Acts 17:16-31
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. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Prairie Verbena | Gatesville, TX | April 2024
My college professor of New Testament studies said more than once, “All truth is God’s truth.” His point was that wherever we learn something that is true – whether from a philosopher, teacher, or even the internet – if it’s true, it’s true. And God is the owner of all truth. Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He is identified as being full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
So when Paul preaches on Mars Hill, and quotes from a hymn to Zeus, and the Stoic poet Aratus, he is making use of pagan writings even though he does not subscribe to the rest of their teachings. It’s true: in God we do live and move and have our being. We are his offspring. These things are true.
But when it comes time to conclude his teachings and anchor all he is claiming, he points to Jesus and his resurrection from the grave. While all truth is God’s truth, not all teachings are true. And the establishment of truth is not in anything other than the embodiment of truth itself: the Word made flesh.
Jesus, the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth, also said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly disciples of mine. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. All truth may be God’s truth. But not all truth will free you. That happens only when truth is partnered with grace.
This is the grace Paul was proclaiming on Mars Hill, pointing the Greek intelligentsia to the One who has made himself known in Jesus of Nazareth. He was also telling them that they did not have to serve him or placate him. He didn’t live in temples. He was truly alive.
The turning point of Paul’s teaching comes when Paul mentions the resurrection. This will dramatically separate the message of Paul from that of the pagan Greeks. They’ll have to chew on that with great consideration. This is the God’s honest truth: Jesus is the One to whom all people will give an account. Thank God he has revealed that truth to us.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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