What stirred Paul's spirit when he was in Athens?
Paul's spirit was stirred in Athens when he saw the city completely given over to idolatry. Despite Athens being a thriving center of intellectualism, philosophy, universities, and knowledge, its people were totally devoted to idols and mythological gods. That sight provoked his spirit while he waited there.
Les explains that Athens was a thriving city of intellectual import, with philosophers and universities whose Greek writers are still studied. Paul came into this great center of intellectualism and, while he waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred when he saw the city completely, totally given over to idolatry. In spite of all their intellectualism, intelligence, and knowledge, Les says, they had nothing; they were given over totally to the worship of idols and the mythological gods.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.