Atos 17

Atos 17

Cole notes that the "two schools of philosophy were Paul’s main audience for his sermon at Athens. Since they did not know about the Bible, Paul did not quote Scripture. But, as F. F. Bruce observes (The Book of Acts [Eerdmans], p. 355), “Like the Biblical revelation itself, his argument begins with God the Creator of all and ends with God the Judge of all.” He hits on sin, righteousness, and judgment, the three areas where Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict people." Paul first established some common ground with his audience. He did not quote immediately from the Bible which was foreign to them. Paul's presentation is tailored to these Biblically illiterate pagan intellectuals which gives us a pattern to consider as we share the Gospel with an increasing Biblically illiterate audience. In short Paul took the approach he advocated in First Corinthians To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.(1 Corinthians 9:22) Brian Bill says it this way "When he was courteous, he broke down barriers; when he was contemporary, he built bridges to the heart of his audience." (Ibid) For - Always pause and ponder and query this small but strategic word, a term of explanation.