(17:17) He reasoned in the synagogue: Paul reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue who worshiped the true God. He affirmed that, Jesus was the messiah, and fulfillment of all prophecies in reference to the messiah. And daily in the market place: Paul also reasoned daily in the market place with anyone who happened to be the there. In every situation, and to every occasion, Paul seems to find some place to preach Jesus (See 5:42).
The Epicureans and stoics philosophers: the epicureans, after their founder, Epicurus (342-270 B.C) believed that, pleasure was the source of happiness in life. The stoics, after their founder Zeno (340-265 B.C), believed that, man was the center of all things and that; men should be self- controlled and self-sufficient. The stoics denied the immorality of the soul of man. The philosophies of the Epicureans and stoics exalted man in importance to the exclusion of all else. These philosophers, therefore, debated with Paul because their basic world view was contrary to the nature of what God would have men believe and do (See Mt 6:24). Paul first preached to them the very foundation upon which Christianity is based; that is, Jesus and his resurrection. These philosophers thought this to be the concepts of Paul’s teaching
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Paul had witnessed the objects that they had made to express their belief in gods that they had created after their own image. One inscription on an alter read, “to the unknown God”. Thus the Athenians yearned after the deity they could not identify, but reasoned that, He must exist (Compare. Rom. 1:20). They were not satisfied with any of the gods they had created in their own imagination. They at least realized that, there must be a God greater than the imagination of man. This God must be greater than the gods they invented as a result of their superstitious beliefs, and philosophical reasoning. They referred to this God as the “unknown God”. It was this “unknown God”, which Paul made known to