The apostle Paul is speaking to a very diverse group of men in Athens, which was a cosmopolitan hub at the time. He's trying to effect the impossible: to open the minds of a people who consider themselves completely open-minded. To consider their religious tolerance as way too small for who and what God is was a real mind-bender. You see, their religiosity was wrapped up in objects: idols, icons, altars, and temples. None of which could hold or reflect the God of all creation. Additionally, they thought their works pleased their gods in a contractual sort of way. But Paul makes it clear, that it's not works God needs. It's the hearts and devotion of the people. Their very permissiveness of anything-goes-religion prevented the people from considering the possibility that there was just one God. One more thing... this speech echoes one familiar to Paul... that given by Stephen... the first martyr who was stoned to death at Paul's (then Saul) discretion.
Readings: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31; Acts 17:1-34; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 17:27-28
