Paul's Sermon on Mars Hill
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class continued the series on Paul’s Mars Hill sermon, focusing on Acts 17:26‑30. The teacher recapped Paul’s engagement with the prevailing Stoic and Epicurean philosophies, emphasizing how Paul acknowledged the cultural ideas of God as a creative force while redirecting them to the true, personal God. By quoting Greek poets such as Aratus, Paul showed respect for the listeners’ intellectual background and used familiar language to declare that “in him we live and move and have our being.” The discussion then shifted to the significance of Paul’s appeal for repentance, noting that ignorance had been overlooked but now every person is called to turn to God. Participants explored the historical context of Greek poetry, the educational background of Paul, and the relevance of Paul’s method for contemporary evangelism. The class concluded with reflections on how believers can emulate Paul’s respectful, culturally aware approach when sharing the Gospel today.
Key Scriptures
In him we live and move and have our being. As even some of your own poets have said, "For we are indeed his offspring."