Acts 17:34

“Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the

which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris,

and others with them.”

"What is in a name?" (Juliet; Romeo and Juliet) Are we preordained or

destine for one certain name to carry throughout our lives? Does that name

in which we are given somehow shape the future person that we will

become? Perhaps, I would like to take the time to let the reader be conscious

of two possible ‘lenses’ in which they will be using or possible see through

when encountering this piece, but my hope is that you will be willing to see

both angles. If you begin to read with a religious perspective, then I hope

that you will understand my attempt to decipher my own scripture. For the

philosophical reader, I will try my best to bring forth some sort of inner self-

enlightenment. Overall, I hope you enjoy my first interpretational piece

about the woman named Damaris and the possible meaning of the above

scripture.

I want to begin first with a history, for all stories we need a setting and a

background to better understand the scripture. The book of Acts was written

sometime between 63-70 A.D. Luke being the author took written accounts

of the disciples and their many travel encounters while preaching God’s
word. An important fact that needs to be remembered throughout this

passage is that at this time in history many Jewish Christians were not

allowed to practice their faith publicly. During this particular time the last

standing Roman emperor, Nero, was in control of all Roman political aspects.

Nero was best known for being a tyrant, being extravagant in his lifestyle,

even prosecuting his mother and brother wrongfully and of course the

beginning of the prosecutions of Jewish Christians. During this time, it was

detrimental to live under the Roman government as a Christian. The Jewish

Christians lived by hiding their true identity from Roman prosecutors by

worshiping inside homes and practicing their beliefs in secret. For when it

came to light that they were Jesus freaks, they knew well Nero’s law would

come and judge them wrongfully. All this will dramatically change when

Constantine wins Milvian Bridge battle and begins to rule over Rome,

remember this will not come to pass for about another two hundred years

later.

With all this in mind let us begin with Paul and his purpose to preach the gospel. The task at

hand was to present a persuasive argument to non-believers about who Jesus Christ was and his

mission to save a sinful world from eternal damnation. Chapter 17 begins with Paul traveling to

two cities, Thessalonica and Berea. Thessalonica rejects Paul and he is chased out, and the other,

Berea accepts the doctrine. However, Paul is chased out of this city as well because of mockery

and ridicule from those citizens who did not accept the doctrine. Paul then sojourned to Athens.

To save time on evaluating the entire chapter I will go straight into Chapter. 17:16 and on.
Although there are written accounts about the prior two cities that Paul had visited, it is

impossible to disregard the third city, which seemed to have the biggest impact on Paul and

where our more in depth analysis’ will transpire. Athens, as a city-state had a deep impact on

Paul. Why do I claim this? For many reasons (smile) that you will be able to read in the

following paragraphs.

Chapter 17:16-18

First of all, Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens. I am confident that Paul was not

just sitting around taking a vacation. Paul may have done a little sightseeing, exchanged

conversation with the locals; however, one thing automatically attracted his thoughts. Paul

witnessed something that perplexed and very much troubled him, idols all over Athens had

deeply burdened Paul’s heart. These idols where not only displayed in the privacy of the peoples

own home, but in retail stores, markets, libraries, the docks, and in all common places. So what

does this tell you? Hmm, well I will tell you what it says to me, and that is, that it bothered Paul

to see so many different kinds of Gods being worshiped and “idolized” for their functionality

anywhere you walked to. Paul figured out ‘no wonder these people have no direction in their

life, they have no idea to whom or who to worship to!’ Now I am guessing that in verses 17 and

18 he began to preach, but where exactly? Paul began to preach in small venues where he was

not grabbing much attention. Why do I say this? Because verse 19 and on he was taken to the

high council also known as the Areopagus.

