Acts 17 - Messaging
Acts 17 - Messaging
In Acts 17, we see the continuation of Paul and his crew causing revival, then riot and then ultimately rejection. This cycle follows Paul's mission just about everywhere he goes. The rejection typically leads to crowds attempting to take Paul's life and getting close many times.
In this chapter, we see Paul travel through many towns, Thessalonica, Berea, and then land in Athens. Athens was really in a moral and spiritual mess. Athens was full of Greek gods, the people idolized, a city that was driven by sexual pleasure and was also an intellectual capital of the region that was full of philosophy. What jumped out to me was the wisdom and approach that Paul and his crew used. Check this out;
“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.” - Acts 17:17 NIV
Here we read that Paul quickly understood his audience and not only reasoned and preached in the synagogue, but he also went to the marketplace. Paul wanted to reach people with the message of Christ, so he strategically went to where people were, not just in the church but in the marketplace.
Then, when Paul was approached by the local philosophers who were interested in what he was saying, they took him to a meeting where they wanted to hear more of his strange ideas. This was common practice in this time and culture; v21 tells us this All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas. This was the ongoing debate club just sharing ideas and philosophy all day...seems kinda pointless to me, but I know some that would love this.
So Paul brought to this debate club full of philosophers who want to hear this strange message, and crazy ideas deliver a message that is on point. I am taken back by Paul's approach and wisdom of how he understands his audience and how he adjusts his messaging.
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way, you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.” - Acts 17:22-23 NIV
Paul had the opportunity to address this crowd just about any way he wanted. He could have started directly in with the message of Christ, he could have pulled in Scripture, but he didn't, Paul connected with the audience and brought in the surroundings of Athens. He stayed local and connected with his audience and adjusted his messaging to what was happening in the city. He personalized his approach and connected with the philosophers directly.
Paul goes on and delivers a powerful sermon that divided the group it appeared.
“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.” At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed...” - Acts 17:32-34 NIV
He didn’t hold back, and we see some that sneered and shrugged it off, and others wanted to hear more. Some were saved, and others intrigued, and I am sure many were turned off. I loved reading this and just faced with the reality of how critical it is to understand our audience when we are sharing the message of Christ. Connecting on the level and adjusting the messaging based on the situation is wise, and we see Paul powerfully doing this. This was not a “watered down” sermon; it was a laser-focused approach that touched the hearts of many because it was relevant to them. Messaging, an essential thing to remember.