What did Paul tell the people of Athens about God?

Answer 1

because Athens was a pagan city and worshiped other gods

Another answer:Not only was Athens a pagan city, it was the seat of philosophical thinking of the day. Acts 17:21 says, "For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing."

They didn't accuse Paul of anything in the usual sense of an accusation. Rather, they questioned him because his teaching of Jesus was something completely new to them.

Acts 17:19, 20 - And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean."

Paul's preaching (verses 22-31) was met with a mixed, but mostly negative, reaction, according to verse 32: And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter."

[Quotes from NKJV]

Answer 2

The verses below contain the details of Paul's message while in Athens, with the context included. Paul's words are highlighted.

Acts 17:16-34 (King James Version)

16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are toosuperstitious.

23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom thereforeye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples madewith hands;

25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and allthings;

26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the timesbefore appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one ofus:

28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also hisoffspring.

29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, orstone, graven by art and man's device.

30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33So Paul departed from among them.

34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Answer 3

Paul told the people of Athens that God does not live in temples made by human hands and that He is the creator of all things. He also said that God is not far from us and that we are His offspring.