Featured Pre-Evangelism?

It's very possible Luke did not record everything Paul said. But they were close friends, so I have to wonder. Had Paul mentioned the cross, dying for our sins, forgiveness, it's hard to imagine he would not give that testimony to Luke and Luke would not have recorded it.

Paul preached the cross to those who would hear. He also brushed off his feet when they would not hear. When he laid the foundation of the gospel with the bad news, the greeks scoffed, and Paul moved on from them. The others said they would hear more, but this was said after he departed.

This to me sounds like the message of Romans 1. Paul warned them of God's existence, of their sin, and the coming judgment. He seemed to reiterate things they knew innately. Thus he rendered them without excuse. He also prompted others to seek and hear more.

 

In context.

Acts 17:32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed.
​

Yes, some were intrigued by the idea that God resurrected a man who was appointed by God to judge the world. Others did not, as this collided with their human wisdom. Those who wanted to hear more followed after Paul and became Christians.

Bad news > sneering > unbelief

Bad news > desire to hear more > follow > hear more > believe.

What am I missing?

 

Nope. Never said that.

My point is that the gospel was not preached on Mars Hill. Only the bad news. Those who ended up believing wanted to hear more and followed Paul.

 

Absolutely. It was Paul's preaching of the good news in Athens in the synagogs that earned him a platform. Notice how Luke described Paul's initial audience.

Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagoguea with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.​

Paul spoke the good news to the God-fearing jews and greeks. Then he was invited to meet the big boys on the hill—the giants of human wisdom. That's when it gets interesting. To them, he preached the bad news. He preached Romans 1, in essence. He preached the fear of God. And then he added the coming judgment of the resurrected Christ. That's the part that really fascinates me. He didn't preach Jesus the lamb, but rather Jesus the lion.

 

I disagree, your opinion and input is good and helpful, and you're reasoning from Scripture. Much more beneficial than coffee. I did notice the same thing, that he preached in the marketplace in addition to the synagogs in Athens. I'll dig into this a little deeper, in a bit, but good points. I do appreciate the input.

 

I think we're in agreement. I don't believe preaching the bad news is enough. You have to get to the good news, and I believe that was always Paul's goal. Jesus said Moses wrote about Him! And if they would not listen to Moses, they would not listen to even One risen from the dead.

So I think you're right, he was going to get to the good news, the Cross, the forgiveness of sins, but once they rejected the idea of a resurrection, he saw no point in going forward.

And yes, the clear indication of verse 17 is that Paul preached to both the God-fearing in the synagogs and the non-fearing in the marketplace.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.​

I think the marketplace had a be a mixed bag of mostly non-worshipers. We're not told specifically what message he preached only that he reasoned and from what we know about Paul he certainly reasoned from Scripture.

My ideas is simply this. When speaking to the God-fearing he started with the good news. When speaking to the non-God-fearing he started with the bad news with the intention of ultimately getting to the good news.

Don't know if you agree with that or not, but that's my take at this point.

 

I agree in part. Paul preached some very bad news on Mars Hill and then up and left. "You want to hear the rest, come and fine me."

Not sure about the "So do you want to know the truth about Jesus or not..." approach. But in principle I agree.