Acts
17 in the New Testament tells of when Paul went to preach the gospel of
Christ to various people. Initially
arriving to Thessalonica, some people listened to what he said, reasoning with
the scriptures, and believed him.
However, the Jews did not believe him and “moved with envy” and created
an uproar in the city. So Paul and Silas
went to a synagogue in Berea. There they
found humble, prepared people who searched the scriptures every day. They readily received the words of Paul and
believed.
This is a huge contrast to the
people in Thessalonica – it really demonstrates the power and knowledge that
comes from consistent scripture study.
The people in Berea truly “feasted” on the words of Christ, and by so
doing, recognized truth and knew what to do. (
2 Nephi 32:3). The words of Christ leads people to act
justly and to do good (
2 Nephi 33:10,
Alma 31:5). This shows what a powerful tool scripture
study is. The people of Berea were
prepared to receive truth and knowledge as a result of their studies, while the
people of Thessalonica were left to their pride and ignorance due to their lack
of understanding. We invite the Spirit
into our lives as we study the scriptures daily, which allows us to recognize
and receive greater knowledge and come closer to God.
There were people known as Epicureans and Stoics. Epicureans were named after a philosopher
named Epicurus. The beliefs of the
Epicureans included that the world only exists by chance with no design or
purpose, with the goal of living in a way that would result in most happiness
and the least sorrow and pain
The Stoics believed in a supreme governing power among the
universe. They believed that everything
was designed and set on its way. Paul
quoted their poetry to establish a connection and common ground with them when
he said “we are also His offspring.”
Paul went to these people in Athens and found them to be
very superstitious. They had an alter
inscribed with “To the Unknown God.”
However, they were always interested in hearing something new, so they willingly
hear Paul and his message. But being as
philosophical as they were, they were a bit too vain to actually listen.
Paul taught them of their preexistence, being children of
God. President Harold B. Lee shares a
quote, “‘Who are you?’ You are all the sons and daughters of God. Your spirits
were created and lived as organized intelligences before the world was. You
have been blessed to have a physical body because of your obedience to certain
commandments in that premortal state. You are now born into a family to which
you have come, into the nations through which you have come, as a reward for the
kind of lives you lived before you came here and at a time in the world’s
history, as the Apostle Paul taught the men of Athens and as the Lord revealed
to Moses, determined by the faithfulness of each of those who lived before this
world was created.” Many Christians don’t
know of or believe in our premortal existence.
However, as Acts 17 states, we have been “appointed” things before we
were born. President Lee also makes this
clear. We are very blessed to be given
what we have.
Romans 8:16 states that the Spirit testifies that we are sons
and daughters of God. We aren’t merely
creations of God, but are His literal children.
As His children, we are blessed to have a loving God as our Father to
lead and direct us. We receive blessings
every day, from the breaths we take, to the miracles we receive. He loves us just as any parent loves their
child. He wants the best for us and has
great plans for us. As we search after
Him, this will be very clear to us and we’ll see the hand of God in our lives.
Paul also taught them of the Resurrection. The doctrine of the Resurrection is backed up
in several scriptures. The Old Testament
says the Lord “will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your
graves.” (Ezekiel 37:12) John 5:21 says “the
Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them.” The Book of Mormon states “the grave must
deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored
one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of
Israel.” The Resurrection is a gift to
all who have lived and will ever live.
It’s possible because of Christ’s Atonement, sacrificing Himself, and
overcoming death.
Unfortunately, some people mocked Paul after hearing what he
had taught. But others believed and said
“we will hear thee again of this matter.”
