Acts 17:16-18 - He was greatly distressed

17:16

Paul was “greatly distressed to see the city was full of idols”. Now why didn’t he delight in the culture of Athens, as he would no doubt be encouraged to do today? It was because they were worshipping false gods, and that does nothing to enhance their lives, instead it only makes them worse. In the same way, we are encouraged to applaud all sorts of diverse lifestyles, regardless of whether or not these lifestyles have a beneficial effect. We should boldly stand up for God’s ways, because they are the way of life.

17:17,18

As usual Paul started off in the synagogue, though he would also move to a more public place. However, in the synagogue he was reasoning with Jews and God-fearing Greeks. He also made his case in the marketplace. One group he argued with were Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.Epicureans originally taught that happiness was the greatest good, but that this was not achieved via mere momentary pleasures. However, by Paul’s time this had degenerated into seeking instant gratification. Stoics is the word where we get the concept of “stoicism” form. While this has an element of nobility about it, it had degenerated into pride. These are examples of how even ideas that have some truth in them get corrupted over time, this is the result of sin.

They didn’t think much of Paul, considering him to be a babbler, and thought he was advocating foreign gods. This was because Paul was preaching the gospel and the resurrection.