Acts 17:1-34; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Romans 1:18-25.

 “‘The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands’” (Acts 17:24).

 Depicting what Paul did in Athens, Luke wrote: “Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there” (Acts 17:17).

 Naturally, Paul would have been most comfortable working among the Jews, his own flesh and blood. But Paul refused to be satisfied with working among only his own people. He had been called to reach others, as well.

 Or Paul could have worked just with the “God-fearing” Gentiles, whose worldview already had undergone substantial change. They had a biblical foundation that Paul could build upon, even if they still needed to know the God whom they “feared”—Jesus the Messiah.

 But, no. While in Athens, a city famous for its philosophy, Paul sought to reach the people there, as well. Many of these had a radically different background and worldview from that of the Hebrews and their sacred history, which formed the foundation of the faith that Paul wanted to teach the Athenians.

 How did Paul go about seeking to reach these people, and what can we learn from his attempts?

 *Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 9.