Day 08 - Athens: Idols, Altars, and Divine Encounters

Today marked our first full day in Greece, and what a beginning it was. Towering above the city like a crown of stone, the Acropolis still dominates the skyline of Athens. You can see it from virtually every point in the city. It is a constant reminder of this place’s ancient majesty and spiritual complexity.

We climbed to the summit of the Acropolis and then sat at the foot of the Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill. This is the very place where the Apostle Paul stood in Acts 17, proclaiming the truth of the risen Christ to the philosophers of Athens. It was here, surrounded by temples, idols, and intellectuals, that Paul’s heart broke for a city drowning in spiritual confusion.

Acts 17:16 tells us that as Paul walked through Athens, “he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” Other translations say his spirit was stirred, provoked. Interestingly, this biblical description is confirmed by ancient historians. Pausanias observed that Athens surpassed all other cities in its religious devotion, while Petronius remarked that in Athens, it was “easier to find a god than a man.”

From the synagogue to the agora, Paul was relentless. First debating the Jews in the Scriptures, then engaging everyday people in the marketplace, and finally ascending to the Areopagus to reason with Epicureans and Stoics. Paul quoted their poets, referenced their beliefs, and yet remained boldly centered on Christ. He was fluent in Scripture, but also fluent in culture. He knew how to move from the scroll to the street, from theology to real-life conversations.

And it all began with a heart that was deeply moved.

As we sat on Mars Hill, we asked ourselves: What do we feel when we look at the world around us? Are we troubled by the idols we see, not just statues of stone, but the modern idols of success, pleasure, and power? And more than that, are we moved with compassion?

Paul wasn’t just angry. He wasn’t disgusted. He was moved to action. He observed, he listened, and he engaged. May we do the same.

May we grow in our fluency of Scripture.

May we become students of the culture around us.

May we step boldly into the public square, ready to speak of hope.

And may our hearts burn with the compassion of Christ for a world in need.

Ειρήνη (ee-REE-nee) 

       (Peace),

Jerrell