To some the preacher seemed a mere babbler, a picker up of trifles, and therefore contemptible. To others, he was a setter forth of strange gods. But because they are all desirous of hearing anything newer than what they already are acquainted with, they bring the Apostle to Mars’ Hill, and desire him more fully to expound to them the strange things which he had brought to their ears. The locality chosen was more suitable than the busy market-place. The associations of the place were solemn and deeply interesting. The subject then brought before the people in the Areopagus was worthy of those associations,—far more important and of more momentous consequences than had ever been deliberated on there in times that were gone by. The place, the speaker, the hearers, the subject, all appeal to our sympathies and interest us most deeply. The discourse of the Apostle was admirably suited to the place and the hearers. He appealed to their deepest convictions, while at the same time the message which he brought thwarted many of their cherished ideas, St Luke has given us a report of this speech, so eloquent, so worthy of the admiration of all time, so well calculated to show how far Christianity coincided with Gentile, and especially Stoic, philosophy, and how it excelled. This was what St Paul said, “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects you are extremely devout[10]. For as I passed through your city and beheld the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar on which was this inscription, ‘To the unknown GOD.’ Him, therefore, whom you worship though you know him not, I set before you. GOD, who made the world and all things therein, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he served by men’s hands as being in need of any, seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things. And hath made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on the face of the whole earth; having ordained (to all) their appointed seasons and the bounds of their habitations, that they might seek GOD, if haply they would feel after him and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ We, therefore, being the offspring of GOD, ought not to think the Godhead to be like gold, or silver, or stone graven by art or man’s device. Howbeit those (past) times of ignorance GOD hath overlooked; but now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all, in that he raised him from the dead[11].”