Page:Life and voyages of the Apostle Paul.pdf/15

Rh of the Old Testament, the truth of the doetrinesdoctrines [sic] he advanced. These Jews were of a more ingenuous and candid temper than those of Thessalonica. They heard him, with great attention, expound and apply the Scriptures; they searched diligently, whether his proofs were proper and pertinent, and consonant to the sense of the texts he referred to: and having found every thing to be agreeable to what Paul had advanced, many of them believed; and several Gentiles followed their example, became obedient to the faith, among whom were several women of quality.

Paul leaving Beræa, proceeded to Athens, where Silas and Timotheus were to repair to him as soon as possible.

While Paul continued at Athens, expecting the arrival of Silas and Timothy, he walked up and down the city, which he found miserably overrun with superstition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably religious and devout; they had a great number of false gods, whom they adored: and so very careful were they, that no deity should want due honour for them, that they had an altar inscribed, A great variety of reasons are given for this inscription: some affirm, that it was the name which the Pagans generally gave to the god of the Jews; but others think that included all the gods of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

These superstitious practices grieved the spirit of the apostle; accordingly, he exerted all his strength for their conversion; he disputed on the Sabbath-days in the synagogues of the Jews; and at other times took all opportunities of preaching to the Athenians the coming of the Messiah, to save the world.

This doctrine was equally new and strange to the Athenians; and though they did not persecute him as the Jews did, yet his preaching Jesus was considered, by the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, as a fabulous legend; and by the more sober part as a discovery of some new gods, which they had not yet placed in their temples: and though they were not unwilling to receive any new deities, yet as the Arcopagus, the supreme court of the city, was to judge of all gods, to whom public worship might be allowed, they brought him before those judges, to give account of his doctrine.

Paul being placed before the judges of this high assembly, readily gave them an account of his doctrine, in a grave and eloquent speech; wherein he did not tell them they were horrible and gross idolaters, lest he should offend them, and thereby prevent them from listening to his reason: but, having commended them for their religious dispositions, he took occasion, from the altar inscribed to the unknown God, to make