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Athens, population approx. 250,000, was considered the intellectual center of the world and was regarded as the University City of the Roman Empire in the Apostle Pauls day. Among the notable people that had come from Athens were Sophocles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Demosthenes. Although a semi-atheistic mindset was prominent among some of the intellectuals, Athens boasted a pantheon of gods. It is believed that there were more than 3,000 statues (most of them idols) in Athens during that era.
When Paul went to Athens he was greatly distressed by the idolatry in that city. So he began speaking out in the Agora, (market place) which was adorned with a host of statues, images of national heroes as well as of most of the gods in the Greek pantheon. This agora was the arena where most political and philosophical discussions were conducted in Athens.1 Soon a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus so they could learn more about his knew teaching. Here Paul used their customs and culture to share an awesome description of God and his desire to have a close, loving relationship with everyone, something more real than any manmade god can provide.
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