THE gods OF ATHENS

THE gods OF ATHENS

Acts 17.23

This is very interesting verse, because it revealed the scale of idol-worshiping in the Greek's society, to the point that beside their numerous gods, they even built an altar to unknown god, in order that they would not miss any other gods that may exist, and they do not know about it.

The pagan worshipers do not mind having as many gods as possible, thinking perhaps that it is better to have as many gods as possible than only few, so if one god would not help them, may be some other god will, so, in many gods they hope to find more protection, more strength, more security, and more benefits than in few.

Paul very cleverly employed such attitude of Gentiles toward their gods and fulfill the gap in their deities revealed to them this unknown God Whom they certainly missed in their search for higher power, and about this particular unknown GOD Paul dedicated his speech to them in order to show them Whom they really miss, the Most Important GOD of all existing gods.

Paul proclaimed to them GOD Jesus Christ, the missed GOD, and they listen Paul with great interest but only to a certain point, but when Paul start mentioning resurrection from the dead, it seems that out of all numerous gods they have, no god has such capability, and because of, resurrection from the dead does not apply at all to any of their believes in any of their gods, and the philosophers of Areopagus simply couldn't accept it.

It was difficult for them to accept something that goes against their mind-limited human philosophies based on their imagination and lack of real spiritual knowledge and wisdom of the true GOD.

Even those who have experienced and have good knowledge of the Holy Scripture questioning resurrection and eternal life as a part of GOD'S promise clearly written in the Torah and the Prophets.

Particularly Sadducees (Mark 12.18) (Acts 23.6-8) who are very well educated in the Torah and the Prophets but still refused to acknowledge resurrection from the dead as a part of GOD'S plan for humankind.

If those who are very well educated in the Word of GOD refused to accept GOD'S WORD, what then about Gentiles? How can they accept the resurrection from the dead without knowing the Holy Scripture?

Because of it Gentiles ridicule and mock Paul for such statement about resurrection from the dead, but the seed of the Word of GOD already has been planted by Paul, and result of it described in the verse 34, there is some number Greeks believed Paul's words and joined Him in his teaching.