As Paul seeks to share the Gospel with the Greeks in Athens, he doesn’t start in the Old Testament as he would do with the Jews. The Greeks see his teaching as about a foreign God, but Paul brings home that the God he is speaking of is not foreign, but the Creator of all (v24-26).

The purpose of people being created by God was that they would seek this One True God (v27). Paul is emphasising that God is near and can be known. Paul even uses some of their poets to back up this point (v28). He is seeking to share the Gospel at a level they can grasp.

Paul seeks to be relevant but he does not compromise and attacks their idolatry, but he does this through reasoned argument (v29).

As Paul moves on to teach about the need for repentance, about judgment and the resurrection (v30-31), he is confronted with sneers (v32), but others remained interested and some came to faith (v33-34).

As we share the Gospel relevantly but without compromise there will be those who sneer, but by the power of the Spirit there will be those who believe. May we seek to witness with courage and expectancy.