 Before we go on, let me paint a picture of the Areopagus and its purpose in Athens. For

many thousands of years, this place is where only the elite political figures that held a high

office, gathered around to discuss important state of affairs. The Areopagus was a governing

body that transformed later during Paul’s time as a judicial branch. Which ever way you look at

it, there are two known facts we can claim 1) Only few were allowed to take office for life and

make historical decisions 2) This governing body has been functioning for quite a while so we

can conclude it’s great power and influence over Athenian society (people). Please keep these

two claims in mind because towards the end I am going to bring it in and make the connection

with Paul and the woman so called Damaris. If you’re already getting excited and see where I

am going with this, good! Just bare with me a few more paragraphs.

Acts 17:20-22

Okay let us imagine the following: Paul was being taken to the high council of Athens. Can you

fathom the adrenaline rush and nervousness Paul might or would have had? Paul had one shot

and one shot only to persuade this powerful and influential audience, of this one true God he was

preaching about. Only two outcomes were waiting for Paul at the end of his speech, either

acceptance of the new faith or rejection and ridicule. Yet Paul had to be strong to deliver his

message… right away in verse 22 we can see that he made a connection with the people. Paul

used the Athenian’s own culture and their own beliefs and took it to another level.

Acts 17:24-30
Assuming the reader has read the scriptures… I will try not to go into extensive length in this

portion. Let me begin by saying wow! I can picture Paul preaching way longer than a few

verses that have been taken account for. Luke is an amazing author, for six, let me repeat and

emphasize this, only SIX verses, does Luke accomplish to hit all the main highlights about the

apostolic doctrine. Wow! He starts off with a genesis (beginning of time), he goes into the Holy

Spirit, Jesus Christ himself and revelation (judgment day). It is mind boggling that we only take

a few seconds to read this part of the scripture, and for most of us, understand the impact that this

evangelist had over the city of Athens. I mean it is Athens for crying out loud! A city filled and

gorged with so much history that is bursting at the seams. Athens had a BEAUTIFUL classical

period, beginning origins of democracy, great known sophists, Socrates, Aristotle, just to name a

few, Delian League, the Peloponnesian wars, ladies and gentleman the list goes on and on and

on! My point: for a city-state that has developed in the arts, sciences, engineering, politics, and

all other areas known to man kind… after thousands of years believing in many Gods… Paul

was able to persuade the Athenian society not only to believe in who Jesus Christ was, but in a

ONE living God. For those few moments in history, Paul dramatically changed all the religious

dynamics the Greeks used to believe in; Polytheism. (Pastor Pounds, if you are reading this

section I can imagine the church running the aisles :)

“The new faith would be open to all people everywhere who were willing to accept Jesus Christ

as God and Savior- and open also to the bracing winds of Greco-Roman thought.”

(Hollister/Rogers pg. 211). Yes, it is quite profound and amazing. When this realization came

into play it became an overwhelming, awesome, and powerful fact. It was all done by word of

mouth by Paul. It only took one man to persuade such a crowd.

Acts 17:34

Let us now conclude chapter 17 in the book of Acts. There are three acclaimed statements: 1)

only few believed. 2) a high council member joined the new movement. 3) and a woman named

Damaris also joined. Okay, let us tackle number 1, as many of us know in evangelism, not

everyone is going to be accepting. This is okay, because it does tell us the opposite, all Paul

needed, was to persuade a few to get his agenda going. The second statement is where we get

into a more foundational basis. I am assuming the high council members are not only citizens of

Athens, but have an important role in the Areopagus. They could partake in decisions and

implement judicial laws for the Athenian society. This council member that Paul recruited had to

have been a political figure, not only to his colleagues but also to the public. He also had to have

been a persuasive speaker; otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to have an elected seat in the

