October 18, 2026 - Acts 17 (once again)

One more look at Acts 17.  We’ve seen Paul and Silas, by their preaching in Thessalonica, accused of “turning the world upside down.”  And we saw them in Berea where the Bereans checked Paul’s preaching to make sure it was consistent with God’s revealed Word (Good job, Bereans!).  Now, Paul is in Athens and, as he waits for his companions to arrive, he looks around and “his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols” (17:16).  We had a student with us in a temple on Bali, a couple years ago, who broke down crying as the students were talking with a priest.  He was crying because of his great sadness at the people’s lostness.  Paul had been “preaching Jesus and the resurrection” (17:18) and was opposed by the philosophers of the city.  He further told them about God, about his patience with them, and declared, “Now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (17:30).  No wishy-washiness, here.  No equivocation, here.  No ambiguity, here.  No confusion, here; none whatsoever!  It has always been that men will water down the gospel message.  Always there have been those who claim to speak for God but shrink from telling the truth about sin, about the necessity of repentance, and the coming judgment.  Paul spoke some hard truths but he also declared good news by telling of Jesus’ righteousness given to us and of the resurrection.  Paul told the truth, and so must we.

Repent and turn away from sin’s seductive snare;

That all who will obey,

with Him shall reign for aye,

And that’s my business for my King.

This is the message that I bring,

A message angels fain would sing:

“Oh, be ye reconciled,”Thus saith my Lord and King,

“Oh, be ye reconciled to God.”   -- E. T. Cassel (1902)