Here we observe the same double mission as in Bercea, Thessalonica, and elsewhere ; and, as in other cases, the Jewish mission is mentioned first. There is one marked difference between this passage and the corresponding descriptions at Bercea and Thessalonica. In those cases great results were attained ; but in Athens no converts are mentioned at this stage, either in the synagogue or in the agora. The lack of results at this stage is, how- ever, fully explained by the shortness of the time. Paul's stay in Athens can hardly have been longer than six weeks, and was probably less than four ; and the process described in v. 17 was brought to a premature close by the great event of his visit, which the historian describes very fully.
The time spent in Athens may be deduced approxi-
240 Athens and Corinth. Chap. XI.
mately from the following considerations. Probably less than a fortnight elapsed before Silas and Timothy joined him there, according to his urgent directions. They brought with them no favourable news : it was still impossible for him to return to Thessalonica, and he "thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy to comfort the Thessalonians concerning their faith" (I Tkess. Ill I, 2).
Since Paul remained alone, Silas also must have been sent away from Athens ; and as, some two months Later, Silas with Timothy rejoined Paul from Macedonia, he was probably sent to Philippi, for frequent communication was maintained at this time between Paul and his first European Church {Phil. IV 1 5 f.).
Paul was still looking forward to a return to his proper work in Macedonia ; and it is clear that he intended to remain in Athens until Silas and Timothy came back from their mission, which makes it probable that their absence was not intended to be a long one. Doubtless they travelled to Thessalonica together, and Timothy waited there while Silas went to Philippi, discharged his mission, and returned ; and then they came to Athens together. They found Paul no longer there, for he had in the meantime gone to Corinth. Circumstances that happened in Athens had forced him to abandon the city and go to Corinth : " after this he departed from Athens and came to Corinth" (XVIII 1). In this sentence it might seem that the words " departed from Athens " are wasted ; and that it would have been sufficient to say " after this he came to Corinth " ; but our principle is that every minute fact stated in Acts has its own significance, and the departure from Athens {xwpicOeh U
Sec. i. Athens, 241
rwv 'AOrivSjv) is emphasised, because it was a violation of the intended plan under the compulsion of events.
The same word is used in XVIII 1 to describe Paul's departure from Athens, and in 2 to describe Aquila's enforced departure from Rome. On our view (p. 252) the idea of sudden, premature departure is contained in each.
Further, it is clear that Paul had been in Corinth for some time and attained a certain measure of success, before Silas and Timothy arrived ; and, if we allow seven weeks for their mission, which seems ample, he must have spent altogether about three or four weeks in Athens and five or six in Corinth,
2. IN THE UNIVERSITY AT ATHENS. (XVII 18) AND CERTAIN ALSO OF THE STOIC AND EPICUREAN PHILOSOPHERS ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM ; AND SOME SAID, "WHAT WOULD THIS SPERMOLOGOS [ignorant plagiarist] SAY ? " AND OTHERS, "HE IS APPARENTLY AN EXPONENT OF FOREIGN DIVINITIES " [BECAUSE HE WAS GIVING THE GOOD NEWS OF "JESUS" AND "RESURRECTION"]. (19) AND THEY TOOK HOLD OF HIM AND BROUGHT HIM BEFORE THE Council of AREOPAGUS, SAYING, " MAY WE LEARN WHAT IS THIS NEW TEACHING WHICH IS SPOKEN BY THEE? (20) FOR THOU BRINGEST SOME THINGS OF FOREIGN FASHION TO OUR EARS; WE WISH THERE- FORE TO LEARN WHAT IS THEIR NATURE." (21) BUT THE WHOLE crowd of ATHENIANS AND RESIDENT STRANGERS wlw formed the audience WERE INTER- ESTED ONLY IN SAYING OR HEARING SOMETHING NEW and smart. (22) AND PAUL STOOD IN THE