While Paul waited for Silas and Timothy at Athens, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout men and daily…
While Paul waited for Silas and Timothy at Athens, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout men and daily in the market place with anyone who would listen. He argued also with the philosophers of the Epicurean and Stoic sects concerning Christ and the resurrection. He was brought to Mars Hill to hear him expound about these strange gods. Paul defended his cause in a most learned speech. He used the example of the altar dedicated to the unknown God, as also from the testimony of Aratus the poet and confirmed that all were the offspring of God. It was that God whom they ignorantly worshipped that Paul spoke to them about. (ACT 17:16-31) The God of the Jews among the Gentiles was called the unknown God. In the same sense, Lucan called him "the uncertain God." {Lucan, Pharsilia, 1. 2.} Trebellius Pollio called him the "God of uncertain power." In the life of Claudius, whom the inhabitants of Mount Carmel, {Tacitus, Histories, 1. 2. c. 78.} attributed neither image nor temple but only an altar and reverence. Hence the Athenians made an altar to Mercy in the middle of their city without any image. {Statius, Thebais, 1. 12.} God's form by pictures cannot be expressed, He loves to dwell within the heart and breast.