The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-31
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THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
Feb. L, 19O3-Acts xviii, 22-34: Paul
at Athens.

at Athens.
Paul was only a refugee in Athens. He was
waiting the coming of Silas and Timothy before
forging ahead TO new mission neid Inc
city was palpably unripe for the gospel She
Wanted herself and pulled up with the
consciousness of her superior intelligence. She
had need of nothing There none of the
dociIity of little child, which is prerequisite
to entrance to the kingdom of heaven. But Paul's
spirit was stirred. and he must needs speak out
whether the cultured Athenans would hear or
whether they would forbear
What stirred his spirit was the sight OF the
city literally crowded with idol images 1t is
said that there were over 0Oc0 OF them. Ii was
a proverb that il was easier to find god in
Athens than to find a man. No doubt Paul saw
signs in Athens, one may see them in india
and China to-day, Gods mended here, and new
ones made to order" All the aesthetics of Athens
for nothing. 1t was an offense to Paul IL
its best product was only an image craven by
art and mans device. And he broke his ST.
lence, first in the synagogue. then in the Agora
There are those who believe that Paul was
actually and cited before the areopagites
the charge being a capital one, the introduction
of a deity before its public recognition by the
state.
Others think he was taken to the Areopagus
as a part of a solemn burlesque; that the mob
flung itself into the seats of the judges and that
some one acting the cryer of the court, with
mock solemnity, used the form of law: May
we know, II il suits your convenience what the
doctrine of which you prate-rnay we know
what it is? For you bring certain strange things
to our ears. We would know. therefore. what
these things mean"
Luke gives us in parenthesis a clew to the
cause of this sudden assembly on Mars hill.
1t a Unsuitable, intellectual curiosity,
which characterized Athenan society For the
Athenians and strangers which were there spent
their time in nothing else but either to tell or to
hear some new thing" There were 800 gossip
houses in Athens. open day and night for the
interchange OF scraps of news. No wonder that
these carrion flew down about Paul the
moment he opened his lips about Jesus and the
resurrection.
Amid the gaping and insulting throng Paul
ctood the very embodiment of Christian gentil-
ity. He saw before him opportunity of which
he made the utmost. He was absolutely fear
less yet with consummate skill he avoided
arousing antagonism unnecessarily. He even. in
the deftest manner possible, found a common
ground on which to stand with his curious aud
itory.
Paul was an accomplished and an observing
traveller Ev fences of the fact abound in his
addresses and epistes. Out of the multitude of
things observed, he screened with dextrous
hand those he could to best effect.
In some walk he had taken through the city
he had noticed an altar, the inscription of which
furnishes him with a text: ITO the Unknown
God" With admirable skill Paul evades TIE
charge of innovation which was made against
Socrates that very sIot four centuries before.
He is introducing unlawfully a deity
only making them acquainted with one whom
they worshiped. though without adequately
knowing Him.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Great riches are here in little room. A whole
institute of theology is packed in ten verses.
Paul strikes polytheism dead-level blow when
in one word he declares the unity of God. Next
the triphammeT of his logic falls on the heather
idea of the eternity OF matter. when he de-
ciares that God created the world. Next he af-
firms the spirituality of God when he declares
that whom the heaven OF heavens cannot con-
tain can much less be confined within a temple
made with hands. even though 1t large
and lovely as yonder Parthenon.
The independence of Jehovah affirmed. He
who is the Creator Is also the proprietor OF all
things 1t is impossible that you should serve
Him with your hands. Again, you mistaken
in supposing that the various races have sprung
from the soil of their respective countries, so
that some are better and others baser; not So
ought not to call foreigners barbarians but
brothers. You point with pride to the towering
statue OF Minerva upon the Acropolis. with her
colossal spear made of the weapons of your enc
miles, gathered on the field of Marathon and
YOU think OF ner guarding the city which
bears her other name. Athene but would tell
YOU OF a experimenting Providence which dis
tributes the races In the various places of their
habitations, and which causes one nation rise
and another TO fall.
Next he affirms the omnipresence OF God. Our
souls are as certainly enshrined In the presence
of God as bodies are In the atmosphere.
In Him we live and move and have our being
In a fash he reveals the folly OF idol worship
He says: ''Your own poets. Aratus and
Cleanthes, say are Gods offspring" Can
God himself be less noble being than we who
are His offspring? You ought not fog a moment
think that the Godhead is like unto gold sill
YER or stone craven by art and mans device.