Paul was a remarkable man, full of conviction, and yet he understood the unbeliever better than many seeing he had been an enemy of Jesus Christ. Paul is waiting to 2 disciples, Silas and Timotheus while in Athens, and he was stirred in his spirit, when he saw the idolatry in the city. Have you looked around you yet, and seen the idolatry in your town or city today? Discerning the times and seasons is imperative for believers, for even believers get caught up in the trends of the times, and actually depart from the faith of Jesus Christ. Paul did not sit still, but disputed with them in the synagogue with the Jews, and in the market with devout people. In Paul’s heart and mind, the presentation of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ was imperative. I wonder where so many of the Christians are today? In my Christian experience we played sports for opportunities to glorify Christ, sharing the truth to those lost. We knocked on doors in neighborhoods to share truth, the truth with people in our community. We testified at work, if God opened the door. And this too was so common in Paul’s life that when the Epicureans philosophers, and some of the Stoicks encountered him, some said, “What will this babbler say? Other some, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. (Acts 17:16-18) Then it says, “And they took him, (Paul) and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speaks is? For thou brings certain strange things in our hears, we would know therefore what these things mean.”

        Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars hill, and said, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.” Acts 17:22 I grieve in my heart today, for many in the church today don’t spend time in the Bible, becoming familiar with the doctrine of Jesus Christ, but lay aside conviction for convenience, and lack knowledge of the one in whom they believe, if they believe at all. Do we declare unto those around us the truth? Paul was straight forward. “God hath made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands:” (not in statues, or reproductions of images in his likeness) “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitations.” The straight forwardness of Paul is amazing. He does not beat around the bush, but comes right to the point.

              So many dither about going around robinhood’s barn as the saying goes, and never get straight to the point. In verse 27 Paul is specific! “That they should seek the LORD, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not very far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, “for we are also his offspring.” Paul used part of their philosophy to gain them by using one of their poets. Listen and learn today. “For as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:

                Why would he say that? “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained: he hath given assurance unto all, in that he hath raised him from the dead. “ The concise glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! Why are we afraid to share those truths. We live in a philosophical world today, where people live by things outside of the truth. They are not afraid to share their philosophy. The deception of Satan operates in the realms of the world ,and yes, even governmental systems. God has been cast down in men’s minds and today, in many places you cannot preach on the streets now, in democratic societies, while the populace is going to hell in a hand basket. Wake up, ye that sleeps, rise from the dead, and give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, and share your faith. Never be ashamed of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, for you heard of Him before you believed upon Him. Let God fill you mouth when opportunity arises and give the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many as will hear.