Mars Hill speech of Paul

“In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30

Mars Hill is the Roman name for a hill in Athens, Greece, called the Hill of Areopagus. Mars hill was about 377 feet above the land below. This was a place where philosophy, religion, and the law were discussed. Paul was invited to speak at the Areopagus to a group of philosophers and religiously minded people. They brought him to Areopagus to hear more about the new doctrine Paul was teaching. Epicurean philosophers believed in living in pleasure because they thought God is not interested or actively involved with people. In contrast, Stoic Philosophers believed ‘World’s soul is God’ and the goal of this life is to rise above all things that happen. No feeling or responses needed to pain or pleasure. They used to debate themselves.

In his second missionary journey, When Paul was in the city of Athens, he was much distressed to see the city filled with full of idols. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Jewish Synagogue to Jews and God-fearing Gentiles. The rest of the time he spent in the marketplace every day to those who were there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. They came to know that Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead. So they invited him to Areopagus (Mars Hill) because they wanted to hear from him.
Paul stood up in the meeting and said these points.
• People of Athens! I see that you are very religious. You don’t want to miss any god in an accident that you even made an altar with the inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. You see, there are religious people today as well who wanted to obey God but living in ignorance
• Then he announced the truth – God made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples built by human hands. No image or idol can represent the God who is the creator of all.
• He gave our history -from one man God made all the nations that they should inhabit the whole earth and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of the lands
• He shared God’s desire -the living and Creator God want you to seek Him and find Him. He is not far away from us
• We are his offspring (His children) like their poets themselves said. In him only we live and move and have our being.
• Because we are God’s offsprings, we should not think He (the creator God) is like gold, silver, or stone, or an image made by human skill and design.
• Then he said our today’s insight, “In the past, God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
• We need to repent from our ignorance and turn to the living God in repentance because God has a set day he will judge all people with justice by His appointed Judge – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only one savior of the world, who came to this earth, lived here, died, buried, and rose again for the issues of our sins that hindered our relationship and friendship with God. God gave proof of his approval and verdict by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.

We need to turn from idols and images made by human hands to the living creator God in heaven who sent His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus to this earth through whom we can re-connect to God. Beloved, the minute we repent and turn to the living God by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, who died, buried, and rose again for our sins, we have peace with God. When we get peace with God He will pour out His Holy Spirit and His peace in our hearts and lives. Only God can fill you with peace as a result of the peace with God in the name of Christ. You do not be afraid of God anymore. Jesus is God’s only mediator between God and us. Listen, TV celebrities would say there are many ways to God. But it is not true. God gave only one mediator between Him and us so that we can live in peace with God and enjoy His peace in our daily lives. There is only one sacrifice, only one savior, only one mediator, and only one cross, and only one way to God. Many turn to alcohol, drugs, and peaceful humanmade religions for peace. But none of these could grant peace inside you. As a result of your repentance and acceptance of Christ as your savior, you will have peace with God, which will result in peace of God in our lives.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, “I come to you because you are the living God in heaven who is the creator of all. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for my sins. I repent of my sins and turn to you. Please give me your divine peace in my heart and life. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”