The second half of Acts 17 is Luke’s account of Paul in the city of Athens. Some of the self-proclaimed intellectuals of Athens referred to Paul with the derogatory label: idle babbler – a term that can be translated as “one who makes his living picking up scraps.” But it was the Athenians who were displaying intellectual and spiritual poverty, as Paul explained to them some of the most fundamental truths of human existence in verses 24-31.
1. The one true God made the world and all things in it, and as such is Lord of heaven and earth.
2. The Creator is not served by human hands as if He needs anything, but in fact gives life and breath to all.
3. God made man in His image; therefore it is foolish to think of God as a lifeless image of metal or stone made by man.
4. All men everywhere are made in the image of God – every nation on the face of the earth derives from one blood.
5. Therefore all men are responsible, and accountable, for a personal relationship with the God who created them.
6. That accountability means that one day God will judge every man in righteousness through His appointed Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. Jesus’ credential for serving as the righteous judge is that God raised Him from the dead.
The varied responses of Paul’s hearers in Athens were: 1) some who sneered or mocked him; 2) others who said: “we shall hear you again;” and 3) still others who joined with Paul and believed (vv. 32-34). Which one are we?