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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.”

 1 Corinthians 15–16

 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: