Get Standing On Mars Hill -- Jim Stitzinger - For An Answer - Forananswer

Given the centuries' worth of visitors to this location, I wasn't surprised to find the stone perilously smooth. I stood on Areopagus, Mars' Hill, where the Apostle Paul preached about the “unknown god” as recorded in Acts 17.

The Gospel of Luke was written with the intention of leading Theophilus, a lost man, to faith in Christ. Luke knew his relationship with Theophilus was an opportunity for helping him to place his faith in Christ.

Myth and Mystery regarding Areopagus hill ing to Greek mythology, Ares (the god of war, known to the Romans as Mars) was tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son Alirrothios. It is this legend that gives the hill its various names.

The “mystery of Christ” is specifically the inclusion of the Gentiles as “fellow heirs” (along with Jews). It's called a mystery because “in former generations [it] was not made known to humankind,” was “hidden for ages in [or by] God,” and “kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed.”

Basic message In the surviving letters, Paul often recalls what he said during his founding visits. He preached the death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus Christ, and he proclaimed that faith in Jesus guarantees a share in his life.

Mars Hill is the location of one of Paul's most important gospel presentations during his visit to Athens in his second missionary journey (Acts 17:16-34).

Don't let the flattering language fool you, Theophilus isn't a patron of Luke, but rather a friend, or as Matthew Henry suggests, a pupil. Theophilus' name means “friend of God” or “loved by God.” Overall, we cannot definitely declare the identity of Theophilus.

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Luke addresses Theophilus as "most excellent" (Greek: κράτιστε kratiste, Latin: optime), a form also used in Acts to address Roman governors. Some biblical interpreters have concluded that he was a Roman official who had been initiated into the church's teachings, for whom Luke now provided a full narrative.