Paul's Passing Thoughts

Tuesday Night Bible Study
February 24, 2015

Study of the Book of Acts

Lesson 46 Outline

Brief review

1. The scene in Athens
   1. Paul’s manner, again
   2. Disputing daily
      • διαλεγομαι – “dee-ah-leg-oh-my” – to say thoroughly. A structured, well laid-out argument
      • Continuous, on-going
        • Within the synagogue
        • Outside the synagogue
   3. Epicureans and the Stoics
      1. Rival philosophies
      2. Both sought knowledge and wisdom
      3. Variations on gnosticism
   4. “City wholly given to idolatry”
2. The Athenian interest in Paul
   1. What did the Epicureans and Stoics have to gain by debating Paul?
   2. Paul is ridiculed
      • A “babbler”
        • σπερμολογος (“sper-mol-oh-gus”) –“seed-picker”
      • One who sets forth “strange gods”
        • χενος (“zee-nos”) – guest, visitor, alien (foreigner)
        • δαιμονιων (die-mon-ee-on) – a demon or devil. some diety.
3. The focus on Mars Hill
   1. The “Areopagus”
      • αρειος παγος (Areios Pagos) – “Hill of Ares”, “Rock of Ares”

      

      • Compare with verse 22
   2. “Strange things” for a “strange” audience
      • επιδημεο (“epi-day-meh-oh”) – to make oneself at home.
      • Combined with χενος (“zee-nos”). – “residing foreigners”
      • Compare with verse 20
        • χενιζω (“zeh-nid-zoh”) – to be a host.