Dionysus | Rethinking Everything | Acts 17:16-34
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Welcome, friends. As we gather to reflect on the profound message from Acts 17, let me share my personal journey—a journey that began in Athens but led me somewhere entirely unexpected. My hope is that through my story, you’ll see the true power of the gospel: not as a call to stop thinking, but an invitation to rethink everything in the light of the risen Christ.
Ordinary Days—and an Extraordinary Voice
Most days come and go, barely noticed. But I’ll never forget the day I first heard that voice—the voice of a traveler named Paul, cutting through the noise of Athens’ bustling marketplace. He kept proclaiming, “Iesu, Kurios”—Jesus is Lord—and spoke of someone called “Anastasis,” the resurrection. At first, I wondered if this was the name of a foreign goddess. But soon I was to discover it meant something much more.
Background: Who Am I?
My name is Dionysius, or as some say, Dionysus. I’m a member of the esteemed Areopagus—the very council responsible for matters of law, religion, and culture in Athens, a city proud of its intellectual legacy. We are the stewards of a place where giants like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle once walked.
The Wisdom—and Limits—of Athens
Athens taught the world to think. Throughout our city, philosophers debated the greatest questions of life: What is reality? Do the gods exist? What is our purpose? But for all our wisdom, there were always questions we could not answer—mysteries we could not solve.
My Encounter with Paul
Paul, this unassuming Jewish traveler, arrived stirred up controversy by preaching Jesus and the resurrection. Some called him a “seed picker”—a pseudo-intellectual plucking random ideas. Others accused him of introducing foreign gods, a serious charge in a city whose very identity was wrapped around the gods we approved.
I remember when the council summoned Paul. We expected another debate, maybe a new idea to consider and then dismiss. But his words were different—piercing, challenging, and unsettling.
An Altogether Different God
Paul began by mentioning an altar in Athens “to an unknown god.” It was a monument to our ignorance, a way to cover our spiritual bases. Paul seized on this, proclaiming: “What you worship as unknown, I now proclaim to you.”
He declared that the God who made the world does not live in temples built by human hands. He gives life and breath to all—and needs nothing from us. For centuries we prided ourselves on our temples and rituals. But what if all our achievements simply proved how little we actually knew of God?
Wisdom Confronted
Paul challenged my wisdom and understanding. He said God had made every nation from one man and determined the boundaries of history so that we might seek and find Him. He even quoted our poets—“In him we live and move and have our being”—turning our own words toward a new truth. If we are God’s offspring, Paul asked, how can the divine be reduced to something made of gold or stone? That question troubled me deeply.
A Call to Repentance
Unlike a philosopher merely inviting debate, Paul called us, the intellectual elite, to repentance. He announced that the creator has a claim on our lives—that we are answerable to Him. Suddenly the roles were reversed; it was I who stood on trial, examined by the message of Christ.
The Unthinkable: Resurrection and Judgment
Then came the most shocking announcement: God has set a day to judge the world by a man He appointed—and confirmed it by raising this man from the dead. The resurrection—Anastasis—was not just a beautiful idea, but an event that, if true, changed everything we thought we knew about life, death, and God.
Naturally, many in the crowd mocked. The dead do not rise, they laughed. Yet, I could not shake the possibility: What if it was true? What if Jesus truly rose from the dead?
A Decision That Changed Everything
History is full of wise men: Socrates is dead. Plato is dead. Aristotle is dead. Even Alexander the Great, conqueror of the world, could not conquer the grave. But Paul proclaimed a living man—Jesus the Christ—who conquered death.
If Jesus is alive, then all my philosophical debates pale in comparison to this reality. The most important question was no longer, “Do I understand his teachings?” but “Will I follow him?” It was not just an idea to evaluate, but a person to trust.
By grace, I believed. The mysteries weren’t all resolved, but it was as if light shone in and my eyes opened. Wisdom had found me, and my life would never be the same.
