The apostle Paul in Athens: They took him to the high council of the city. 'Come and tell us about this new teaching,' they said. Acts 17:19

The Book of Acts relates that Paul was in Antioch along with his friend Barnabas, and there, moved by the holy spirit, the apostle made the decision to begin his famous journeys to bring the good news to the pagan world. Paul's first missionary journey departed from the Church of Antioch to Iconium, Antioch of Pisidia, and Derbe, which were cities located approximately in the region of Galatia in Anatolia. During this time, Paul did not write any of his famous letters. But then his second missionary journey took him even further, all the way to Greece.
And it was there in Greece that the apostle Paul encountered something very special, philosophy, a highly developed science in that country. And this fact profoundly affected Paul's thinking, as the Book of Acts relates.
Paul arrived in Athens from Berea, and the Book of Acts relates that Paul felt great indignation at the idolatry he observed in the city. And so the Book of Acts recounts Paul's encounter with the philosophers: "He also had a debate with some of the Epicureans and Stoic philosophers" Acts 17:18. And the Book of Acts recounts what happened after this encounter in this way: "They took him to the high council of the city. 'Come and tell us about this new teaching,' they said. 'You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it's all about" Acts 17:19-20.
The Athenians were very curious people and liked to hear the latest news, and this is what Paul took advantage of to make an important speech before the most important people in the city. And this speech, given by Paul, tested his ethical, theological, and philosophical thinking. Paul demonstrated a great spiritual understanding of Christianity, and the Book of Acts relates that this resulted in a large number of conversions to the faith, although some replied that perhaps they would listen to him a little more another day. This fact most certainly motivated Paul to begin writing his letters. Paul's letters greatly influenced Christianity, to such an extent that Christianity as it is known today is probably the work of this apostle.

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