“PAUL INTRODUCES THE UNKNOWN GOD”
Season: Book of Acts
Episode 24: “Paul Introduces the Unknown God”
Today’s Bible Bite: Acts 17:16-34
Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teh6QtXs980 (CFBC Kids Ministry – Paul in Athens)
“Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” (Acts 17:22-23, NLT)
Paul and Silas were able to share with many of the people in Berea, but others from Thessalonica, who hadn’t liked their message about Jesus, showed up and started causing trouble. The believers in Berea helped Paul make a quick escape to Athens, but Silas and Timothy stayed behind. While he waited for them to join him, Paul had a chance to go throughout the city of Athens. He became very bothered by all their idols—they even had an idol for the ‘unknown God’—they wanted to make certain they hadn’t left any out and then risk making any gods they didn’t know about angry.
Paul began to tell them about God, how He was the unknown god that they worshipped, but also explained that He didn’t need an idol or anything else. He was the God of the universe, of all people, and had now come as Jesus so that people could know and serve Him. But everything that Paul talked about seemed very strange to the people of Athens. When he told them that Jesus was raised from the dead some people scoffed at the idea; however, even here where they knew so little about God, Paul was able to persuade some of the people with God’s help.
Think about it...
• Many people in Berea were coming to know about Jesus through Paul and Silas’ teaching. So, why did Paul have to leave?
• Paul traveled to Athens, where he waited for Silas and Timothy to join him. What did he do while he waited?
• He noticed that the people of Athens worshipped a huge number of gods. How did Paul respond?
• Paul was able to tell them about the ‘Unknown God’ they worshipped. How did the people respond to Paul’s message?
Prayer: Thank you, God, that Paul found a way to talk to the people of Athens about you, despite the fact that what he shared seemed like nonsense to some of them. Thank you that even though he had to leave Berea for his safety, you opened up a new opportunity for him. Thank you, God, that you will always help me find a way to serve you, even when others try to stop me.