Building the Early Church
After Paul departed, some of us—Athenians—believed and stayed, gathering as a new community around the table of Jesus. We would sing songs (many you know as the Psalms), read the memoirs of the apostles, and break bread in thanksgiving for the risen, returning Lord.
The Challenge for You Today
So, let me ask you:
What if it’s true?
What if Jesus really did rise from the dead? If he did, the grave does not have the final word. If he did, then God has spoken, and Christ the risen Lord has all authority.
What will you do with Jesus? You can laugh, as many did that day. You can put it off until tomorrow. Or you can believe—and be transformed.
Most days come and go without consequence. But some days change everything. May this be such a day for you.
Grace and peace
Let’s continue the conversation: Share your thoughts, doubts, and questions below. If you’d like prayer or to learn more about following Christ, reach out—we would love to talk with you.
Below, you will find the video of this message. May these notes help you reflect deeply as you listen.
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Introduction
This discussion guide explores the sermon from Dionysius as he recounts the day the Apostle Paul spoke on the Areopagus in Athens and challenged the very foundation of Greek wisdom and religion. As we consider the radical message of the gospel in light of the resurrection, let’s open our hearts and minds to what it means to “rethink everything” in the light of Christ.
These questions are meant to help you reflect personally, engage with Scripture, and discuss thoughtfully with your group.
1. The Gospel and the Life of the Mind
“The gospel doesn’t ask us to stop thinking. What it does do is it challenges us to rethink everything in the light of the risen Christ.”
How does your faith engage your intellect and your questions?
What are some areas of life or beliefs you’ve had to “rethink in the light of the risen Christ”?
In what ways did Dionysius demonstrate that following Jesus is not anti-intellectual but requires a renewal of the mind? (See Romans 12:2)
2. Encounter with the Unknown God
“We have an altar to a god we don’t even know. Think of the irony… we still had an altar that amounted to an admission of ignorance.”
What “unknown gods” do people trust in today—perhaps even unknowingly?
Are there areas in your life where you “cover the bases” just in case God is different than what you imagine?
How do you respond to the idea that centuries of religious tradition can still leave a space for the “unknown”?
3. The Nature and Nearness of God
“He himself gives to all of us life and breath and everything we have… our lives, our breath, our existence were all his gift, and he had made us.”
What does it mean that God is not distant, but actively gives us life and is near to us?
How does this change the way you pray, worship, or understand God’s presence in daily life?
4. Repentance and Responsibility
“The times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
How does repentance differ from simply reconsidering an opinion, as Dionysius described?
Is there an area of your life where God is calling you not just to think differently, but to turn and reorient your trust and allegiance?
Why is repentance necessary not only for coming to faith, but for growing as a disciple?
5. The Crucial Question: The Resurrection
“What if it’s true? What if Jesus really rose from the dead? Because if he did, then everything I thought I knew about God, about the world, about myself would have to change.”
How does the reality of the resurrection challenge your assumptions or priorities?
In what ways does faith in the risen Christ give you hope for your future and the world’s future?
Are you living as if Jesus is truly alive and Lord today?
6. Wisdom from God vs. Wisdom from Men
“Socrates is dead. Plato is dead. Aristotle is dead. Alexander… is dead. But Jesus… he is alive. And because he’s alive, that changes everything.”
What is the difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God?
How does knowing that Jesus is alive shape your pursuit of knowledge, success, or personal growth?
What role does humility play in receiving God’s wisdom?
7. Response and Invitation
“The most important question you will ever answer is… What will you do with this Jesus?”
How did Dionysius’s encounter with the gospel call for a personal response?
Some mocked, some put it off, and some believed. Where do you find yourself today?
How can you encourage one another to respond in faith and obedience to the risen Lord?
Closing Prayer
Spend time in prayer, asking God to help you rethink your life in the light of the resurrection, to give you humility to repent where needed, and to fill you with faith to trust fully in Christ.
This guide is in line with the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians’ emphasis on biblical authority, personal faith in the risen Christ, the power of the gospel to renew the mind, and the necessity of repentance and transformation.
