Some began to sneer - many believed.

Acts 17:10-34 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴ Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. ¹⁵ Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. ¹⁷ So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. ¹⁸ And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? ²⁰ For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” ²¹ (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

²² So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ ²⁹ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. ³⁰ Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, ³¹ because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” ³³ So Paul went out of their midst. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. The city of Athens was not that different than some aspects of our culture and society. The Greek people thought themselves to be educated and open minded, free thinkers. Many people today would say they are not religious, they would say they are anti religion. In truth though most people today, like the people of Athens, are very religious. Religion is defined as:   1.  a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. -2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects -3.  the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices – 4. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience          So while many people may reject God and reject Christ, they are very religious, very devoted to their own beliefs. They may be religious about any number of things, climate change, animal rights, political affiliations; they may adhere to and promote a religion of tolerance, acceptance and inclusion. They may, like the people of Athens even worship what they do not know. In today’s text Paul says:  “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD’”    Paul said they worship in ignorance.

Many people today worship in that way. They don’t really know what it is that they are religious about or they don’t recognize that they have made idols or gods out of philosophies or human causes. Paul says: This I proclaim to you.  The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.       Regardless of whether people acknowledge God or not, He is God. He is the God who made the world and all things in it.  Romans 1:19-23 says:     that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools,  and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.   

Paul didn’t debate the religions of the people of Athens. Neither though did he accept or condone their worship of man-made idols or creation. Rather Paul simply but boldly declared the truth of God’s word. He said:   “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,  because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”    We too are called to declare the truth of God’s word, to proclaim the gospel to all creation. We, like Paul should declare the truth that there is a fixed day of judgment, and the good news that we can be judged in righteousness through a Man, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the grave to prove God’s word to all men.  

Earlier in today’s text, when Paul declared God’s word to the people of Berea it says:    they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore many of them believed.      If people will examine the scriptures to see whether these things are so, they too will believe. It is those who reject, misquote or misinterpret God’s word,  who do not receive the revelation of Christ, God’s plan for the redemption, reconciliation and restoration of man and creation. In Isaiah 55:11, God speaks through the prophet saying:   “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”     At the end of today’s text it says:    Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”      If we, like Paul, boldly declare the truth of God’s word, if we proclaim the gospel, if we like Paul, will be:  determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, (1 Corinthians 2:2) some may sneer, some may say we will hear you again concerning this and some will believe and receive the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer and Savior, the resurrected King of kings and Lord of lords.  We are not responsible for the results, God says His word will not return empty, it will accomplish what He desires. We are called to, like Paul and like the early church, respond to Jesus call when He says:  “you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the revelation that You are God as shown throughout creation. Thank You also for the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, through Your word and by the Holy Spirit. May I be faithful to declare Your word, the truth that Jesus is the Christ, that He died for the sins of all mankind and that You raised Him from the grave as proof that He is the Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of all who believe. May Your word not return empty but accomplish all that You desire, may many believe.     Amen