An Evening Prayer of Trust in God

41 To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. When I call, answer me, O God of my righteousness: in pressure thou hast enlarged me; be gracious unto me, and hear my prayer. 2 Ye sons of men, till when is my glory [to be put] to shame? [How long] will ye love vanity, will ye seek after a lie? Selah. 3 But know that Jehovah hath set apart the pious [man] for himself: Jehovah will hear when I call unto him. 4 Be moved with anger, and sin not; meditate in your own hearts upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and confide in Jehovah.

6 Many say, Who shall cause us to see good? Lift up upon us the light of thy countenance, O Jehovah. 7 Thou hast put joy in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their new wine was in abundance. 8 In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; for thou, Jehovah, alone makest me to dwell in safety.

A Prayer for Protection

51 To the chief Musician. Upon Nehiloth. A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O Jehovah; consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my crying, my king and my God; for to thee will I pray. 3 Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; in the morning will I address myself to thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; evil shall not sojourn with thee. 5 Insolent fools shall not stand before thine eyes; thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies: Jehovah abhorreth a man of blood and deceit.

7 But as for me, in the greatness of thy loving-kindness will I enter thy house; I will bow down toward the temple of thy holiness in thy fear. 8 Lead me, Jehovah, in thy righteousness, because of my foes; make thy way plain before me. 9 For there is no certainty in their mouth; their inward part is perversion, their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Bring guilt upon them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels: drive them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against thee. 11 And all that trust in thee shall rejoice: for ever shall they shout joyously, and thou wilt protect them; and they that love thy name shall exult in thee. 12 For thou, Jehovah, wilt bless the righteous [man]; with favour wilt thou surround him as [with] a shield.

A Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble

61 To the chief Musician. On stringed instruments, upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, and chasten me not in thy hot displeasure. 2 Be gracious unto me, Jehovah, for I am withered; Jehovah, heal me, for my bones tremble. 3 And my soul trembleth exceedingly: and thou, Jehovah, till how long? 4 Return, Jehovah, free my soul; save me for thy loving-kindness' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who shall give thanks unto thee? 6 I am wearied with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I dissolve my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye wasteth away through grief; it hath grown old because of all mine oppressors.

8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah receiveth my prayer. 10 All mine enemies shall be ashamed and tremble exceedingly; they will turn, they will be ashamed suddenly.

Paul at Athens

16 But in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit was painfully excited in him seeing the city given up to idolatry. 17 He reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped, and in the market-place every day with those he met with. 18 But some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him. And some said, What would this chatterer say? and some, He seems to be an announcer of foreign demons, because he announced the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection [to them]. 19 And having taken hold on him they brought [him] to Areopagus, saying, Might we know what this new doctrine which is spoken by thee [is]? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears. We wish therefore to know what these things may mean. 21 Now all [the] Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else than to tell and to hear the news.

22 And Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus said, Athenians, in every way I see you given up to demon worship; 23 for, passing through and beholding your shrines, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye reverence, not knowing [him], him I announce to you. 24 The God who has made the world and all things which are in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, 25 nor is served by men's hands as needing something, himself giving to all life and breath and all things; 26 and has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined ordained times and the boundaries of their dwelling, 27 that they may seek God; if indeed they might feel after him and find him, although he is not far from each one of us: 28 for in him we live and move and exist; as also some of the poets amongst you have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Being therefore [the] offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold or silver or stone, [the] graven form of man's art and imagination. 30 God therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now enjoins men that they shall all everywhere repent, 31 because he has set a day in which he is going to judge the habitable earth in righteousness by [the] man whom he has appointed, giving the proof [of it] to all [in] having raised him from among [the] dead.

32 And when they heard [of the] resurrection of the dead, some mocked, and some said, We will hear thee again also concerning this. 33 Thus Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joining themselves to him believed; among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman by name Damaris, and others with them.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 17:16-34

Commentary on Acts 17:16-21

(Read Acts 17:16-21)

Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fine arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning and ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, as occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the most directly contrary to Christianity, made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, which are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a future state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed at Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new and strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired into such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it was good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies. They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable account they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious, and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upon it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.

Commentary on Acts 17:22-31

(Read Acts 17:22-31)

Here we have a sermon to heathens, who worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world; and to them the scope of the discourse was different from what the apostle preached to the Jews. In the latter case, his business was to lead his hearers by prophecies and miracles to the knowledge of the Redeemer, and faith in him; in the former, it was to lead them, by the common works of providence, to know the Creator, and worship Him. The apostle spoke of an altar he had seen, with the inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD." This fact is stated by many writers. After multiplying their idols to the utmost, some at Athens thought there was another god of whom they had no knowledge. And are there not many now called Christians, who are zealous in their devotions, yet the great object of their worship is to them an unknown God? Observe what glorious things Paul here says of that God whom he served, and would have them to serve. The Lord had long borne with idolatry, but the times of this ignorance were now ending, and by his servants he now commanded all men every where to repent of their idolatry. Each sect of the learned men would feel themselves powerfully affected by the apostle's discourse, which tended to show the emptiness or falsity of their doctrines.

Commentary on Acts 17:32-34

(Read Acts 17:32-34)

The apostle was treated with more outward civility at Athens than in some other places; but none more despised his doctrine, or treated it with more indifference. Of all subjects, that which deserves the most attention gains the least. But those who scorn, will have to bear the consequences, and the word will never be useless. Some will be found, who cleave to the Lord, and listen to his faithful servants. Considering the judgement to come, and Christ as our Judge, should urge all to repent of sin, and turn to Him. Whatever matter is used, all discourses must lead to Him, and show his authority; our salvation, and resurrection, come from and by Him.