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1
A Bridge to the Gospel
Commentators emphasize Paul's masterful approach. Instead of starting with condemnation, he found a point of contact within Athenian culture: an altar 'To an Unknown God.' He used their own admission of ignorance as a bridge to introduce the God they didn't know. This serves as a powerful model for sharing faith by finding common ground and respectfully leading from what people already sense to the truth of the gospel.
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Book Overview
Acts
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Commentaries
7
Albert Barnes
On Acts 17:23
18th Century
Theologian
For as I passed by. Greek, "For I, coming through, and seeing," etc.
And beheld. Diligently contemplated; attentively cons…
AT Robertson
On Acts 17:23
For (γαρ). Paul gives an illustration of their religiousness from his own experiences in their city.
The objects of…
Charles Ellicott
On Acts 17:23
19th Century
Bishop
I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.—Better, I observe you as being in all things more fearful of the gods than oth…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Acts 17:23
Paul does not begin his address by referring to Jewish history or by quoting the Jewish Scriptures, as he did in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch …
John Calvin
On Acts 17:23
16th Century
Theologian
To the unknown God. I can well grant that this altar was dedicated to all foreign gods; yet I cannot agree with what Jerome says, that Pau…
John Gill
On Acts 17:23
17th Century
Pastor
For as I passed by
Or "through"; that is, through the city of Athens:
and beheld your devotions
Matthew Henry
On Acts 17:22–31
17th Century
Minister
Here we have a sermon addressed to heathens, who worshipped false gods and were without the true God in the world. For them, the scope of the disco…