Divine

Divine Nature

ACTS 17 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 17:24-28 Lord of Heaven and Earth

Acts 17:29-34 Divine

ACTS 17:29 29 “Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think the Divine to be like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.

What is "the Divine" (Acts 17:29)?
The original Greek phrase translated "the Divine" is το θειον (to Theion). In context, "Divine" (θειον), even though it is an adjective, refers to the Divine God, who isn't made of metal or stone. Paul is telling them that they have been worshiping pieces of metal and stone, not the truly Divine Creator God.

When discussing "the Divine" with Hindus or Buddhists, do you address their pieces of metal and stone, or do you "respect" their religion?

ACTS 17:30-31 30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

What does Paul say about the timing?
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).

Why "now" (Acts 17:30)?
Since Jesus died to pay for our sins, both salvation - God "has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him" (Acts 17:26-27) - and judgment - "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained" (Acts 17:31) - were at hand.

ACTS 17:32-34 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Why didn't Paul get a chance to explain more about Jesus?
They balked when they heard about His resurrection: "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter. So Paul departed from among them” (Acts 17:32).

Why would "the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 17:32) make them balk?
Greek philosophers and intellectuals valued the mind and logic, and viewed the physical body as worthless and expendable. The notion of a bodily resurrection was incomprehensible to them.

Does this mean Paul didn't get the chance to share the Gospel?
No, some of those who heard Paul followed him out and undoubtedly heard about Jesus and His cross before believing: "However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (Acts 17:34). Paul's address at the Areopagus identified the hearers for whom God's "preappointed times" (Acts 17:26) to "seek the Lord ... and find Him" (Acts 17:27) had arrived.