S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Mars Hill is the Roman name for a hill in Athens, Greece, called the Hill of Ares or the Areopagus (Acts 17:19, 22). Ares was the Greek god of war and according to Greek mythology this hill was the...

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July 01 2013 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What happened at Mars Hill in the Bible?

During his second missionary journey, Paul visited Athens and was distressed to find the city full of idols to pagan gods. Curious Athenian philosophers took him to Mars Hill, which served as a high-level public court for debating religious and philosophical ideas as detailed in Acts 17:16–34, where Paul addresses the philosophers of Athens at the Areopagus (Mars Hill).

Paul delivered a bold, philosophical sermon to the Athenians, introducing the "unknown God" as the one true God and proclaiming Jesus' resurrection. It's one of the most significant moments where Christianity directly engages Greek philosophy.

Paul's message is structured like a masterclass in cross‑cultural communication:

Affirms their religiosity: "I see that you are very religious."

Connects to their altar: He references an altar, "To an Unknown God."

Reveals God as Creator: God made the world and does not live in temples.

Humanity's purpose: God created all nations so they might seek Him.

Paul Quotes Greek poets: "In him we live and move and have our being" and "We are his offspring."

Calls for repentance: God now commands all people to turn to Him.

Proclaims the resurrection: God proved His authority by raising Jesus from the dead.

Reactions of the people were mixed:

Some mocked the idea of resurrection.

Some were curious and wanted to hear more.

Some believed, including:

Dionysius the Areopagite (a member of the council)

Damaris, a woman mentioned by name

"Others with them"

Why does the account at Mars Hill matter?

Mars Hill represents:

The meeting point of Christianity and Greek philosophy

A model for engaging sceptical or intellectual audiences

A demonstration of Paul's ability to contextualise the gospel without compromising it

It remains one of the most studied speeches in the New Testament for its rhetorical brilliance and cultural insight.

Why Paul's approach here differs from his synagogue preaching

Paul's approach at Mars Hill differs sharply from his synagogue preaching because he adapts his message to a completely different audience, worldview, and rhetorical environment. The contrast is deliberate and strategic, and Acts 17 highlights Paul's adaptability as a missionary. 

Paul shifts from Scripture‑based reasoning in the synagogue to philosophical, culturally‑aware persuasion at Mars Hill because Athenians did not share Jewish assumptions, Scriptures, or worldview.

Differences in Paul's Mars Hill method of preaching

1. Starts with observation, not Scripture

Instead of quoting the Old Testament, Paul begins with:

Their altar to the "Unknown God"

Their religiosity

Their philosophical vocabulary

This was a cultural bridge, not a biblical argument. 

In this account, Paul appeals to:

God as Creator

Humanity's universal search for meaning

God's nearness to all people

These are truths accessible to all, not dependent on Jewish Scripture. 

Paul Quotes Greek poets, not Hebrew prophets.

He cites:

"In him we live and move and have our being"

"We are his offspring"

These lines come from Greek poets (likely Epimenides and Aratus), showing Paul's willingness to appeal to their authority rather than his own. 

Conclusion

Why the difference matters

Acts 17 shows Paul practising contextualised evangelism:

Same gospel

Different starting point

Different rhetorical tools

Different assumptions addressed

Luke uses this contrast to illustrate how the gospel engages:

Religious audiences (synagogue)

Philosophical audiences (Areopagus)

Pluralistic cultures like ours today

Paul frames idolatry as a philosophical error, not a covenant violation.

To Jews, idolatry violates the Ten Commandments.

To Athenians, Paul frames it as irrational—the divine cannot be made of gold or stone. 

This adaptability is one reason Acts 17 is considered a model for communicating faith in secular or intellectual environments.

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