Resurrection from the dead is mocked but others believe.

Acts 17:32-34

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“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” Acts 17:32

Those who believed Paul about God the Creator and the resurrection will be risen from their grave to eternal life. Those who rejected belief in the Divine Creator and the resurrection will be risen from their grave into eternal condemnation in hell.

The Stoics, Epicureans, and people of Athens felt that believing in the resurrection was superstitious. They didn’t believe in a life beyond the grave, eternal life, nor in the judgment to come at the return of Jesus Christ. They only believed in what could be explained within human physiology and human reasoning. This mirrors the beliefs of today’s atheistic culture that lives for what this world has to offer and rejects the notion of the reward of eternal life.

Today’s culture embraces humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by those who govern and live for the beast that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think. They only believe in what lies within human physiology and human reasoning. Humanism is “An outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.” 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is core to His Gospel. By His resurrection, we are born-again by becoming dead to the ways of this world and being resurrected to life in the Spirit. By His resurrection, we are assured of eternal life in the New Jerusalem, after being resurrected from the grave. By His resurrection, we can be sure of the judgment to come beyond the grave. Resurrection into eternal life is given to whoever believes in Him, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The Holy Spirit speaks these words to us through Paul, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

“So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Acts 17:33-34

After Paul spoke about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he left from among those at Mars Hill [the Areopagus [Acts 17:19-20]. At that time, some of those who heard Paul’s words believed what he said about God being the Creator of everybody and about the resurrection. Dionysius was converted to Christianity, and is believed to have become the first Bishop of Athens, is greatly respected as a saint in the Catholic churches, and is memorialized on October 3. Damaris, also converted to Christianity and was a prominent woman of Athens, as apparent by her attendance as a member of the Areopagus council.

“After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.” Acts 18:1 As seen on the map below, Paul was in Athens. Athens is in the region of Achaia, to the west on the map and almost halfway up. Now he is departing for Corinth, which is west of Athens and just a little south.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11