Reading for August 7th

 Read Acts 17.16-34. In 17.16-34: Paul in Athens. In verse 16: Paul's distress at idols is a classic Jewish judgment (v. 28; Isa 41.21-24; 44.9-20; 45.1-25). In verse 17: The marketplace (Gk., "agora" was where philosophers publicly encountered the people. In verse 18: The Epicureans were known for disbelief in religious traditions, and Stoics sought to protect good order and civil religion. No philosopher wanted to be called a babbler, and proclaiming foreign divinities was like the charge on which Socrates was executed. In verse 19: The Areopagus was the site of Athenian trials. In verse 20: Luke again introduces an apostolic speech with a question of what it means (2.12), In verse 22-23: Paul appears to build a case against the philosophers, first by criticizing those who were extremely religious (superstitious) and second by telling them they worship the unknown god in ignorance (17.30). In verse 24-25: Greek wisdom also could speak of the creator god as not needing anything from mortals (14.15). the critique of shrines was a favorite Jewish prophetic theme (7.48-50). In verse 25-26: These verses read like a commentary on Gen 1.24, 27-28; 2.7. In verse 27: Greek Philosophy was well acquainted with the search for God, even to trying to appended or touch God with  the mind. In verse 28: This usual citation of the Greek poet Aratus imitates the way the scripturas of Israel are cited regularly. In verse 29: See v.16. In verse 30: Ignorance is no longer an excuse when the truth is known (see. 3.17). Repentance means the deep change of mind and heart, which the philosophers often called "conversion." In verses 31-32: The fixed day is the last judgment (Lk 10.12; 12.46; 17.24, 30; Acts 2.20). The phrase a whom he has appointed recalls the 'human being' or "son of man" in Dan 7.13 to whom judgement is given by God (7.56). In Acts, the resurrection is the vindication of Jesus, demonstrating his role as judge in the end time, but it also prompts derision from the Greeks (24.2-21). Comments or Questions..