By Raphael – Royal Collection of the United Kingdom, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1718078

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BULLETIN

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Easter 6 2026
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
May 10, 2026
Acts 17:16-31, 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21

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            It can be intimidating to talk about your faith with an outsider; an unbeliever.  There is a fear that you will say the wrong thing or misquote the Bible or get trapped by something the other person says.

            In today’s reading from Acts we see St. Paul give us a masterclass in preaching to unbelievers.  Athens is a place that is all about various philosophies, and gods and goddesses.  Paul is in Athens teaching in the Synagogue and in the marketplace and is engaging with Epicureans who seek pleasure, and Stoics who seek virtue.  Others hear Paul and are put off by his teaching, Acts 17:18 (ESV) 18 … some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” 

            In Athens there are laws about teaching foreign divinities and Paul is in a legal gray area.  Some seize him and bring him to the Areopagus where there is a legal counsel that wants to hear what Paul is preaching.  Paul is brilliant.  He brings up their altar to an unknown God and then teaches them about the true God.  Acts 17:23–25 (ESV) 23 … What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.”  Basically, the real God doesn’t need you.  You need God.  God created all people from one man and God is close to each of us.  Acts 17:28 (ESV) 28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’ …”  Paul then quotes a Greek poet named Aratus who wrote a poem about Zeus.  Acts 17:28 (ESV) ; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.”  Paul pulls a reference from Greek religious poetry and applies it to the true God. 

            Paul continues by showing a glaring flaw with the Greek gods and goddesses…Acts 17:29 (ESV) 29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”  God is the creator, you cannot make god.  After proclaiming the true God, Paul warns of the coming judgment of Christ who was raised from the dead.  Acts 17:30-31 (ESV)30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” 

            Some mocked Paul for teaching about the resurrection of Jesus, others want to hear him again and some follow him and believe, including a member of the Areopagus legal counsel.

            Ohhhh, to be as articulate and wise as Paul.  To be able to engage unbelievers by using their own ideas to show the true God.  This would be a great tool for us in today’s world where so many live in unbelief and ignorance of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Oh, to be able to know cultural references well enough to be able to use them to proclaim the truth of salvation in Jesus.  Paul is an amazing preacher and teacher.

            It can be intimidating to think that when you engage with outsiders that you will be nowhere near as clever and wise as Paul…and that’s okay.  You are not St. Paul.  God did not appear to you on the road to Damascus and make you an apostle and send you to preach to the Gentiles.  But you are called to give testimony. What you are called to do we find today in our Epistle reading from 1 Peter. 

            Peter is writing to Christian exiles spread out in Asia Minor who are suffering persecution from the local citizens and the Romans.  Peter is encouraging them to remain faithful despite suffering… knowing that they blessed in Christ for eternity.  1 Peter 3:13 (ESV) 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”  It is discouraging to suffer — it can be even more troubling to suffer for doing good.  Peter continues… 1 Peter 3:14–15 (ESV) 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…”  

            Despite persecution… despite suffering… don’t fear…don’t be troubled…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy.  And more than that — be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.  So if the people harrassing you wonder why you don’t break down and just give up the faith, be ready to tell them.

            If those who are against you for believing in Jesus ask you, “why don’t you just give in?  Why don’t you give up on your silly Jesus?”  What would you say?  What is your defense for the hope that is in you?  This can be daunting because you can start to think that you need to be clever and articulate like Paul in Athens, but that is not what you are called to do.  You are called to simply defend your hope even under persecution.  Why do you have hope? 

            You have hope because, Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  You have hope, because you are baptized.  Your reason for hope can be summarized in six words.  Christ is risen!  I am baptized.  Repeat after me, “Christ is risen!  I am baptized!”  “Christ is risen!  I am baptized!”  These six words give the reason for the hope that is in you.  Because Christ rose from the dead it means He conquered sin, death and the devil.  In your baptism, Jesus’ victory is credited to you.  In Christ, you have conquered sin, death and the devil.  Christ is risen!  I am baptized! 

            Jesus conquered sin…1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…”  On the cross Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world and gives that gift to you. 

            Jesus conquered death — by rising from the dead. He died, was buried, but He did not stay dead.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed, alleluia!  We have extensive eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ resurrection.  Matthew, Mark, John, and Peter were there and saw the resurrected Lord and wrote down their testimony.  Luke recorded the testimony of others who also were there.  

If Jesus does not return first, you will one day die and your body will be buried, and you too will not stay dead.  Because Christ rose from the dead, you will rise from the dead.  On that day, body and soul reunited, you will go to live in the Heavenly City of New Jerusalem forever with Jesus.  Romans 6:5 (ESV) 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

Jesus has conquered the devil.  The devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  The devil is more powerful than you, but you do not fight the devil alone, you have Jesus, and Jesus has defeated the devil and has proclaimed his victory.

            In our reading today from 1 Peter we have this somewhat cryptic passage that is one of the main sources of the line in the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell.”  Peter writes…1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV) 18 …being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”

            The line, “He descended into hell,” can be confusing. The way it is placed in the creed it kind of sounds like Jesus went to hell to suffer for three days, but that is not what happened.  Jesus went to hell to proclaim victory – Jesus defeated the devil.  As we read in… Colossians 2:15 (ESV) 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them…” 

            In baptism and through the Word of God you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.  With the Holy Spirit in you the devil cannot take control of you, he cannot possess you; he can only try to tempt you to sin.  James 4:7 (ESV) 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

            What is the reason for the hope that you have?  Christ is risen!  I am baptized!  Jesus defeated sin, death and the devil for you.

            There is a temptation to use your salvation in Jesus as a kind of way to boast about yourself or to use it as almost a club against others. But that is not how you tell of the hope that you have.  Instead…1 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV) 15 … do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” 

            In this world of evil, you will stand out for doing good.  You may suffer for doing good. Peter teaches… 1 Peter 3:17 (ESV) 17 … it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

            Be prepared to be unloved by the world.  Do good anyway.  Speak with gentleness and respect and be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have.  Remember the six words of hope.  Christ is risen!  I am baptized!  Amen.