18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—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 that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.” (Acts 17:18-21)
Upon engaging the Athenian crowds in the city’s marketplace (Acts 17:17), the Apostle Paul also encountered some of the Greek Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Who were these two philosophical worldviews?
Epicurious (342-270 B.C.) taught that the purpose of life was pleasure and freedom from pain, passions and fears. In effect, Epicureans believed in the motto, “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” In other words, Epicureanism taught to enjoy life as much as possible because it would be over soon. How many modern Epicureans do you know?
In contrast, Cypriot Zeno (340-265 B.C.), the founder of Stoicism, taught living in harmony with nature and to depend upon reason and other self-sufficient abilities. The Stoics viewed God as a pantheistic “world-soul.” A Stoic is a person who endures pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. The prize logic above emotions. E.g. Mr. Spock of Star Trek. How many Stoics do you know who never let anyone see them sweat?
The response by both Greek schools of philosophical thought to the Apostle Paul and the Gospel was contemptuous at worst and flippant at best. Some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” A babbler was an ignorant show-off. He was an ideological scavenger who, like a theological rummager or scrounger, collected scraps of knowledge and/or peddled various ideas. Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” Foreign divinities were devalued by the Athenian intellectual elite. That was their perspective of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead, which is a shorthand term for rejecting the Gospel. The Athenians looked down upon the person and work of Christ.
After their initial remarks about Paul’s preaching and teaching, the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers took him and brought him to the Areopagus. They stated, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”
The Areopagus was located on a hill northwest of the Acropolis in Athens overlooking the marketplace (Acts 17:19). “Areopagus” also refers to the Athenian council or court that met there. The irregular limestone outcropping was also known as Mars Hill, Mars being the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Ares.
“Paul was taken to the Areopagus after he had been reasoning with Jews and God-fearing Gentiles in the Athenian synagogue and marketplace (agora) for several days (Acts 17:16–21). Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers involved in those discussions brought Paul before the council but evidently not for an official arraignment. Trials were held at the Areopagus; there, some five centuries earlier, Socrates had faced those who accused him of deprecating the Greek gods,” explains The Tyndale Bible Dictionary.
It appears that Paul went before the council. The council met in order to supervise the city’s education, morals and religion and also to make sure that any new teachings did not pose a threat to the state. Therefore, Paul was compelled to present the Gospel so that the council might pass judgment upon it.
However, the people were also curious. Luke’s comment bears this out when he wrote, “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:24).
As we will see, the overall tone of Paul’s address to the council does not suggest judicial proceedings. He spoke as an intelligent Christian who was able to converse with the intellectual Athenians on their own intellectual level (Acts 17:22–31). God calls us to do the same (I Peter 3:13-17). t
Soli deo Gloria!
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