Acts 17:32 - Meaning and Application

Here is a short account of the outcome of Paul’s preaching at Athens.

Few were won over. The gospel had as little success in Athens as anywhere else, because the proud philosophers there, like the Pharisees in Jerusalem, were biased against Christ’s message. Some mocked Paul and his preaching. They listened patiently until he spoke about the resurrection of the dead (Acts 17:32), and then they began to scoff. What he had said before sounded a little like things they had heard in their own schools, and they had some idea of a future life. But when he spoke of a resurrection of the dead, even of Christ’s own resurrection, they thought it was impossible. Their philosophy said that once life is gone, it never returns. They had honored their heroes after death, but they never imagined those dead men could rise again. So when they heard this great truth, which is the joy of believers, they treated it as a joke. We should not be surprised when sacred truths of the greatest importance are mocked by worldly minds.

Others were willing to think about it. They said, “We will hear you again about this matter.” They did not agree with Paul, but neither did they oppose him. They wanted to put off the question of the resurrection for another time. It seems they ignored what was plain and should have been obeyed, and instead kept raising objections about a harder point that could be debated. Many people lose the benefit of Christianity’s practical teaching by going past what they understand and getting lost in arguments. If anyone truly wants to do God’s will as far as it is known, he will find out that Christ’s teaching is from God and not from man (John 7:17). Those who will not submit to the light they already have often try to escape it by delaying, as Felix did. They say they will hear of it another time, but they do not know when that will be. In this way, the devil cheats them out of all their time by taking away the present moment.

After that, Paul left them for the time being (Acts 17:33), seeing little hope of doing good with them then. Still, it is likely he told those who were willing to hear him again that he would meet them whenever they wanted.

Yet some were changed (Acts 17:34). If some would not believe, others would. Certain people joined themselves to Paul and believed. When he left them, they did not want to part from him. Wherever he went, they were ready to follow, resolved to hold to the doctrine he had preached and had believed.

Two people are named. One was Dionysius the Areopagite, a member of the high court at Athens that sat in the Areopagus, or Mars’ Hill. He was one of the judges or council members before whom Paul had been brought. His judge became his convert. Ancient writers say Dionysius was raised in Athens, studied astrology in Egypt, noticed the strange eclipse at our Lord’s death, later returned to Athens as a senator, argued with Paul, and was converted from idolatry. They also say Paul taught him fully, and he became the first bishop of Athens. The other person was Damaris, whom some think was Dionysius’ wife, though she was more likely another woman of rank. Though the harvest in Athens was not as large as in some other places, Paul still had no reason to think his work there was wasted.