What Counts as a Witness of God?

In Hunting Magic Eels I point to Acts 14 as a fascinating moment in the unfolding narrative the book recounts. 

Up until this point in the story the gospel had been proclaimed to Jewish or God-fearing Gentile audiences. Before Acts 14, the sermons of Peter, Stephen, or Paul could assume that the audience knew the stories of the Old Testament. The sermons could reference Abraham, Moses, and David. And how the story of Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. 

But in Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas find themselves in Lystra. And after healing a lame man, they face a wholly pagan audience who have rushed to them thinking they are Zeus and Hermes, the gods themselves come down from Mount Olympus. 

Facing this audience, Paul confronted an unprecedented challenge. How do you present the gospel to a people who have heard nothing about Abraham, Moses or David? How do you present the gospel to a people who know nothing about the Ten Plagues or the Ten Commandments? How do you present the gospel to a people who know nothing about Israel's Messiah? 

And yet, Paul knows that his audience has seen God before. How could they not have seen God? As Paul will declare in Acts 17 on Mars Hill, in God we live, move and have our being. So God is both close and knowable, but somehow also unseen and unknown.  

In Hunting Magic Eels, borrowing from Andrew Root, I describe this as an example of "attention blindness." God is here and visible, even right in front of us, but our attention is directed elsewhere. So we miss parts, even very obvious parts, of reality.

And so, how does Paul direct the attention of the citizens of Lystra to the God standing right in front of them? Especially if he can't talk about the stories of the Old Testament?

Well, in stopping their sacrifice to share the very first sermon with a pagan audience, here is how Paul directs their attention to the presence of God:

“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Notice what Paul says: God has not left himself without a witness. God has been speaking this entire time. And then notice what Paul names as the speech of God. What counts as God's witness? These things:

• Nature
• Weather, seasons, and the harvest
• Good food
• Joy

Unable to point to Moses, Abraham or David, Paul points to the stars and the oceans. He points to autumn leaves and harvest time. Paul points to good meals with family and friends. And lastly, Paul points toward joy. And I just love that. 

This is the speech of God. This is the witness of God.

May we have the hears to hear and the eyes to see.