Three Responses to Paul’s Sermon

David Cox

“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them” (Acts 17:32-34).

Paul had preached his sermon to the men of Athens at Mars Hill; he concluded by telling them that God commands all men to repent and then reminded them of the coming judgment. In verses 32-34, there are three responses from those who heard Paul.

1. Some mocked him (v. 32). Luke says that some who heard Paul “mocked” him. They had heard Paul preach the truth of the gospel, but instead of accepting the preaching of Christ they were unwilling to change their lives to do what was acceptable to the will of God. There was a similar response of those on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13), they belittled or mocked the preaching of the apostles. It is a disposition like this that Paul mentioned to the Corinthians when he referred to people thinking the preaching of the cross as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21).
2. Some were wanting to hear more (v. 32). The second response is seen by those who heard and said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” They were not out-right refusing to listen to Paul, but they wanted to wait. Perhaps it was a difficult decision for some to hear the truth and obey it. They still desired to learn more, but they needed to respond. It is this disposition that Felix displayed (Acts 24:25). The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 teaches the importance of not waiting because while we delay, our lives may end without being prepared.
3. Some of them who heard believed (v. 34). There were some among those who heard Paul preach who believed. There were those that as Paul preached the of God, their hearts were pricked, and they responded and continued on in the work of the Lord.

The responses to Paul’s sermon were three-fold, and the reactions Paul encountered are the same responses people have today to the preaching of God’s word. What is our response to the preaching of the gospel? Do we mock the word of God by defying the necessity to obey or mock those who are striving to live right? Are we waiting to hear more? Are we ready to commit to obey and cleave to God’s word? Let us remember the lessons of God’s word and believe and obey Him now; not mocking or waiting until a convenient time.