and in conversation with a woman whose mother has recently passed away.
• You are a tourist and strike up a conversation with another traveler who admires the nearby temple/mosque/shrine.
• You are at a university and have the opportunity and freedom to share with a class, most of whom are atheists.
Alternatively, practice developing a short intro for one of the following scenarios.
• You are preaching about Acts 17:16-34 in your local church.
• You are starting a new study on the book of Acts with a small group.
Application – Seek to make your presentations (whether as a teacher, parent, or preacher) more engaging by prayerfully developing engaging and relevant introductions.
2. The God who made the world and everything in it–
In verses 24-28, Paul gives them rich and deep theology about who God is. Much of what he said was to directly counter false beliefs that the Greeks had about God.
He is the Creator of all.
According to Greek myths, there are multiple creators of different parts of the world. For example, Demeter created agriculture, Poseidon created horses, and Prometheus created humans. Chaos, Gaia, and Titans all had a hand in creating various aspects of the cosmos. On the other hand, Epicureans believed that matter was eternal and therefore some things were not created.
Paul taught them that God made the world and everything in it, that He alone is Lord of heaven and earth. He presented God as being sovereign over all, far more powerful than their petty gods who warred with one another. The true God is over all, not one member of a divine class of beings. The God of the Bible is more awesome in every respect than human-made gods spawned out of people’s imaginations. We derive from Him and not the other way around.
Reflect – Do you have a high view of God? How does your view of God shape your daily life? How might the Greeks’ low view of the “gods” have shaped their lives?
God does not live in temples made by man.
Acts 17:24-25 – [God] does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Athens was home to many temples, shrines, and idols. Many of the ruins of these are still visible today. Some of these famous temples include the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena, and the Temple of Aphaia.
The Greeks created a vast number of temples and idols. But these were made by human hands. Their designs were handmade. Even the gods themselves were imagined by people. The human nature of their gods can be seen in their petty, immoral, deceptive, and sinful natures. The Greek gods are like the people who created them.
Paul teaches them that the true God is above all. He does not dwell in temples made by man. He doesn’t need anything from men. While the Greek gods were created by man in man’s image, the true God created man in His image.
This idea that God does not need anything from man is not a new concept. It was taught throughout the Old Testament.
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 that I have built!
Isaiah 66:1 – Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
It was forbidden for people to make any images of God (Exodus 20:4-6) because that would lower Him closer to our level and any images we make would be from our own mind.
The Greeks had a very low view of the gods. In this entire message, Paul sought to change their perspective and exalt God, showing them who He truly was. In the end, that is the essence of preaching. The preacher is to lift up God, His character, His name, and His plan. The preacher who imparts to the listener a higher view of God will have succeeded.
Reflect – Is there any temple now? See 1 Corinthians 3:16. How should knowing we are the living temples of God influence our thinking and behavior?
He made from one man every nation.
The teaching of the Bible is inherently anti-racist. Contrary to what the world wants to teach you, racism does not come from Christianity. Christianity, at its heart, is thoroughly against racism (Galatians 3:28). The Bible teaches what Paul did here, that all people are descended from one common ancestor and made in the image of God. That means that in God’s sight all are equal.
One of the roots of racism in the modern world is Darwinism and his teaching of survival of the fittest. (See https://answersingenesis.org/charles-darwin/racism/) This directly led to justification for treating certain people groups as inferior. It also heavily influenced Nazi thinking and eugenics.
There is one race, not many. Every person on the planet is related to everyone else. We are part of one big family.
This idea was a blow to the Greeks’ national pride. They believed that they were advanced and sophisticated, while they viewed non-Greeks as barbarians.
Application – Spend some time to prayerfully evaluate whether you look down on any people group or ethnicity. Ask God to help you always remember that every person is made in God’s image.
Yet He is actually not far from each of us.
In the first part of his message, Paul stressed that God was transcendent, greater than and separate from anything in creation. In the next part, he stresses that God is immanent. That means God is close to each of us and it is possible to have a personal relationship with Him.
That is indeed the message of the gospel. Through Jesus Christ, we can have a personal relationship with the Almighty, eternally-existent, infinite Creator of the universe. While we are small beings in this vast universe, God values us, reveals Himself to us, and wants to have a relationship with us.
