Acts 17:19

Analysis & Commentary

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus (Ἄρειον Πάγον, Areion Pagon)—literally "Hill of Ares" (Mars Hill), the supreme court of Athens that handled religious and philosophical matters. This was not an arrest but an invitation, though Luke's language suggests formality.

May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? (καινὴ διδαχή, kainē didachē)—The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (v.18) were genuinely curious about Paul's "strange things" (ξενίζοντα, xenizonta, v.20). The Athenians'' love of novelty (v.21) opened the door for Paul's masterful apologetic to pagan philosophy. What began as intellectual curiosity would become Christianity's most famous engagement with Greek thought, where Paul quotes their own poets (v.28) to establish common ground before proclaiming the Resurrection.

Historical Context

The Areopagus council met on a rocky outcrop northwest of the Acropolis in Athens (circa AD 50-51). Named after Ares (Greek god of war, Roman Mars), it had jurisdiction over religious innovations. Athens was past its political prime but remained the intellectual center of the Roman world, filled with monuments to countless deities.

Questions for Reflection

• How did Paul use the Athenians' curiosity about "new doctrine" as an opportunity rather than viewing their skepticism as opposition?
• When sharing the gospel with intellectuals or skeptics, how can you establish common ground (as Paul did with Greek poets) before presenting Christ's exclusive claims?