Paul's life was ridiculous. I can't get over it. He gets like chased out of cities, stoned, miraculously freed from prison and even how he came to know Jesus is actually incredible.
In Acts 17:22-32, Paul speaks to the Gentiles. I'm no history know-it-all, but the Gentiles as I understand were everyone who didn't consider themselves Jewish. Honestly, I hardly know what that means, haha. But I know that Jesus coming to earth bridged the gap and allowed faith in God to reach now everyone - Jews and Gentiles.
So Paul's in this city where the people are not Christians, so they don't know about Jesus or follow His way of life. Realistically, he's standing up in front of a bunch of people who believe something completely different than him and telling them about Jesus. I'd be scared to do that. Even in my English class, some people are so fiercely against Jesus. Well, it's more like people are against "Christianity." But I say - it's not what you think. Pretty uncomfortable situation, but that's his whole goal: to go into places where they don't serve Jesus and present Jesus and the Truth. I shouldn't call it his goal, it was God's goal and God inspired and empowered Paul to do it.
This is what Paul tells the Areopagus people (the people who don't believe in Jesus, but have lots of philosophies on life, similar to today!):
[This is my interpretation. Look up Acts 17:22-32 for God's exact words]
Hey guys! I can tell you all follow some religious standards, because as I was walking here, I was looking at the objects that you worship. I found this one altar with the inscription: To the unknown god. What you worship as unknown, I will show you in reality. The God who made the world and everything in it, as in the Lord (ruler) over heaven and earth, doesn't live in places that have been built by human hands, neither is he helped or served by humans hands as if He needed anything, because God gives to all people life and breath and everything. He populated the whole world from one man, having set all of the laws of nature, so that they would seek God, with the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. (I love that line). But he's actually quite close to each one of us, for even your Greek philosophers claim that "In him we live and move and have our being," and your own poets have said "For we are indeed his offspring." If we are then created by God, then God can't be thought of as a gold, silver or stone statue, an image that was created by the art and imagination of humans. (Because if we are made in God's image, and we are such complex and wonderful beings, God must be so much more than a material statue). The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now, (since Jesus has been to earth, and these people have been presented with Jesus) he commands everyone, everywhere to recognize their sins and ask for forgiveness, because he has planned a day on which he will judge the world based on his standard, by someone whom he has chosen; (Jesus, the only person worthy to judge anyone. Because He's perfect and He's God) and God has assured us that he's the right guy because God raised him from the dead.
That's the low down on Jesus, and God and the Bible. Not so condemning and ridiculous as it is thought of, eh? It's quite hopeful actually.
