Second Light Of Wisdom

Without hesitation or procrastination, we hasten on with the second especially different light or illumination, as singled out for us, from this text.

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

The second especially different light of illumination.

 To the Areopagus, saying.

These Epicurean and Stoic philosophers, have seen and heard Paul speaking the Word of the Gospel, as he preached Jesus Christ and the resurrection. Where did they hear Paul saying this word? Where did they encounter this brightly lit, Holy Spirit illuminated vessel of Jesus? The Scriptures tell us that Paul went to two places to shine his Gospel Light. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshippers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Acts 17: 17. These scholars had to have heard Paul in the market place, the soapbox place, where these curious thinkers would find lucrative ground. 

The Scripture tells us that they encountered Paul. Then certain of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Acts 17: 18a. These were the minds that would not easily be found in the synagogue because of their pick and choose, fickle, carnal-pleasing minds. These were minds that simply could not be held bound up and boxed in by the walls of a synagogue. Let’s reason a bit here. If these scholars had heard Paul in the synagogue, the use of the word, encountered, would not be an appropriate description. However, in the marketplace, the word, encounter, is quite a suitable and perfect description, for one doesn’t readily know who will be on the soapbox and how many there will be. One speaks in the open air, for all and sundry who are present. 

If the Word of God must reach all, it must go to the places where all will be found. When Jesus sent out His shining vessels, lit from stem to stern with the Gospel Light, He specifically, deliberately and categorically named the word, all. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16: 15b. Common sense will tell us that to reach all, to preach to all, we must go to where all can be found.

My mind has just run on a sighting of Jesus, which has just been given greater illumination in me. Will you look with me also? View the weak, dying and dead Body of Jesus, the Light of the whole, wide world, crucified on a cross of sin. What are we hearing? I have died to save you. Yes every single ear, whether that ear hears or forbears, is told, I have died for you.  How is that possible? Why is it possible? Simply because Jesus is not in the great walled-city of Jerusalem, but outside the city walls, where whosoever passing, is given the opportunity to hear. Marketplace wisdom! 

My mind has also been taken to what Matthew records for us about Jesus and His preaching. When Jesus heard that John the Baptist, the preacher and baptizer was dead, Jesus began to preach. Calling disciples to Him, Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4: 23. Additionally, Matthew made it quite clear that Jesus was also a marketplace preacher, as he informs us of these manoeuvres of Jesus. Jesus left the confining and excluding walls of the synagogue, to preach one of His most famously documented sermons. I refer to the Beatitudes, or, as it is more familiarly called, the Sermon on the Mount.

Will you look and listen with me also? Listen to the zealous, alive, fresh, Spirit-filled, young Galilean, about His Father’s business. What are we hearing and seeing? I am here to teach you. Indeed, every single seeing eye and hearing ear, making up the multitude at that mountainside, whether each accepts or refuses, is told, I am here to teach you.  How is that possible? Why is it possible? Simply because Jesus is not in the great walled-synagogue of the holy, but outside the synagogue walls, where whosoever wills, may come. Even every single passer-by is given the privileged opportunity to hear and see.

Marketplace wisdom! Paul presented Jesus to all!