Once in Thessalonica, Paul attended services at the synagogue, as usual. He attended three in a row and took the opportunity to speak of the prophecies that proved Jesus was the Messiah. He did not speak from his own "opinion" but used the Scriptures to make his case. A portion of his case was the prophecy that told of the Messiah's suffering and death and that He would be raised from the dead. He explained how Jesus fulfilled all those things, proving he was the Messiah.
Paul was teaching in the synagogue and of course many Jews heard him speak. Some Jews accepted Paul's teaching and accepted Jesus as Messiah. They joined with Paul and Silas as did some God fearing (meaning those who worshipped God) Greek men and several prominent women.
As has been the case, there were some Jews who were jealous. The Bible doesn't go into any detail about why they were jealous but it may be that Paul and Silas had won over followers who were devout temple attenders. Much of what seemed to motivate people was money and the Jewish people might have been concerned that if people followed Paul there would be a decrease in gifts to the synagogue. Pride and power could also play a role in their anger. If Paul and Silas grew in popularity, the Jews would lose their power and favor with the people.
We have seen this tactic many times now and again see the angry Jews starting trouble. They went out and gathered people, perhaps even hired them, getting them to start a riot. They searched for Paul and Silas to drag them before the "crowd" (actually the city council). The group of rioters could not find Paul or Silas but knew they were staying with Jason so they went to Jason's home and dragged him out along with other believers.
The mob took them before the city council and (as usual) lied, telling the council Paul and Silas were causing trouble "all over the world" and now they are causing trouble here. They presented the fact Jason was harboring trouble makers. They summarized by stating they were all guilty of treason against Caesar because they were teaching people to follow the king, Jesus.
The people of the city and the council were agitated, disturbed, and troubled at these things. In response, the council forced Jason and the believers to post bond and then let them go. The bond was most likely money the council held and would be kept if Jason and the believers allowed Paul and Silas to continue their teachings in that town. Of course, if Paul and Silas were to leave and no longer cause trouble, the bond would be returned.
That same night the believers must have told Paul, Timothy, and Silas what happened which resulted in Paul and Silas being sent to Berea. Again, efforts to stop the teaching of the truth about Jesus only served to be the force driving Paul to other places, thus spreading the word even more.
Paul and Silas went to Berea and attended the synagogue. Unlike those in Thessalonica, the people of Berea were more open minded and eagerly listened to Paul's teaching. The people searched the scripturess to see if Paul was telling the truth which resulted in many Jews becoming believers as well as many Greek men and many prominent women.
When the Jews who caused all the trouble in Thessalonica heard Paul, Timothy, and Silas were in Berea teaching, they travelled to Berea and caused trouble there too. Immediately, the believers in Berea sent Paul to the coast while leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea. Paul had an escort group travel with him to protect him all the way to Athens. When Paul's escorts returned to Berea they gave Timothy and Silas instructions to join Paul in Athens as directed by Paul.
Athens was a large cultural city and housed a great university of higher learning. Athens was no longer the city it once was, nor was Greece the great country it once was but it was a place for those who sought knowledge to come and learn, not only old teachings but also hear new ideas.
Athens displayed many idols all around the city which may be a reflection of their open mindedness. The idols distressed Paul greatly and he went to the synagogue in an attempt to reason with the Jews and God fearing Gentiles. Paul also spoke every day in the public square to anyone who happened to be there.
Once, Paul got into a debate with the Epicurean ad Stoic philosophers. The Epicureans believed man's purpose was to seek and live in pleasure and happiness. Such pleasure and happiness could only be accomplished by not indulging in excesses, not fearing death, avoiding pain and by living in tranquility while loving mankind. This philosophy was instituted by the man, Epicurus.
There was a time, a man named Zeno, regularly taught at a painted portico in Athens. Portico or "stoa" is where they claimed their name. They believed man's purpose was to direct history. It was man's responsibility to align himself with that purpose through triumph and tragedy. Such a philosophy resulted in great pride, some noble characteristics, and self sufficiency.
Paul spoke to them all, telling them of Jesus and then about Jesus' ressurection. When Paul talked about Jesus' resurrection, some seemed interested in the "new" idea. Some called him a "babbler" who spoke of strange ideas, while others said he seemed to be talking about a foreign god.
The Athenians and the foreigners who came to Athens spent all their time discussing the latest ideas. Following their interest in new ideas, they took Paul to the high council so he could share his teaching with them all. They told Paul they wanted to know more about the strange teachings he offered.
Paul stood before them and acknowledged how religious they were. He recounted how he noticed all the shrines and statues throughout the city. Paul zeroed in on one in particular which was dedicated, "To an Unknown God." Paul told them the Unknown God they worshipped was the God he had been teaching about.
Paul told them more about their Unknown God who, without them knowing, was the very same God he was teaching about. This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of Heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by man. Human hands cannot serve his needs because He has no needs. This God gives life and breath to everything. This God satisfies the needs of all things. He created all the nations of the entire earth through one man. He has also planned when each man and nation should rise and when it should fall. He even set the boundaries of each nation. Remember, the Stoics' and Epicureans' main interest was the purpose of man and Paul addressed that as well. Paul told them God's purpose for man was that they seek Him and find Him. He told them God was very near each one of them. All people are to live in Him.
Paul continued by saying their own poets spoke the truth when they said they were his offspring. Acknowledging that truth, we should not think of that God as just another idol designed by and made of gold, silver, or stone by craftsman. This very same God has overlooked people's ignorance in the past but has now commanded everyone to repent of their sin and turn to Him. He has set a day for judging the entire world in justice through the man He has appointed. He has proven who that man is by raising him from the dead.
When Paul spoke of Him being raised from the dead some laughed but others wanted to hear more at another time. This ended Paul's meeting with them but some joined with Paul and many became believers.
Among those who became believers were a woman named Damaris and a man named Dionysius, who was a judge on the council. This council was known as the Council of the Areopagus. Areopagus, also the Hill of Ares or Mars Hill is located in Athens and was the location of the council's meetings. It overlooks the Parthenon and was the site of murder proceedings and court appeals. Greek mythology tells us Ares, the god of War, who was also the son of Zeus and Hara had been tried there by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son.
Being a judge on the Council of Areopagus was an important position as the council was once the governing body of the city of Athens. To be a judge on this council, one's conduct was thoroughly investigated and if found worthy, the person would be a member for life. Dionysius was such a man of integrity. Eusebius (a Roman historian, Christian, and Bible scholar) quoted Dionysius of Corinth as saying that Dionysius, the judge, eventually became the first Bishop of Athens.