A long time ago, David pondered on this exact point.
Psalms 8:1-4 – O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
God is not far away. He is accessible and available through our Mediator, Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
Reflect – How far are you from God? Have you been drifting farther away or getting closer to Him? Spend some time in prayer, thanking Him for the personal relationship that you have.
3. Paul quotes their philosophers –
In verse 28, Paul quotes two of their philosophers. He does this to show that even some of their very own understand some basic truths about God. He then highlights those truths.
Truth #1 –
“In him we live and move and have our being.”
People are totally dependent on the Creator God. We would not exist without Him.
Truth #2 –
“For we are indeed His offspring.”
Paul does not mean this in a personal sense. Not all people are adopted as children of God and have that type of relationship with Him (John 1:12). But in a general sense, all people everywhere originated from God.
Luke concluded his genealogy by making the same point.
Luke 3:38 – The son of Adam, the son of God.
People come from God. My children would not exist if I didn’t. They come from me and my choices. In a similar and general sense, God is the Father of all people.
Again, this is an argument both against racism and for the need for every person to humbly seek to have a relationship with their Creator. Rather than trusting in their ethnicity or education, they should trust in God.
The divine being is not like silver or stone.
We are the offspring of God. Then God cannot be a man-made creation of silver, gold, or stone. These things came out of man’s very vivid imaginations.
3. God overlooked the times of ignorance
The times of ignorance
From the time of Noah until Jesus, most nations in the world went their way, ignoring the truths that they knew about God (Romans 1). During this time period, God revealed Himself to the world in a general way through creation. At certain times and places, He even revealed Himself to the world in specific ways, such as through Israel, prophets, and supernatural miracles. But for the most part, this was a time period of ignorance.
People willfully rejected what they knew about God and pursued their own evil desires. The mystery of salvation through Jesus to the world, including the Gentiles, was not yet revealed. The mystery was not something confusing or a riddle, but rather something that hadn’t yet been revealed.
Ephesians 3:4-6 – When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Colossians 1:26 – The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
God overlooked
It does not mean that God was indulgent or lacked justice. In Romans, he makes it clear that those who sinned without the law will still face justice.
Romans 2:12 – For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
It means that God did not immediately step in to deal with their ignorance. For a period of time, He let the nations of the world go their own way. They chose their path, ignoring both what they could see with their own eyes and the knowledge of God that had been passed down from Noah to his descendants. In addition, they also ignored their own consciences.
As a result, God let them go. That doesn’t mean that He never sent anyone to tell them. Jonah and Daniel, for example, preached about Him in foreign countries. He also poured out His grace upon all nations through the natural order of the good world He created.
Acts 14:16-17 – Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
Yet in general, He allowed them to continue down the path they had chosen.
We should note that His justice toward these generations will take into account their knowledge level, or lack thereof. Whatever ignorance they did have would be factored in.
4. Now He commands men everywhere to repent –
Previous ignorance would not be an excuse. No one among Paul’s audience could claim ignorance. He had been sent to give them a message. That message was that they needed to repent and place their faith in God for salvation.
We currently live in the age of the missionary and evangelism. God is sending His emissaries throughout the world to take the gospel message and urge people everywhere to repent.
Romans 10:14-15 – How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Application – Have you repented already? If so, the next step is to urge others to do the same. You are called to be an ambassador of Christ, taking the gospel message to a world in need of salvation. Consider writing down a list of people you know who do not know the Lord. Begin praying for these people on the list and ask God to open a door for you to share with them.
5. Raising him from the dead –
Jesus’ resurrection was a core part of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Of all of the things Paul shared, this one seems to have been the hardest for them to accept. Some started mocking, but others were curious and a few believed.
Application – When you share the gospel, make sure you share the full gospel. Do not leave out some parts even if they are not received well. Don’t be worried if many don’t listen or some even mock. When you are faithful to sow the seed, some of it will fall on good soil. The best way to ensure that the seed you sow will fall on good soil is to sow more of it!
Meet the Author: Jason Dexter has been serving the Lord overseas in the 10/40 Window for more than twenty years, making disciples, teaching the Bible, and equipping believers to understand and apply God’s Word. These Bible studies were written by him, not by AI.
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