Church History: Date: A.D. 49-52
The account given here of that city: it was wholly given to idolatry. This agrees with the account which the heathen writers give of it, that there were more idols in Athens than there were in all Greece besides put together, and that they had twice as many sacred feasts as others had. Whatever strange gods were recommended to them, they admitted them, and allowed them a temple and an altar, so that they had almost as many gods as men. This city, after the empire became Christian, continued incurably addicted to idolatry, and all the pious edicts of the Christian emperors could not root it out, until, by the eruption of the Goths, that city was in such ruin, that there are now scarcely any remains of it. Notice the uneasiness which the sight of this gave to Paul. Paul was not willing to appear publicly until Silas and Timothy came to him, that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses the word might be established; but in the mean time his spirit was stirred within him. He was filled with concern for the glory of God, which he saw given to idols, and with compassion to the souls of men, which he saw now enslaved to Satan, and led captive by him at his will. He beheld these transgressors, and was grieved; and horror took hold of him. He had a holy indignation at the heathen priests that led the people into such an endless trace of idolatry, and at their philosophers, that knew better, and yet never said a word against it, but they themselves went down the stream.
The testimony that he bore against their idolatry is fascinating to observe; The method in which he endeavors to bring them to the knowledge of the truth. He did not, in the heat of his zeal break into the temples, pull down their images, demolish their altars, or fly in the face of their priests; nor did he run about the streets crying, "You are all the bond-slaves of the devil," even though it was true. He observed a proper decorum, and kept himself within due bounds, doing that only which became a prudent man. He went to the synagogue of the Jews, who, though enemies to Christianity, were free from idolatry, and joined with them in that which was good, and took the opportunity to share his zeal for Christ. He debated with the Jews, reasoned fairly with them, and asked them for a reason why, since they expected the Messiah, they would not receive Jesus. There he met with the devout persons that had forsaken the idol temples, but rested in the Jews' synagogue, and appealed to them to lead them on to the Christian church, to which the Jews' synagogue was but as a short distance. He entered into conversation with all that came in his way about matters of religion: In the market, or place of commerce, he preached daily, as he had opportunity, with those that met with him, or that he happened to fall into company with, that were heathen, and never came to the Jews' synagogue. The zealous advocates for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead it in all companies, as opportunity offers. The ministers of Christ must not think it enough to speak a good word for Christ once a week, but should be daily speaking honorably of him to such as meet with them.
Who were they that encountered him that entered into discussions with him, and opposed him? He debated with all that met him, in public places. Most took no notice of him, slighted him, and never paid attention to a word he said; but there were some of the philosophers that thought he was worth talking about. They were those whose principles were most directly contrary to Christianity:
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