Acts 17:22

"And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things,. perceive that ye are very religious"Paul stood" So that all could see and hear him. "In the midst of the areopagus" "The benches on which the judges sat formed three sides of. quadrangle, and in the midst of these men Paul stands" (Reese p. 626). "Ye men of Athens" Notice the respectful introduction. "In all things,. perceive that ye are very religious" The word rendered "very religious" can, depending on the context be either. compliment or. rebuke. In many circles the Athenians were considered the most religious of all the Greeks, but what some took as "being religious", this Christian sees as being rather superstitious."It served as an attention-getter. The hearer would think, 'Did he just compliment us, or did he take. slap at us?' It is not easy to express the exact force of the Greek word because there is no exact English equivalent. 'Superstitious' is, perhaps, too strong on the side of blame; 'religious' is too strong on the side of praise" (Reese p. 627). Paul understood that the rampant idolatry inferred an important truth, that being the religious nature of man cannot be suppressed. It may be perverted into false religion, but these Athenians were manifesting by their extreme interest in "spiritual things", the fact that they were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Carefully note that superstition is also. corrupted form of religion, just as much as idolatry. When one starts attributing powers to black cats, broken mirrors, salt, cracks in the sidewalk, the movements of the stars, and the number 13, one has become enslaved to an invented "god". Such superstitions detract from the trust that one should have in the power of the Creator.