The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, – Acts 17:30
There is a prominent outcropping of rock southwest of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, known as the Areopagus. It is sometimes called the Hill of Acres or, as in the King James version of the Bible, Mars Hill. From the fifth century B.C., it was a place from which the Athenian city council conducted its business. Court was held atop the hill, and it became a widely accepted place of authority. Today’s account from the Acts of the Apostles records Paul addressing the judicial council assembled there.
When Paul told the Greek leaders that they would be held accountable and that ignorance was no longer an excuse, it probably “rocked their world.” None of their pagan gods had ever called for repentance. Paul maintained the central truth of the Gospel. Theologian Charles Spurgeon said that Paul always made a “beeline for the Cross” in his sermons. John MacArthur says, “The Greeks certainly could not plead ignorance. Even their poets acknowledged the revelation of God in nature.”
Preacher and author Dr. J. Vernon McGee wrote, “There was a time when God shut His eyes to paganism. Now light has come into the world. God asks men everywhere to turn to Him. Light creates responsibility. Now God is commanding all men everywhere to repent.” The Lord continues to desire all of humankind to turn away from false gods and idols and turn toward Him in repentance, faith, and belief. There are no half measures. One commentator said, “There can be no genuine conversion without genuine repentance.” You have heard the Gospel and have received God’s command. Pray for the United States to come to a time of repentance.
Today’s Verse: Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Acts 17:22-34
22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;
as even some of your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
