Paul Provoked

As Paul strolls through Athens, what impresses him is not the architecture, culture, or art. He sees that the city is full of idols, and he is provoked in spirit (Acts 17:16). That provokes a few reflections.

What did Paul see that others in Athens did not see? What would provoke Paul if he strolled through Times Square or Millennium Park of a Sunday afternoon? What kind of idols would he spot? Were the other Jews in Athens as provoked as Paul by Athenian idolatry? Are we provoked in spirit by idols that surround us? Ought we to be? Have we perhaps become complacent living among idols?

Paul's “paroxysm” (etymologically related to the Greek verb for “provoke”) reminds us of the Lord's own provocations over Israel. When Israel rebelled in the wilderness, the Lord asked with what sounds like amazement, “How long shall they provoke me?” (Numbers 14:11). More specifically, Israel's idols provoked the Lord to “jealousy” (Ezekiel 8:3). Yahweh was jealous for the attention of Israel, and when Israel turned her affections toward other gods, He reacted with the wrath of spurned love. Yahweh eventually abandons His house because it is defiled with idols; provoked to jealousy, He abandons the land to provoke Israel to jealousy (Deuteronomy 32). Paul reacts as the Lord does to idols; he feels the same jealousy on the Lord's behalf, provoked in spirit because the Athenians don't worship the God who made them.

Paul's speech to the Athenians arises from this provocation of spirit. For a time, the Lord has overlooked the idolatries of the nations, but that time has come to an end. He is ready to judge the entire oikoumene through Jesus, and has signified this by raising Jesus from the dead. The Lord who has been jealous for Israel's worship is now provoked (through the apostle) by the idols of the nations. The altars to the unknown God have to give way to the worship of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.