Paul is brought before the city leaders in Athens and preaches the good news of Jesus Christ. In response,
“Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.” Acts 17:34
The text clearly states that people “became followers of Paul and believed.” While the example of a deeply committed Christian is worth following, I would have first considered that they became followers of Jesus. Is there a difference between belief and practice? Can you help me make sense of this verse of scripture?
Rev. Andrew Conard 
2 replies on “The Difference between Belief and Practice”
There are billions who follow anyone. Those who began to follow Paul weren’t aware of what was about to happen to them. I can bet that it didn’t take long for quite a few of them to fall away from Paul when they began to hear of the Lordship of Christ Jesus. They followed the man until they learned of the Lord behind the man. Thus we see the letters Paul wrote to the Churches he established in the power of Christ. Even today we find millions following men yet never coming to the Lord behind their leaders. Not to mention that many leaders in the “church” have never found the Lord themselves.
By His Grace.
Elsewhere Paul tells folks to follow him as he follows Christ. I think it calls us to be the kind of people who follow Jesus so that others who follow us will follow him too…