Thus, in the most impressive manner, with hand outstretched toward the temple crowded with idols, Paul poured out the burden of his soul, and ably exposed the fallacies of the religion of the Athenians. The wisest of his hearers were astonished as they listened to his reasoning. His words could not be controverted. He showed himself familiar with their works of art, their literature, and their religion. Pointing to their statuary and idols, he declared to them that God could not be likened to forms of man’s device. The works of art could not, in the faintest sense, represent the glory of the infinite God. He reminded them that their images had no breath nor life. They were controlled by human power; they could move only as the hands of men moved them; and those who worshiped them were in every way superior to that which they worshiped. Pointing to noble specimens of manhood about him, he declared, “Forasmuch, then, as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” {3SP 400.2}

Således udgød Paulus sin sjælsbyrde på den mest udtryksfulde måde, med sine hænder udragt mod templet fyldt med afguder, og udstillede vildfarelserne i athenernes religion på en dygtig måde. De klogeste blandt hans tilhørere blev forbavsede da de lyttede til hans begrundelser. Hans ord kunne ikke bestrides. Han viste at han var fortrolig med deres kunstværker, deres litteratur og deres religion. Idet han pegede på deres statuer og afguder, erklærede han for dem at Gud ikke kunne lignes efter mennesker tegninger. Kunstværkerne kunne ikke, efter den svageste fornemmelse, fremstille den uendelige Guds herlighed. Han mindede dem om at deres billeder ikke havde livsånde. De blev styret af menneskelig kraft; de kunne kun bevæges efter hvad menneskers hænder bevægede dem til; og dem som tilbad dem, stod på alle måder højere end det som de tilbad. Idet han pegede på menneskenes pæne størrelser, erklærede han: "Når vi nu er af Guds slægt, må vi ikke mene, at guddommen er lig guld eller sølv eller sten, formet ved menneskers kunst og snilde."