Athens
An old centre of Greek learning and philosophy. Acts sets here Paul’s speech before the Areopagus, which begins from an altar “to an unknown god”.
Athens was an old centre of Greek learning. Acts remarks that its people spent their time telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21). Paul was brought there from Beroea, ahead of his companions. Acts says that he was provoked by the number of its idols, argued in the synagogue and in the marketplace, and was questioned by Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who brought him to the Areopagus. His speech there starts from an altar he had seen inscribed “To an unknown god”, quotes a Greek poet, and ends with the resurrection, at which some of his hearers mocked. A few believed, among them Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris (Acts 17:15–34). Paul mentions his stay in passing: he was “left behind at Athens alone” when he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1–2). See Paul Carries the Gospel into Europe.
What happened here
- about AD 49 to AD 52, estimated datePaul Carries the Gospel into Europe
With Silas and Timothy, Paul crosses from Asia Minor to Macedonia and founds churches at Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth. Acts brings him before the proconsul Gallio at Corinth, whose year of office an inscription at Delphi puts at about AD 51–52.