17:1-2 Paul continued along in his purpose of preaching and he does so by reasoning. Although God has given Paul and the other apostles the charisma and the gifts to heal and guide, their presentation of God's philosophy is full of logic and wisdom. More than an intelligent creator, our creator is intelligence and wisdom; the creator of all science and manifestation of life. Paul uses reason to tether their scripture with the New Testament, the continuation and enhancement of the original scripture.
17:3 Jesus had to die on earth to exhibit to us that our spirits and our God is eternal and spiritual. Moreover, Jesus' earthly death showed us that we rise despite adversity. He enabled us to understand that in more manifestations than we can even understand, God is with us and awaiting our acknowledgement of Him.
17:4 Paul's ministry inspired some of the Jews; people of Judea, (no small feat considering the apostles most frequent adversaries had been of Judea). Moreover, the word of God inspired many of the Greeks and many of the women (who during this time endured much oppression). God's philosophy opens our door to freedom and to the courage to walked toward it.
17:5-7 Fearful of losing their corrupt authority, this specific group reacts with outrage and violence. Their argument is that the apostles have spoken against the leader of the region. The reason why this is untrue is because the apostles' message promoted our creator (Who is quite above the significance of any earthly king). God's philosophy of life teaches and guides us to be kind, honest and productive in compassion. It does not teach anarchy or hierarchy; the trivial matters of earth were unrelated to what the apostles spoke of.
15:8-9 Their intention was to rough the apostles' up, spook them, instill fear in the hope that they would lose their courage and determination. Impossible! Never let anger, fear or opposition chart, hinder, stop or redirect your course.
17:10-12 Unstoppable, Paul and Silas continue to travel and preach God's philosophy to the very groups of people they could reasonably except would hate them. However there is a key word in this verse: fair-minded. Those who implement logic, wisdom and compassion in their lives readily understand the philosophy of God. Have the maturity to listen, perceive and make logical decisions and opinions rather than reacting with brute force and anger.
17:13 Paul and Silas' enemies do not simply disappear or fade into quiet. Contrarily, they follow Paul and Silas and continue to work, passionately, against them. The absence of adversity does not enable us to do great things; the presence of our courage in the presence of our adversity enables us to do great things. Without these corrupt and evil people, the apostles would not have any work to do; but such is not the condition of our world. There is corruption and there is evil and injustice and therefore there is much work to be done.
17:14-15 Paul has become a prominently successful apostle, precisely as God expected he would. Paul is prompted to move forward because of the grace and passion with which he is able to deliver the word to people who have never heard it before. The apostles stick around, and return to, places where Paul has established God's philosophy to uphold and further encourage it. Silas and Timothy are arranged to remain with Paul.
17:16 Paul is divinely given the perception of the situation of the new city: it is a city filled with people who worship inanimate objects as gods.
17:17 Again, Paul tackles this obstacle with reason. Paul does not beg or force or do tricks to convince people; instead, he presents the wisdom that has changed and given him life with reason. Knowing that the "fair-minded" will at least listen.
17:18-21 In these verses, Paul is among philosophy-minded people. They think, analyze, interpret existentialism and therefore they are interested; their thought-process is piqued by this message brought by Paul. Rather than rejected him outright, they invite him to speak and offer themselves are intent listeners. Paul brought an entirely new concept to them and they requested time and opportunity to contemplate it.
17:17 Again, Paul tackles this obstacle with reason. Paul does not beg or force or do tricks to convince people; instead, he presents the wisdom that has changed and given him life with reason. Knowing that the "fair-minded" will at least listen.
17:18-21 In these verses, Paul is among philosophy-minded people. They think, analyze, interpret existentialism and therefore they are interested; their thought-process is piqued by this message brought by Paul. Rather than rejected him outright, they invite him to speak and offer themselves are intent listeners. Paul brought an entirely new concept to them and they requested time and opportunity to contemplate it.
17:22-23 Paul explains to the Areopagus that they are already halfway, maybe more, there (spiritually speaking). These people are devout to the creator of themselves and everything around them but they do not yet know the identity of the creator (the unknowing is their own proclamation). Paul is eager to delve into the story of his life, his account of the life of Jesus and the disciples' work.
17:24 Paul speaks of our creator's magnificence. Paul's first explanation is that our creator is too grand, too intelligent, too creative to be condensed or contained by the bounds of human thought. God does not need a temple or a statue because He is the creator of the people, minds, hands and materials which build those temples and statues. Essentially: don't worship the thing, worship He who made the thing possible.
17:25 Similarly, Paul explains that our creator is the engineer of the very breath in our lungs, of everything within and around us.
17:26 With staggering beauty, Paul speaks of our creator's family... the family of which we are all made of. God's plan for us each, individually, is specific and unique. He has placed us intently and intricately. When we realize this, when we activate His spirit within us, we awaken to our particular purposes and placement on this earth.
17:27 God ensures that whoever reaches for Him will receive Him. Remember and realize that reaching is an action, catalyzed by passion and hope to attain. Any efforts to find Him will be successful. You cannot be flippant or lethargic and expect results out of anything.
"HE IS NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US" Indeed, He's incredibly close. Reach out and take His hand, He's holding it out for you.
