As Paul thus spoke of the resurrection from the dead, his speech was interrupted. Some mocked; others put his words aside, saying, “We will hear thee again of this matter.” Thus closed the labors of the apostle at Athens; for the Athenians persistently clung to their idolatry, and turned away from the light of a true and reasonable religion. When a people are wholly satisfied with their own attainments, little more need be expected of them. Highly educated, and boasting of their learning and refinement, the Athenians were constantly becoming more corrupt, and having less desire for anything better than the vague mysteries of idolatry.{LP 96.0}

Da Paulus talte sådan om dødes opstandelse, blev hans tale afbrudt. Nogle hånede det; andre tilsidesatte hans ord og sagde: »Det vil vi høre dig tale om en anden gang.« Sådan sluttede apostlenes arbejde for athenerne; for athenerne klyngede sig formasteligt til deres afguder, og vendte sig bort fra en sand og begrundelig religions lys. Når et folk er er helt tilfreds med deres egne resultater, kan der ikke forventes så meget af dem. Højt uddannede, og praler af deres lærdom og findannelse, blev athenerne hele tiden mere fordærvede, og havde et mindre ønske om noget bedre end afgudsdyrkelsens svævende mysterier.