Choice 3: Acts 17. Paul’s Visit to Athens
1. Review
Acts 17:1–5, 10–15. Write a description of the different ways in which people
responded to the message of the gospel.
In verse 4 we read that some of them
believed and joined Paul, and a large amount of Greeks (Gentiles) as well as
chief women joined and followed Paul. But
there were Jews that did not believe the message of Paul and refused to join
the church and they even gathered a mob of evil and wicked people to start a
riot. They attacked Paul’s family and
were looking for Paul. They wanted to
get rid of Paul and his message of truth.
What phrase in these verses describes what the
people of Berea did that the people of Thessalonica did not do that helped them
more readily accept the gospel? Read 2 Nephi 32:3; 33:10; Alma 31:5 and explain
in writing how our daily study of scripture affects so much else of what we
think and do.
Nephi 32:3
3 Angels speak
by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.
Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the
words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
Nephi 33:10
10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew,
and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in
Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if
ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words,
for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them
unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
Alma 31:5
5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was
just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the
sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma
thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
When we “feast upon the words
of Christ” we allow the Holy Ghost to speak to our hearts and minds and help
guide us in truth and righteousness. The
words of Christ will always tell us what we are to do in any situation.
2. Review Acts 17:16–28 and the institute student
manual commentary for Acts 17:18, “What Are Epicureans and Stoics?” (p. 266).
Briefly summarize the beliefs of the Epicureans and Stoics.
Epicureanism was named for Epicurus (341–270 b.c.). According
to his philosophy, the world came into existence by chance and was without
purpose or design. Epicureans believed that the gods, if they did exist, did
not involve themselves in the lives of humans and that happiness was to be
found in the absence of cares and pain and the enjoyment of pleasures in moderation.
Stoicism began with the teachings of a man named Zeno
(333–264 b.c.). Stoicism held that all things were created, ordered, and set in
motion by divine reason. Stoics believed that man was endowed with a spark of
reason and should seek harmony with the divine order of things, overcome
passions, and live a moral and upright life.
Read the institute student manual commentary for
Acts 17:15–34, “What Was the Significance of Paul’s Visit to Athens?” (p. 266).
Then write your answers to the following questions:
·
What gods did the Athenians know and not know?
Many Greeks were polytheists (believing in many gods). The
chief men of Athens gathered in the marketplace each day to hear debates, to
conduct business, and to learn something new. Since Paul’s message was new, he
attracted listeners.
·
How do 2 Nephi 9:28–29 and Colossians 2:8 relate
to the practices of the Athenians?
2Nephi 9:28-29
28 O that cunning plan of
the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of
men! When they are learned they
think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of
God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves,
wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And
they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto
the counsels of God.
Colossians 2:8
8 Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Men think that all that they have and all
blessings and success come from their own doing. They are being tricked by the “cunning plan of
the evil one” just as the Athenians.
·
What false gods do people worship today that
causes them to forget the true and living God?
Today many people of the world
worship other men, movie stars, athelets, and musicians. They also worship those in power and with
money. Just as the Athenians we have our
“Gods” that we look up too and desire to be like them, instead of looking up to
God and desiring to do his will.
3. Study
Acts 17:26–27; Deuteronomy 32:8; institute student manual commentary for Acts
17:26, “Was Paul Teaching About the Premortal Existence When He Spoke of the
‘Times Before Appointed’?” (p. 266). Most of the Christian world does not
believe in a premortal life. Write a paragraph supporting the principle of a
premortal life as taught in these verses and the words of President Harold B.
Lee (1899–1973).
…“clearly indicate that
the numbers of the children of Israel were known and the bounds of their
habitation fixed, in the days of old when the Lord divided to the nations their
inheritance. We conclude, therefore, that there must have been a division of the
spirits of men in the spiritual world, and those who were appointed to be the
children of Israel were separated and prepared for a special inheritance” -Bruce R.
McConkie
Clearly what Paul was teaching was a “divine
plan” and that plan had to be formulated before the creation of the world and
the creation of men. We are so different
yet so alike in purpose, this is a testimony of the preparation of men in the
spirit world before this world. With out
“The Plan” there is no purpose to our exisitence in the world. We are all children with divine upbringing
before this trial of life.
4. Review
Acts 17:28–29; Romans 8:16–17. Write two or three paragraphs about the doctrine
taught in these verses and how it helps us better understand the true nature of
God. Include in your writing an explanation of what difference it makes to
understand that we are God’s offspring and not just His creation.
In Acts
17:28 we read that we are “offspring” of Him. The definition of offspring is “a person's child or
children.” This is simple and
clear doctrine that shows we are not simply creations of him, but are made from
him and are His chidren. We were not
created as Christ created the animals or trees, but we were made the same as us
having “offspring” of our own. We are
spirit children of our Heavenly Father.
Therefore because we are a part of Him we can become like Him and become
gods ourselves.
5. According
to Acts 17:32, record how the people responded to Paul’s teachings of the
Resurrection. Write a paragraph using other scriptures from the Topical Guide
that support the doctrine of the Resurrection.
“After Paul finished his address on
Mars Hill, some Greeks mocked his teaching about the resurrection of the dead During
the first century a.d., popular Greek philosophy held that the physical body
was part of what made the soul of man impure. According to Platonic dualism,
the soul of man was imprisoned in a body of flesh. Hence, the teaching that
Jesus Christ had a resurrected physical body would have seemed foolish to many
Greeks because they believed God to be pure and perfect.”
15 Yea,
and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be
that the dead rise not.
16 For
if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
