Acts 17:16-23

In Athens

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."

Is God UNKNOWN to You?

Stress was increasing within Paul as he was waiting in Athens. He could see evidence of false God's all around him. When the opportunity came he spoke in the synagogue, then again in the meeting of the Areopagus. He did not condemn them, but acknowledged that in fact they were very religious people. Even to the point that they worshipped an unknown God. What a GREAT opportunity for Paul to share the Good News about the Almighty God and his son Jesus Christ.

Many people in this generation talk reverantly about God, but by their actions I wonder if they really KNOW God.