Be Diplomatic in Your Witness for Jesus Christ
- Baptist Daily Devotional
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
Rev. Tse Amable | October 7 2025 | Acts 17:22-31
KEY VERSE: “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.” Acts 17:22 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
When Apostle Paul opened his mouth to address THE Areopagus, the words which proceeded from his mouth were characterised by wisdom and tactfulness. He began by telling the Athenians that he saw them as being “VERY RELIGIOUS”. To me, Apostle Paul was very diplomatic in defending his faith and presenting the gospel to this very powerful audience. He chose words that “broke the ice” and set the stage for what would follow later. It did not mean Apostle Paul was intimidated and “watered down” the gospel. He used words which relaxed his audience and made them yearn to listen for more.
We need wisdom and tact when presenting the gospel to people who are hostile. Our aim is to capture their attention so that we can share the gospel about Jesus Christ with them. If faith comes by hearing the word of God, we should create a conducive atmosphere, free from tension and acrimony, in which our targeted groups can hear the gospel preached to them in a way they can understand. What they do with what we tell them is between them and the Lord. Keep in mind the promise of the Lord. He said, When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” Luke 12:11-12 (NIV).
Be diplomatic in your witness for Jesus Christ. Speak in a way that will make it easy for your audience to hunger for the word.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
What will you do to “disarm” a hostile audience so that you can have their attention? Apostle Paul told the Athenians what he saw about them. Do you take time to study the culture, traditions and norms of the people you intend to reach with the gospel in order to make your presentation culturally relevant to them? How can you acknowledge culture and tradition without “diluting” the gospel? PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you give me wisdom to know how to present the gospel to the lost, taking into consideration the culture and tradition of my targeted audience. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING
DAILY word study: RELIGIOUS
The word Religion translated in Greek as deisidaimōn combines deido (to fear or show reverence) and daimōn (a divine being or spirit). It can describe someone who is devout or, in another sense, superstitious — depending on the speaker’s tone.
Paul’s use of this word in Acts 17:22 was wise and respectful. Instead of condemning the Athenians for their idol worship, he acknowledged their spiritual interest. By doing so, he opened their hearts to hear the truth about the one true God. His choice of words reflected both sensitivity and strategy — the mark of a true witness guided by the Spirit.
Reflect on this:
How can you speak truth with grace in a world that misunderstands faith?
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