Paul in Athens

Though Paul was beaten up and imprisoned in Philippi, he experienced the might of God there. He was able to exorcise a spirit from a slave girl. He was released from prison because of a God sent earthquake. Thus, once you commit your life into God's hand, a whole new world is opened up to you and you will experience God in a powerful way. The vocation as a missionary is truly attractive. Once, I was not courageous enough to answer God's call and chose another path. May He guide me with mercy to return to the path He has planned for me.
Paul continued his journey to Thessalonica and Beroea. Initially, he was successful but each time, jealous Jews disrupted his work and he was forced to travel on, leaving Silas and Timothy to further his work in Beroea. Now, Paul was waiting for them in Athens.
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. (Acts 17:16).
Athens was an intellectual centre but there were many idols as well. There were also Epicurean and Stoic philosophers to hear from him. These people did not have enough Jewish cultural background. Paul had to meet them on philosophical ground. He was invited to speak to the Athenians in Areopagus.
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious." (Acts 17:21-22)
I don't know if this opening remark was impressive enough. All that the Athenians wanted was to hear something new. "Being religious" did not seem to be a good enough entry point because worshipping idols is superstitious. So, "being religious" is really a flattery!
What followed was an exposition in natural theology. Paul decided to take a path to appeal to their intellect.
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,
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 men by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Paul intended to cross over from philosophy to religion but he had no success here in Athens. What he said was not at all wrong. Truly, God had tolerated and overlooked our ignorance but implicitly suggesting that the Athenians were ignorant would only repel them.
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this." (Acts 17:32)
Could the dead come back to life? In the mind of the Athenians, who was more ignorant?
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:22-23).
Indeed, it is a very accurate description. Greeks seek wisdom. All these talks of crucifixion and resurrection were a waste of time for them. Then would there be a better approach to these lovers of wisdom, philosophers? How would you proceed to win the hearts of these men of the brain?

Dear Lord, intelligence is Your generous gift. We use it to crack hard nuts. Help us touch the hearts of those intellectual people so that they may be able to taste the sweetness of Your truth. Amen.