Acts 17:16

“Now while Paul was waiting for them [Silas and Timothy] at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
ESV Acts 17:16

We continue this week talking about neighbors. If you missed last week’s article, we began by looking briefly at Habakkuk. Some of you will recall that he was distressed at the injustice and unrighteousness that he saw in his community and it appears that he made it a matter of much prayer.

This week we find Paul waiting on his ministry companions, Silas and Timothy, in Athens after having been run out of Thessalonica and Bera for proclaiming that Jesus was the Christ. But though some got angry, others searched the Scriptures and believed Paul’s message; both Jews and Gentiles and were converted.

Athens, named after the goddess Athena, is said to be the birthplace of democracy and is today the Capital and largest city in Greece. In Paul’s day, it was known as a learning center where people would gather and exchange ideas and philosophy. It was a “happening” town. Incidentally, it was in Athens, at the Areopagus, where many of the events recorded in Acts 17 took place.

But Paul was uneasy in Athens. Our verse tells us that his spirit was provoked as he observed the daily activities of his new neighbors. Paul was uneasy because he observed that the city was full of idols. The bible tells us that Paul had observed that the Athenians even had an altar dedicated ‘To the unknown god.’

So Paul did the only thing he could do. He engaged his new neighbors where he found them (worshiping unknown gods) and began to share with them the truth about God; the God that they apparently did not know. He spoke to them about God the Creator and how He was far and above any created thing. He told them that God demanded repentance and that a day of reckoning was coming when God would judge the world in righteousness. Finally, he told them of the resurrection of Jesus. And like at other times, some scoffed, yet some believed and were converted.

If you claim to be a Christian, try for a moment to remember who it was that first shared Christ with you? Was it a parent; a co-worker; a friend; a pastor? If we could discuss your answers, we would find that witnesses come in all shapes and sizes.

When you look around our city, your Athens, is your spirit provoked because you see evil and unrighteousness? Do you engage your neighbors in whatever spiritual condition you find them and tell them about Jesus? Do you share as much of the good news to as many people as you can?

Can you be a successful witness? Absolutely! I think it’s J. Vernon McGee who should get credit for this definition of a successful witness: “Share Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leave the results to God.” That’s exactly what Paul did and you can too.

-Ken Askew