05/19/2025 – Day 323 – Acts – Chapters 17 – 18 / Paul was a model apologist and perhaps the first Christian worldview educator ever. (See link at the bottom: “Who was Gamaliel, the Apostle Paul’s teacher?”
I am sharing some verse commentary from these two chapters from : “The Apologetics Bible” to help us with context in this reading:
“17:7 Declaring another king besides Caesar was a serious crime; Romans feared any competing ruler. Jesus was condemned by Pilate for this (note the inscription on the cross, Luke 23:38).”
“17: 18-19 Two leading philosophical schools – Epicureans and Stoics – attracted many followers who discussed contemporary issues. Epicureans were practical materialists, believing that gods were uninvolved in human affairs, that humans should pursue pleasure, and that there was no afterlife / judgment. Stoics were pantheists (God was the Soul of the universe) and determinists (virtue consisted in dispassionately enduring life’s inevitable hardships). Some listeners – with noticeable arrogance — considered Paul a pseudo – intellectual, a ‘seed-picker,’ picking up a few insignificant ideas here and there.”
“17: 22-31. A model apologist, Paul developed an argument (natural theology) based on God’s self revelation in nature (natural revelation; see Romans 1: 19-32) to build bridges – an to challenge prevailing beliefs. He complimented the Athenians’ evident religious inclinations, drew upon observable data from the natural world regarding the God’s nature, identified this God for them, established a relationship between God and humans, announced the coming judgment by God of the world, and even marshaled evidence from the pagan (Stoic) poets for his analysis (Epimenides; Aerates, who hailed from Paul’s own Cilicia).”
“17: 34. Though, the response to Paul was less dramatic than elsewhere (partly due to the disparity of Paul’s worldiew with that of the Athenians) and no church was apparently founded, some of the converts included Dionysius ( a member of the prestigious Areopagus) and Damaris (a woman of distinction, being singled out by name). Some charge that Paul’s visit was a dismal failure, prompting Paul to change his methods. However, this is most likely incorrect because: 1). this is an argument from silence (see *A below); (2) Paul had utilized a similar tactic — which appealed to natural revelation — at Lystra (14: 15-17); (3) Why would Luke have devoted so much space to a failed approach?
*(A) – See “Logical Fallacy Series — Part 8: ‘Argument From Silence'” – link below for an explanation:
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“18: 19-20. Paul’s visit (Ephesus) probably lasted less than a week. His initial visit to the synagogue in Ephesus was apparently without incident. The discussions he had with the Jews showed promise. They urged him to stay. He promised to return if God willed. Paul would stay in Ephesus (19:10) longer than most other cities. The work there would impact not only Ephesus itself but the entire province of Asia. Paul had been prevented from staying in Asia earlier (16:6). He gave evidence of having envisioned an extensive work in Ephesus because of its strategic location. Paul planned and strategized but was under the authority and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He would come to Ephesus on God’s timetable.”
A quote from the article below – click on the link below:
“Not only was Paul an expert in Jewish law, he sat under one of the greatest teachers in the ancient world, and that was Gamaliel….”
Not only was Paul an expert in Jewish law, he sat under one of the greatest teachers in the ancient world, and that was Gamaliel.”
Soli Deo Gloria!
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Thoughts? Reflections? Questions? Prayer.
Questions for fellowship generation, the lifelong sanctification process:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is working within you as a messenger, both within