Mars Hill, continuation of our trip

After checking into our rooms, we met in the lobby.  If you weren't there on time, it was assumed you wanted to nap instead of go on our walking tour.

I thought my motorcycle friends would appreciate this picture.

graffiti in greece

We climbed Mars Hill.  It was not a large marketplace, but a small stone outcropping.  (I forgot to get a picture so borrowed this one on-line).  The ancient marble steps were slippery and not easy to climb.

It overlooks the city and all the temples and idols.  In Paul's day, people would come to discuss beliefs and ideas, philosophies and religions.  It was here that Paul reasoned with the people.  

Acts 17:22-31

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus (Mars Hill) and said: ‘People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god." 

He may have even pointed to the temple of the unknown god.  Here he talks about the real God.

"So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship – and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.  24 ‘The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. "   (I LOVE this verse!)

28 “For in him we live and move and have our being.” As some of your own poets have said, “We are his offspring.”  29 ‘Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone – an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.’

Jim,   Mount Lycabettus in the background

Temple to Zeus 

 Several people who weren't in our travel group came and sat down to listen also to the study.

a couple in love

??  you wear the mask while you play?

theological discussion going on

view of the Parthenon (only remaining building on the Acropolis)  from Mars Hill

Paul had not planned to come here but the Spirit wouldn't let him go to Asia.  The "game plan" was not in his control.  God said they needed him in Macedonia so he was led to come here.  Paul was not fully aware of what he was getting into.

Paul's sermon in Greek is on the plaque that is on the side of Mars Hill

back to the hotel for supper