Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. (Acts 17:18)
The Epicureans and Stoics were the two major philosophies of the time, and they’re still around today.
Epicureans believe that the greatest goal in life is pleasure. They want to live quiet, peaceful, comfortable lives, without anyone else interfering. Isn’t that what most people in our culture want? Just leave me alone so I can pursue the things in life that make me happy.
Stoics believe that there are certain rules in life that come from the laws of nature. The world works a certain way, and you can’t fight it. Instead you need to learn to roll with it. Business consultants promote stoicism: “There’s a certain way leadership works, so align your career to that.” And health influencers also spread stoicism: “There’s a certain way your body works, so align your life to that.”
So on one side are people who say, “Leave me alone and let me live my life the way I want to live it.” On the other side are people who say, “No, there are rules in this world, and you need to follow them if you want a good life.”
In simple terms, we’re talking about libertarians and legalists. And all of us lean one direction or the other. But Paul confronts both sides with the gospel: “Having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent” (17:30). In other words, life isn’t about finding more ways to please yourself. It’s not about summoning up power within yourself to follow more rules. It’s about looking away from yourself. Repenting!
This is all so you can look to Jesus: “He has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead” (17:31).