The Apostle Paul: Speech at the Areopagus Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Areopagus is located on a rocky limestone outcrop in Athens, Greece, just to the northwest of the Acropolis. The Apostle Paul preached adamantly that Jesus was the Son of God, whereas the Greeks named different places and things to be the symbols of their gods. What Greek god was the Areopagus named after?

Answer: Ares

It was Ares who was the Greek god of war. It was also called the Hill of Ares. It is said that Ares murdered Poseidon's son and was tried for the act on this hill. Ares is mentioned as one of the Twelve Olympians. His hometown was Thrace.

The Areopagus is made from grey limestone that has marble mixed in it too. It is now very slippery because of all the steps and traffic from people walking on it for thousands of years. The hill is not even 400 feet high.

2. We now know that the Apostle Paul's speech at Areopagus in Athens, Greece was a debate with the local philosophers and law makers about the concepts and fallacies of idolotry. What is the name of the place that is the Roman equivalent for the Areopagus?

Answer: Mars Hill

Mars Hill is the Roman name meaning "hill of Mars". Areopagus is the Greek name meaning "hill of Ares". The Roman god equal to the Greek war god Ares is known as Mars. The Greek word for hill is "Iofos". It is pronounced Law-fohs. It is only about 377 feet high.

It is near the Parthenon in Athens. It was believed that Ares was put on trial there because he murdered Halirrhothius who was a son of Poseidon, the Greek king of the sea.

3. The vast majority of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and less than one percent was written in Aramaic. Since the Apostle Paul's speech was written in the New Testament, we now know that it was written in the Greek language. But what form of the Greek language?

Answer: Koine Greek

The Old Testament was written purposefully in Hebrew and some in Aramaic, and none of it was originally written in Koine Greek. The entire New Testament was written in Koine Greek. It must be understood that Jesus spoke in Aramaic, but when it was written down it was transcribed in Koine Greek. To explain better, the common language was known as lingua franca, but the common form is known as Koine Greek.

Koine Greek is also known as common Greek. It derived from Attic and Ionic Greek. Paul was a Jew and a Roman citizen, but he was fluent on the common Greek language during his time on earth. It was important that he knew the language of the day if he wanted to spread his message.

4. Almost immediately, Paul mentions he could tell the men of Athens were very religious. He noticed many statues, plaques, and altars spread different messages to their gods and to the rulers of that time. What did one of the inscriptions on one of the altars read?

Answer: To an unknown god

The quote, "To an unknown god", was mentioned in the "Bible" in Acts 17:23 KJV. At the time the Greeks wanted to be careful not to forget any gods that they may not have made an idol to. Basically, they didn't want to leave a god out.

Paul preaches that the God he is talking about is not the god that lives in the temples that were made by man. Paul tells the philosophers that there is only one God in heaven and earth, and that that God doesn't need to have items made by man to make him love them. Paul tells them that God's son, Jesus, gave himself for mankind by dying on the cross some twenty years earlier.

5. Paul strategically bypassed scriptural arguments to engage Greek intellectuals on their own terms. He famously quoted the line "For in him we live and move and have our being" from "Cretica", which is a hymn to Zeus. What Greek poet and philosopher did Paul quote?

Answer: Epimenides

This quote is mentioned in Acts 17:28 KJV. It is Paul using his wit to speak to the Greeks in their own terms rather than forcing a sermon down their throats. Paul wanted those listening to be able to understand him better, so he used phrases and messages from known Greek poets and philosophers from the past in his message that day.

Epimenides is known mostly for writing "The Liars Paradox", which is also known as "All Cretans are Liars". It was considered a paradox since, if Epimenides was telling the truth, and he himself was a Cretan, then how could he be telling the truth and lying at the same time.

It was considered a logical puzzle, however, clearly no one ever always tells the truth, and by the same token, not everybody lies continually. It is mentioned in the Epistle to Titus 1:12. Epimenides was a Cretan, giving credence to the paradox.

6. Paul again uses another Greek poet's words to his favor, saying "For we are indeed his offspring", further building rapport to his Greek listeners. Who is this quote given credit to?

Answer: Aratus

Paul changed the context of this pagan verse that was originally written to Zeus, and instead, changed the words to mean that there is a true Creator of the universe, God. He now can put to light the message of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. He now uses us as the "offspring" to Jesus Christ, instead of Zeus being our father.

Aratus was a Stoic poet from Greece at a time some 200 years before the birth of Christ. Aratus was from the same area Paul - formerly Saul - was from. Aratus is given credit for writing the famous astronomical poem called "Phaenomena" which goes on to say that humanity is the offspring of Zeus.

7. Paul has but one point to get across to those listening at the Areopagus, and that is, since we are all truly God's offspring, that we should understand that the divine would not want us to believe in idols made by human skill and design, but by believing in the one true God. Of the answers listed, which one was NOT mentioned in Acts 17:29 KJV?

Answer: Diamond

Gold, silver, and stone are all mentioned in Acts 17:29 KJV of the Bible. It is believed that, at that time, the Greeks used material proof of the gods, rather than what Paul was saying: that there is only one God, and He is the only One that meets the spiritual needs of the people.

It was a unique and intriguing message that many of the Greeks wanted to hear - this message of a spiritual God. Many also mocked Paul because of what they thought was foolish.

8. In Acts 17:34 KJV, Paul is near the end of his speech to the Greeks at the Areopagus. He showed them that the word of God was not so different from many of the scriptures they had already learned. During that time he met a male friend that was mentioned in the Bible. What was his name?

Answer: Dionysius

Dionysius was known as an areopagite - a member of the High Court in Athens, and one of those listening at the Areopagus. Like many others there that day and night, Dionysius was converted to a Christian after hearing Paul speak. He was considered the First Bishop of Athens. He is not to be confused with the Dionysius who was an author of the 5th and 6th centuries.

9. Near the end of the Book of Acts, Paul is winning over many from the crowd to the concept of Christianity, even when he talks about something new to them...the resurrection. Which woman, mentioned in Acts 17:34 KGV, is given high credit by the Apostle Paul?

Answer: Damaris

Not much is mentioned in the Bible about Damaris. Scholars want to say she may have been held in high regard since even mentioning a woman during those times in scripture was fairly uncommon. She is also mentioned in the same sentence as Dionysius was in Acts 17:34 KGV.

She was one of the last people in all of Athens to have met Paul before he left to go further west to spread the Gospel of the one true God.

10. After Paul met with the Greek scholars and the others while preaching at Mars Hill, his time there in Athens was done. Where did Paul go to next to preach after he left Athens?

Answer: Corinth

Corinth was still a city in Greece at the time of Paul's travels. Corith is about 50 miles west of Athens. It was located on the Gulf of Corinth. Paul wrote two epistles to the Corinthians. It was there that Paul met Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. This story keeps us completely in Greece during this entire chapter. Jokingly, but maybe, THIS was the first time somebody said, "Go west, young man. Go west."

Source: Author BullsGold

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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Acts 17:22-34 (KJV)

After just leaving Thessalonica and Berea during second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul settles in to tell one of his most important speeches, this time to the Greeks in northern Athens at the Areopagus, in a effort to spread the Gospel. Enjoy.

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