Acts chapter 17 v 22-28:

Acts chapter 17 v 22-28:

V22:  Paul speaks of how the ” very religious” Athenians will ” accept” any kind of god – reminding us of how some today will say ” if your religion is good for you, fine .. but it’s not for me”.

V23:  But among the many idols in Athens, he has seen one altar ” to the unknown god” ( not to offend any god they had ” left out”, perhaps ) but he sees here an opening for the Gospel – may we ever be alert for such -and says he will speak to them of the god they do not know.

V24-25:  So, he declares the One true God, who is the Creator of all things, and is everywhere in the universe he has made, He cannot be contained in any man-made temple, nor does He need the ” service” of any human beings, rather He is the source of all human life, and of all things else. How differently Paul speaks to a pagan audience than to a synagogue congregation. With no OT common ground, he starts where they are, and points to God in Creation and Providence. 

V26-27:  God has  created all mankind from the first man He made ( Adam. ) In His sovereign purpose all nations and their lands have been established. But God always intended that all men should seek Him. Yet men have refused to see how God’s creation should point them to Him – compare Romans 1 v 19-23. Yet, says Paul, he is not far from any human being. 

V28:  For He is ” the God Who is there”, and we all exist only by His own being and provision, and are, in the sense of creation, His ” offspring”. He illustrates this by quoting from some of their own poets/philosophers – he will use this knowledge as a springboard for the Gospel, of course.