Acts 17:32
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
Paul proclaimed the resurrection of the dead to philosophers and learned men in the center of heathen learning, and his hearers divided, some mocking and others putting off a decision until they could hear more. That divided response interrupted and closed his work at Athens. Their mocking and delay showed pride in intellect, learning, and self-sufficiency, clinging to idolatry and turning from true religion as foolishness. His learned and eloquent meeting of philosophy with philosophy and eloquence with eloquence brought little fruit, showing that human wisdom cannot convict and convert sinners, so at Corinth he laid aside elaborate argument to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified in plain words with the Spirit's power. Yet the labor was not wholly in vain, for Dionysius and several others believed and joined the believers, leaving a witness of courage and victory for Christianity in the heart of paganism.
Paul's Hearing at Athens
Paul proclaimed the resurrection of the dead at Athens, the center of heathen learning, before philosophers, sages, and great and learned men. His reasoning astonished and silenced even the wisest hearers, yet few accepted the gospel. When the resurrection was heard, the audience divided, with some mocking and others postponing decision and saying they would hear more of the matter.
That divided response interrupted and closed his teaching and work at Athens. The mocking and postponing revealed a people clinging to idolatry and turning from the light of true and reasonable religion. Pride in intellect, learning, refinement, and self-sufficiency left them satisfied with their own attainments, regarding the message of Christ as foolishness and having little desire for anything better, so that while boasting of high literary and scientific culture they grew yearly more corrupt.
In that encounter he stood with noble firmness, publicly proclaiming faith in Christ with winning power, and by knowledge and eloquence silencing the arguments of proud philosophy. He gave unmistakable evidence of the divine character of the faith by signs and miracles. He carefully drew minds away from heathen deities to the true God who was to them unknown, with a tact born of divine love that avoided irritating his proud listeners by direct attack.
The labor there was not wholly in vain, for despite few receiving the gospel, Dionysius, one of the most prominent citizens, and several others became converts, accepted the message, and united themselves fully with the believers. The account remains to show God rebuking idolatry and the sins of a proud people through His servant. It is preserved for all coming generations as a treasure of knowledge, bearing witness of unshaken confidence and courage in loneliness and adversity and of the victory gained for Christianity in the very heart of paganism.
Human Wisdom and Gospel Power
At Athens Paul adapted his style to his audience, adopting an oratorical style and spending much time in discussion of natural religion, meeting false philosophy with true philosophy, eloquence with eloquence, logic with logic, oratory with oratory, and science with science, and displaying human ability and smartness with his intellectual acquirements. That learned and eloquent approach produced little fruit and a disappointing response, failing to bring the success he had hoped for, so he judged the method unsuccessful and its effect failure. The failure shows that even the highest human wisdom, learning, and eloquence cannot convict and convert sinners, and that when a people are wholly satisfied with their own attainments little more need be expected of them, for though enjoying reputation of high literary and scientific culture and boasting of learning and refinement they clung to idolatry, turned from the light of true and reasonable religion, and yearly became more corrupt with less desire for anything better than what they possessed.
The lack of success taught that something above the world's wisdom must come into the work, power from a higher source, with the Spirit sanctifying every intellectual development. The Athens experience therefore led Paul to change his plan at Corinth to avoid theories and elaborate arguments and worldly wisdom and eloquence, choosing instead to preach in plain, simple words centered on salvation through Christ and on Christ and His mission, urging Jesus Christ and Him crucified upon sinners in demonstration of the Spirit and of power and presenting the simple truth about Christ. The lesson is that ministers in their short lifetime have no time for anything else but knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified.