By Jessica Patchett
It’s thought that Paul may have traveled 10,000 miles throughout the Roman Empire over a period of about 30 years. Just for some perspective, Paul’s travels took him, over land and sea, twice the distance of the Appalachian Trail (2,200 miles) plus from Hawaii to Los Angeles and back (2,479 miles each way).
As a traveler would today, Paul encountered a wide variety of people along his way. The stories of Acts make it clear that Paul didn't have a pre-set, formulaic way of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he didn't shy away from trying to communicate the good news with people who didn't exactly speak his language.
When Paul and Silas arrived in a city where there was a synagogue, they engaged fellow Jewish believers in conversations about how they had seen God fulfill the promises of Scripture in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When Paul arrived in Athens and saw evidence of a pluralistic society, where people enjoyed bantering about Epicurean and Stoic philosophy, he jumped into public conversations and attempted to translate the good news of the gospel into the language and symbols with which people would have been widely familiar.
Some called his philosophy skills, “amateur.” but then, Paul’s call wasn't to be a philosopher, but an apostle and messenger of the good news.
One of Paul’s most memorable speeches is found in 17:22-31. Try reading it aloud and then listening to it read aloud. As a 21st-century American spiritual seeker, Paul’s invitation to know the unknown God has long struck a chord with me as I’ve sought to understand the God whom I’ve encountered both in holy mystery and in concrete, religious traditions.
- What do you learn about God from Paul’s speech at Mars Hill?
- What echoes of the Jewish faith tradition do you hear in Paul’s speech to the Athenians? How has Paul translated a Jewish understanding of God into ideas, symbols and experiences that Gentiles would understand?
- What’s the truest thing or two that you can say about God? How might you share those true things with a child? A neighbor? A stranger?
Prayer: God of the world, you and your promises of new life and restoration are for all. Help us to know you and others so well that we might help introduce you to those we know and meet. Amen.
