Context Matters: New Testament BackgroundsSample

Topic 7: Mars Hill

The book of Acts includes many of Paul’s speeches to different audiences. In Acts 17, Paul addresses a crowd of Greek philosophers in Athens. These philosophers had overheard Paul speaking about Jesus and the resurrection and wanted to know more.

Paul begins his speech by complimenting and finding common ground with this audience. Athens was a center for Greco-Roman religion and philosophy and was home to many temples and idols. Luke initially notes that Paul was greatly distressed that the city was full of idols, but when he addresses the Athenian philosophers, he compliments them for being very religious.

Paul highlights one altar inscribed with the text “To the unknown god.” This altar was set up centuries before when a plague affected Athens. The Athenians had sacrificed to all sorts of different deities in hopes of finding relief, but none of the sacrifices had worked.

Finally, they got advice from a philosopher named Epimenides who suggested they sacrifice to unknown gods. His reasoning was that there must be some god they didn’t know about that they had offended, and the plague would stop if they sacrificed to that god. They followed this advice, and the plague stopped.

Paul uses this acknowledgment that there may be a god they weren’t aware of to point the philosophers of Athens to the true God who created heaven and earth. He goes on to quote some of their own philosophers, including Epimenides, as he directs his audience to repent and follow the true God.

Paul’s strategy in Athens provides a helpful model for how we can present the gospel. His knowledge of Greek history and philosophy allowed him to find common ground with the philosophers at Athens and gave him an opportunity to preach the good news of Jesus and his resurrection.

Learn more about Acts 17 and Paul's speech in the video below.