Loving God, you give us good news to share and empower us by your Spirit.  Teach us to listen to your leading, and show us how to share your love, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

            Everywhere Paul goes, it seems, he causes an uproar.  He and Silas got thrown into prison in Philippi.  In Thessalonica, the people who oppose their message actually attack the house where Paul and Silas are staying.  And, in Beroea, even though the local people welcome them, the ones from Thessalonica come and incite the crowds against Paul and Silas.  But in Athens, there is no uproar.

         Paul is there on his own, waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him.  Having wandered around Athens a little bit, and having seen the many gods that are worshiped there, Paul feels compelled to speak to the people about Jesus.  He starts in the synagogue – sharing the good news with both the Jewish people and the Gentile “God-fearers” who are there.  He goes to the marketplace every day and has discussions (or perhaps debates) with anybody who happens to be there.  He even debates with some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, who conclude that Paul is a “babbler” (Acts 17:18).  Finally, Paul ends up at the Areopagus, where at least some people want to hear what he has to say.

         The Areopagus, just in case you are wondering, is a rocky hill in Athens that is dedicated to the god Ares (or Mars).  There is a council that met there, on occasion, to debate questions about morals or about teachers who lectured in public.  In today’s reading from Acts, it is the location where Paul gives his sermon.

         In the sermon, Paul refers to things that he has seen and heard in the city.  He uses the local context to speak to them about the God who created heaven and earth, and gives life and breath to all people.  He finishes with the coming day of judgment where Jesus – the one who was raised from the dead – will judge the world in righteousness.  In response, some scoff, and some want to hear more.

         In the end, there is no uproar in Athens, and no church community forms there – although we do hear about some who became believers.  The Athens of that time was kind of like Oxford and Cambridge in England.  Most were more interested in academic debate than in truth for truth’s sake (Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 9).  In a sense, Paul “shakes the dust off his feet” and moves on.  He doesn’t even wait for Silas and Timothy to arrive before he moves on to Corinth (Acts 18).

         Way back at the beginning of the book of Acts, Jesus says to all those who believe in him:

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Some – like Paul – receive a special calling to go and proclaim the good news about Jesus to as many people as possible.  We might call him a missionary or an evangelist.  And, wherever he goes, some are receptive, and some are not.

         While we may not think of ourselves as missionaries or evangelists, part of our baptismal covenant is “to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed” (ELW p. 237).  These days, it is an open question as to how one does this most effectively.

         In Winnipeg, I have seen people standing at street corners with signs telling people about Jesus.  Does this work?  In Denver, I saw somebody on a street corner with an amp and a microphone preaching the word.  Does this work?  In other countries, I have seen people stand up at the front of a bus and give their testimony about Jesus.  Does this work?  At university, I saw students walk up to complete strangers to give them the four spiritual laws.  Does this work?

         It is probably fair to say that many people have become jaded when it comes to complete strangers trying to convert them.  Many don’t even answer their phone or open their door if they don’t know who it is.  It is probably also debatable how many would pay any attention if somebody were to – say – stand up at the Forks and start preaching.  However, at the same time, many people have never heard the gospel and have never, ever, stepped inside a church.

         Ultimately, there are many different ways to share the love of God in Christ with others – not just with words, but with actions.  At the same time, only the Holy Spirit has the power to change people’s hearts, and that same Spirit is ready and willing to work through any one of us – giving us the words that we need, placing opportunities right in front of us, and empowering us to put the love of Christ into action.  Not all of us need to be preachers – just followers of Jesus who are open to the Spirit.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Easter 5 (NL 4)                                 Acts 17:16-31

May 15, 2022

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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