The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. - Acts 17:24-25

The mob from Thessalonica was relentless. Not only had they driven Paul and his companions from their own city but they followed them to Berea, agitating and stirring up the crowds (17:13). Such was the uproar, the brothers sent Paul away. And so he finds himself in Athens, separated from Silas and Timothy and all alone. And as he walked the city streets, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city was full of idols (17:16).

So what does Paul do? He falls back on his normal pattern of ministry. He reasons in the synagogue and in the marketplace every day (17:17). He preaches Jesus and the resurrection (17:18). This brings him to the attention of the philosophers. And eventually, they bring him to the main arena for the sharing of new ideas, the Areopagus, where Paul delivers his well-known address.

In this address, Paul models for us a way of doing evangelism. First, it is gentle. That does not mean it was watered down or vague. His words are clear and direct. But notice that he reasons with them. He starts with them where they are. He commends what he can (17:22). He doesn’t name call or berate them for their ignorance, even as he points it out (17:23, 30). In this, he exemplifies what Peter wrote in his first epistle:  always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Second, Paul is generous. He enters the conversation with the working assumption that God is already at work in Athens. And so he looks for any evidence of that and freely borrows it in his gospel proclamation. He works to get them to see both through and beyond their idols (17:23, 29). He quotes from their own poets as part of his witness (17:28). He then ties this all to Jesus, even though he doesn’t use that name (17:31).

Saints, let us follow Paul in his evangelistic model. Let us be gentle with others. The goal is not to score points off others but to see them won to Christ. Remember that our Savior wept over Jerusalem because he understood that they were like sheep without a shepherd. And let us be generous with others. Remember that God is at work on everyone in the room in every situation. And let us be growing in our understanding of the culture around us, not to accommodate to it but that through it we can find inroads for the gospel.

And in all our evangelistic efforts, let us remember that only God can change someone’s heart. We plant and water but God gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). So, let us also remember to pray for the Lord to bless our evangelism. For only He gives growth by His grace through His Spirit. Share the gospel gently and generously and see what God will do.