Monday, October 27 – Acts 17:16-21

Paul’s time in Athens is a masterclass in how to do evangelism. From the time of his arrival to the time he leaves, his actions are an example for each of us as we seek to share the gospel with all people.

The first thing that we can notice about Paul is that he cared about the Athenians. Acts 17:16 tells us that Paul is “greatly distressed” that the city was overrun with idols. The picture that the original language gives is a pasture that is overrun with weeds. The distress that Paul had for the people is what led him to the synagogue, which was his norm, but it also led him to speak about Jesus in the market. Some were interested enough in what Paul had to say that they brought him to the Areopagus, which was the place where new ideas could be shared and debated.

None of Paul's sermons, which we will start tomorrow, would have been possible if Paul were not concerned about the Athenians' spiritual state. This must be where we start with evangelism as well. We must be concerned about the spiritual state of those in our community and around the world. That stirring in our hearts is the motivation to share the gospel with others. That feeling is the start of evangelism.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017%3A16-21&version=NASB