17:28 He is more than our creator, He is our Father... our Mother, we are made of "His" DNA. Our Father has born us into this world yet has remained with us. Our spirits, our souls are of Him; we His children.
17:29 Paul explains this so perfectly. Gold, silver, precious jewels, none of those things are as valuable, as amazing or precious as we are. God has created it and us all but we are His children. Born of Him, made of Him, loved by Him. We are not inanimate objects which spellbind greediness. We are alive in, among and because of Him. Nothing a human creates is more divine than God's creation.
17:30 Basically, God sent Jesus to earth because He meant business; the foolery needed to end. People were getting out of control with their corruption and their confusion as to the meaning and purpose and origin of life. God has called each of us to awaken to the truth of life: compassion. He has called us to accept His forgiveness for the ways we might have harmed another or been lethargic when we could have been active and purposeful against injustice.
He requests and then guides us to stop lingering in ignorance. And unfortunately, many still do and have. There is more to life than so many acknowledge. Let go of the greed and the selfish drive and participate in this compassionate family.
17:31 Finally Paul informs them (and us) that this trial on earth has an end date. An end date upon which, we will have identified ourselves. This earth, this life is a school and we want to graduate having filled our purpose, having lived and thought and expressed ourselves compassionately.
God has given us this space and this freedom to become whoever and whatever we want to be. Our obstacles are meant to help us to create our character, to strengthen it or alter it if need be. Let this life refine you.
17:32 The resurrection of Jesus was a completely new idea to them and we can understand their shock, many even today have a difficult time believing or even conceiving of it. Yet the natural truth of Paul's words inspired many to consider and absorb the information and subsequently, solidify their faith.
17:33-34 Having fulfilled yet another beautiful purpose, Paul continues onward. Paul never grows tired or apathetic, never arrogant or uninspired. He is so passionately driven, so filled with faith and compassion and love for God. Paul carries this message throughout his life because it is his life, it is the reality of our lives. As God's children, we feel joyfully privileged, humbled by God's love and generosity. That He trusts us among His children is an honor we happily respect and work to be deserving of.
17:24 Paul speaks of our creator's magnificence. Paul's first explanation is that our creator is too grand, too intelligent, too creative to be condensed or contained by the bounds of human thought. God does not need a temple or a statue because He is the creator of the people, minds, hands and materials which build those temples and statues. Essentially: don't worship the thing, worship He who made the thing possible.
17:25 Similarly, Paul explains that our creator is the engineer of the very breath in our lungs, of everything within and around us.
17:26 With staggering beauty, Paul speaks of our creator's family... the family of which we are all made of. God's plan for us each, individually, is specific and unique. He has placed us intently and intricately. When we realize this, when we activate His spirit within us, we awaken to our particular purposes and placement on this earth.
17:27 God ensures that whoever reaches for Him will receive Him. Remember and realize that reaching is an action, catalyzed by passion and hope to attain. Any efforts to find Him will be successful. You cannot be flippant or lethargic and expect results out of anything.
"HE IS NOT FAR FROM EACH ONE OF US" Indeed, He's incredibly close. Reach out and take His hand, He's holding it out for you.
17:28 He is more than our creator, He is our Father... our Mother, we are made of "His" DNA. Our Father has born us into this world yet has remained with us. Our spirits, our souls are of Him; we His children.
17:29 Paul explains this so perfectly. Gold, silver, precious jewels, none of those things are as valuable, as amazing or precious as we are. God has created it and us all but we are His children. Born of Him, made of Him, loved by Him. We are not inanimate objects which spellbind greediness. We are alive in, among and because of Him. Nothing a human creates is more divine than God's creation.
17:30 Basically, God sent Jesus to earth because He meant business; the foolery needed to end. People were getting out of control with their corruption and their confusion as to the meaning and purpose and origin of life. God has called each of us to awaken to the truth of life: compassion. He has called us to accept His forgiveness for the ways we might have harmed another or been lethargic when we could have been active and purposeful against injustice.
He requests and then guides us to stop lingering in ignorance. And unfortunately, many still do and have. There is more to life than so many acknowledge. Let go of the greed and the selfish drive and participate in this compassionate family.
17:31 Finally Paul informs them (and us) that this trial on earth has an end date. An end date upon which, we will have identified ourselves. This earth, this life is a school and we want to graduate having filled our purpose, having lived and thought and expressed ourselves compassionately.
God has given us this space and this freedom to become whoever and whatever we want to be. Our obstacles are meant to help us to create our character, to strengthen it or alter it if need be. Let this life refine you.
17:32 The resurrection of Jesus was a completely new idea to them and we can understand their shock, many even today have a difficult time believing or even conceiving of it. Yet the natural truth of Paul's words inspired many to consider and absorb the information and subsequently, solidify their faith.
17:33-34 Having fulfilled yet another beautiful purpose, Paul continues onward. Paul never grows tired or apathetic, never arrogant or uninspired. He is so passionately driven, so filled with faith and compassion and love for God. Paul carries this message throughout his life because it is his life, it is the reality of our lives. As God's children, we feel joyfully privileged, humbled by God's love and generosity. That He trusts us among His children is an honor we happily respect and work to be deserving of.
