What intellectual culture did Athens have in Paul's day?
In Paul’s day Athens was a thriving city of intellectual import and a great center of intellectualism. It had the philosophers, and its Greek writers are still studied in good universities today. Yet in spite of all that intelligence and knowledge, the city was completely given over to idolatry and the worship of mythological gods.
Les explains that when Paul came to Athens in Acts 17, the city was a thriving city of intellectual import. It had all the philosophers, and even today good universities still study the Greek writers. So Paul entered this great center of intellectualism, and while he waited there his spirit was stirred because he saw the city completely, totally given over to idolatry. In spite of all their intellectualism, intelligence, and knowledge, they had nothing; they were given over totally to the worship of idols and the mythological gods.
More Questions
Why was Paul's spirit stirred when he was in Athens?
While Paul waited at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him when he saw the city completely and totally given over to idolatry.