Acts 17: 16-23

All evangelism is done in translation, even if the evangelist and those hearing share the same language.

Paul is in Athens waiting for Timothy and Silas to arrive. He is ‘deeply troubled’ by what he sees around him. I wonder when the last time I was deeply troubled by what I saw around me. John’s Gospel records Jesus as having been deeply troubled or distressed on at least two occasions, first when he meets Mary following the death of Lazarus, her brother. Some translations refer to Jesus being angry, and secondly at the last supper where he tells those around him that one of them will betray him.

Paul is disturbed by what he saw, and it motivated him to get on with the task without waiting for his colleagues.

He followed his pattern by going to the synagogue to meet with Jews and those who were God-fearers (those attracted by the worship of one of God and its practical outworkings). I wonder how often the worship I lead is attractive and at the same time reverent enough to raise questions.

Paul then also argued/debated with those in the public square. Here is one of the biggest challenges for me, he is misunderstood. Of course, it is easy to say to say that the Epicureans and Stoics misunderstood Paul. They did. Paul had been misunderstood before, in Lystra, after the healing of man who could not walk, Barnabas and Paul had been mistaken for gods. In that context they had been speaking different physical languages. It goes a little deeper, Paul was being understand in Athens in translation. As Christians we are called to be different, and our message is sometimes incomprehensible. The gospel is simple and clear but often deeply misunderstood. I wonder how much care I take to ensure that mistranslations are overcome.

Paul is taken then to the Areopagus. Those who had listened had thought he had been talking about two different deities. Paul proceeds to make connections between the gospel and what they understood. This led to a handful becoming believers. I wonder how much work I put into making connections.

It is striking that afterwards, Paul the man who lived his life in translation went next to Corinth, and resolved to realise that the message of the gospel is foolishness compared to God’s wisdom, and that in the cross we see the wisdom and foolishness of God meet as Jesus kisses a guilty world in love.

Let us be evangelists who worship God who reveals himself in Jesus.

Evangelists who learn to be troubled by what we see around us and respond by sharing Jesus.

Evangelists who reevaluate how we share Jesus, so that we do it better.

Evangelists who resolve to preach Christ and only him.

Amen.