However

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. - Acts 17.32-42

The response to Paul's message was varied. It was like nothing they had ever heard before. Mars Hill was shaken like it had never been.

Resurrection was a key debate issue. Those who were for it and those who were against it were heated in their debate. It was a real touch point, maybe something like Calvinism today. Talking about the resurrection could always get you a good argument/debate.

So he finished the message and the people, as they do, responded in three ways.

Some mocked him. Some wanted to hear more. But some joined him and believed.

I like this. If we were to try and rate great Christian servants since the beginning of the church Paul would have to be in the top 5. (I realise we can’t rate servants by success, but you get the picture.) And yet even Paul did not have a 100% ‘success’ rate. People responded to him the same way they do us.

Some are going to mock. We might as well get used to it. There are a lot worse things in this life than being mocked. How sad it is when we are stopped or put off my mockery.

But some are going to hear more. They are our hope. There don’t turn us off. They want to know more. These folks are such a blessing because we continue to have a chance to live before them and share with them the glorious gospel. Let’s be sure that we never give up on these folks.

But then there are the others. ‘Some men joined him and believed, and a woman…’

Praise God for those who join us in our faith and believe.

Let’s pray for those who mock, stick with those who want to hear more, and move forward with those who believe.