Note 1 at Acts 17:23: Paul's defense of the gospel here takes on added significance when you realize that he was probably on trial for introducing a strange god, with the death penalty as his sentence if he was found guilty (see note 5 at Acts 17:18, p. ???).

Paul masterfully dodges being in violation of their law while still taking advantage of this opportunity to preach the gospel by referring to their altar to the "unknown god." It was probably out of pure superstition that they had an altar to this unknown god, but nonetheless, they had acknowledged that a god existed which they did not know.

Paul used this to his advantage and proclaimed the only true and living God as this unknown god. The Athenians could not judge him in violation of their law since they could not prove exactly who this unknown god was. Paul's opinion was as good as anyone else's.

Paul's knowledge of the Athenian's idolatry not only possibly saved his life, but it granted him an opportunity to address the highest court in Athens with the truths of the gospel. Once again we see Paul becoming all things to all men that he might by all means save some (1 Cor. 9:20-22).

Note 2 at Acts 17:23: Paul's method of presenting the gospel to these Athenians is a model for evangelism today.

Paul began from a common point that the Athenians and himself could agree on. They believed there was a god which they didn't have revelation of; Paul believed that too. He began from this common point and proceeded to preach Jesus unto them.

He then used reason, which is common to all men, to expose their error in believing in idols. The reasoning is that if the heavens and earth were created by God, then how could He be confined to a temple or idol which are the works of men's' hands? The creation cannot create a Creator. God is greater than that (see ref. j at v. 24).

Although the Epicureans did not believe in a god that created the earth or was personally involved in our affairs (see note 3 at Acts 17:18, p. ???), that did not keep Paul from making his point. Regardless of what they had deceived their minds into believing, they knew in their hearts the basic truths of a divine God because God reveals these truths to every person (Rom. 1:18-20).

He then cites certain of the Athenians own poets and philosophers (see note 4 at Acts 17:28, p. ???) who wrote that we are the offspring of God (v. 28). If we are God's offspring, then how can we justify making an idol out of wood or stone which has no life and believe that our life came from it? That's not rational! If all that be true, then the true and living God who was the real Creator would surely bring them into judgment for comparing Him to animals and grotesque figures which they worshiped as gods (v. 31).

They listened without interruption up to this point. It would appear that Paul's arguments for a one true God who was Creator and incapable of being compared to an idol, had prevailed or at least left them without an answer. However, Paul was not content to simply convert them from polytheism to monotheism, he pressed on to mention the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Some who had listened up to this point refused to listen any longer and began to mock Paul (v. 32).

By mentioning the resurrection of Jesus, Paul was bringing all his statements out of the realm of theory and making them fact that had to be accepted or rejected. The Athenians, like many people today, could tolerate theory because it could not be proved or disproved and therefore didn't demand any accountability on their part. But if what Paul was saying about Jesus was fact, then they would have to admit that they were wrong. Some chose to find out more and others rejected Paul's arguments at this point.

Likewise today, when presenting the gospel, we are not just presenting a theory about God but the factual account of God's dealings with man as revealed through His Word with the ultimate witness being the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Our personal witness of the reality of Jesus being alive in our lives brings Christ from theory to reality and forces people to choose. It's naive to always expect a positive response, but it's scriptural to get some response (see note 2 at Acts 14:4, p. 654).