Athens
The intellectual capital of the Greek world, celebrated for its philosophers, and by the first century a Roman provincial city living on its past reputation. Paul, distressed by its many idols, debated in the marketplace with Epicurean and Stoic thinkers and then addressed the council at the Areopagus, quoting their own poets and preaching the resurrection (Acts 17:16-34).
Where in scripture
[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. [17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. [19] They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you? [20] For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” …
Acts 17:16–34 — opening verses — cited in the description of Athens
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Born here
Events here
On these journeys
- Second missionary journey — Paul the Apostle
