LESSON 36
SPEECH OF PAUL ON MARS HILL

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens! I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein (seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth) dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from everyone of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because 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. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed; among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

—Bible

STUDY GUIDE

A. Are you superstitious? Someone who is superstitious believes in things that they don't understand. They believe that certain things or actions bring good luck or bad luck. When Paul said to the men of Athens, "Ye are too superstitious", he meant they didn't really believe in God. Here are some common superstitions in North America.

Good luck

finding a four leaf clover

the number 7

finding a penny (coin)

Bad luck

seeing a black cat

the number 13

breaking a mirror

Make a list of superstitions in your country.

Good luck

Bad luck

B. Comprehension Questions—Answer the following questions.

1. In this reading, why is Paul angry?

2. According to Paul, what did God make?

3. Why does Paul not like the inscription “To the unknown God”?

4. Do you think it is possible to be superstitious and believe in God? Explain.

5. Who were some of the people who believed in “resurrection of the dead”?

C. Opposites—Find words in the speech that have the opposite meaning from words in this exercise.

1. known: u ______

2. death: l ___

3. close: f __

4. lowered: r _____

5. arrived: d _______