Acts 17:34, commentary and pictures

Acts 17:34 closes Paul's public work in Greece with his preaching to the philosophers and learned men in the very heart of pagan Athens. His labor there was not wholly in vain but gained a measure of success, as certain men believed and joined themselves fully to the believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite, one of the most prominent citizens of Athens, and Damaris, and others with them. Yet only a few received the gospel, so the effort bore little fruit and left Paul disappointed in the success he had hoped for. This happened because the Athenians cherished pride of intellect and counted the gospel foolishness, showing that human wisdom and eloquence cannot convict and convert sinners without divine wisdom and power from a higher source. The disappointing outcome led Paul to preach in Corinth in plain simplicity, determining to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified rather than relying on worldly wisdom and display of ability.

Context and Result at Athens

This closing line ends the record of public labor at Berea and in Greece, centered on the preaching at Athens. The audience there was the philosophers, the great and learned men, the sages, and the art-worshipers in the very heart of a pagan city. There faith in Christ was proclaimed with power and with winning power, with noble firmness before the sages of Greece. In his accustomed oratorical style and intellectual ability, false philosophy was met with true philosophy, eloquence with eloquence, logic with logic, and oratory with oratory.

By knowledge and eloquence the arguments of proud philosophy were silenced, and the hearers were astonished, as by one fitted to speak before kings and scholars. Signs and miracles gave unmistakable evidence of the divine character of the message. The labor there was not wholly in vain or fruitless, but gained a measure of Christian victory and success in gaining converts. Certain men and several people believed, became Christians, joined him, and united themselves fully with the believers.

Among them was Dionysius the Areopagite, one of the most prominent citizens of Athens, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Their conversion was a victory for Christianity gained in the very heart of paganism. Yet only a few people accepted the gospel, so the effort bore little fruit and fell short of the success hoped for, leaving him disappointed.

Lessons for Gospel Work

Comparatively few in Athens received the gospel because the people cherished pride of intellect and worldly wisdom and counted the gospel of Christ as foolishness. At Athens Paul had preached to the great and learned men in his accustomed oratorical style, using his intellectual acquirements to meet false philosophy with true philosophy, eloquence with eloquence, and logic with logic. Though he was fitted to speak before kings and scholars, he failed to meet with the success he had hoped for, with only a few believing.

The meager result taught that human wisdom, even that of learned men, cannot convict and convert sinners, and that something above the wisdom of the world must come into the work. Workers need wisdom that is divine and power from a higher source, with the Spirit sanctifying every intellectual development. They must feed on the flesh and blood of the Son of God as the mystery of godliness and eternal life.

The disappointing outcome at Athens led Paul to take a different approach in Corinth, preaching Christ in plain and deliberate simplicity and focusing on Christ rather than relying on worldly wisdom and eloquence. There he no longer met eloquence with eloquence, logic with logic, and oratory with oratory, laying aside the display of ability and smartness that had had so little effect. He determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, because in this short lifetime there is no time for anything else.