Areopagus. Okay, so the high council members had powerful benefits. This tells us that he

must have had the support of the people. And if he had the support of the people, then society

must have also believed in the same political agenda. What I am trying to say is: we all know in

the American agenda, we do not vote for a President who will not uphold OUR values and

virtues. Therefore, since America has adopted Athens’s form of democratic government I am

sure it worked the same way thousands of years ago. The council member had to represent and

support the people. Now, I am having a harder time grasping statement number three. Not only

because it is my own name, but because these are a few questions. One: Why is Damaris even

mentioned at all? Two: How come the scripture does not provide a title/status like statement

number two? Three: What kind of woman was Damaris? What role did she play in Athenian

society? Yes, there are many questions as to who this mysterious woman could have been. First
things first, Damaris had to be… let me exaggerate SHE HAD TO BE and was most likely of

some sort of importance. The Bible does not mention a name unless there is some significance or

purpose. From the research I have conducted, I have come to the conclusion that Damaris held a

high title in Athenian society. In the beginning only men were allowed to partake in the

Areopagus. As the years went by, the Areopagus diversified and women were now able to

partake/observe/participate in the high council. I would like to think of Damaris, call it if you

will a “sugar momma”. Why do I say this? Well, if she was not able to make decisions, I bet she

was able to persuade the members to make decisions in her favor by using her as a political

sponsor. It would make sense right? She’s rich, maybe even married to one of the members: the

point is she had the money. I know that I might be making it too farfetched to say that money

bought the apostolic doctrine, however we see what money does in politics in our society so who

is to say politicians in those days didn’t need money for campaigns and other things. The way in

which they obtained the funds can be controversial, because even today we see political figures

taking money on the side, as well as a select few whom dabble in the acquisition of questionable

means of obtaining the necessary funding. Damaris was different, Damaris believed with a

passion that this so called preacher came to her town to preach about this savior and convinced

her of it! This savior, Jesus Christ is all Damaris needed in her life. What we need to understand

is that when people hear of a new concept or theory they want to invest their time in. The people

will; listening, be attentive, and be persuaded enough to be left with a desire to know more about

it, and sometimes they even invest their money. That is why many of us tithe and give/donate a

generous offering (but that is an entire different topic that I will not go into on this paper, maybe

if so moved on a future piece). Once the people feel they are holding on to truth, they run with it

and settle with it for the rest of their lives. Just a reminder, to have a council member and an elite
woman like Damaris go against Nero’s law (don’t forget that they are living in a different time

they still have 200 years left to worship freely), they too would have been susceptible to

prosecution. I personally would like to think that Damaris had to have been a gutsy/ballsy

woman to take it upon herself like many others to want to promote this new movement to change

and go against a polytheistic Greco-Roman world.

If I can leave you with anything, anything at all from this piece… it would be the two words that

made me want to write. The two words are clave and believe, which are used in verse 34.

clave/cleave: v. 1) to split with 2) to cling

I’d like to use both definitions because I do think it is appropriate. For the verse itself the second

definition would apply. When you find yourself practicing your own virtues, and some random

person appears in your life after so many years later… you have to think to yourself… why

would I want to change my belief system? It is a system, which one should be accustomed to

correct? Well, not for the woman named Damaris and the believers. They literally had to split

from their every day life routine and to cling on to a new one that they felt was truth.

Believe: v. to accept as true or real

Wow! Now, we all know if I believe that a grasshopper is a God, the next person might not. The

definition here is simple; it is to accept anything that is told to us true in its own entity. The point

is that as an individual, we make that decision for ourselves.

The fascination that I have with these two words is that they are verbs. Actions words! Yes, we

need them to be the substantial motivation for us to actually act in what we believe in. Let me

personalize it with a story. (For identity purposes Paco will be used).

Many of you know that I am going through a divorce. Yet, not many of you know the details and

gruesome situation. I would say that my relationship with my ex husband had gone down south

after I moved back to southern California. Long distance relationships can work; it just depends

on the situation. Anyways, one little lie started out and then another and another. A wise aunt

told me once, “If you break a relationship the first time chances are it will not work out the

second.” Well she was right. Paco and I were both in different stages in our lives. He was in

college and I was on the slower track. I had to work for my education and he was blessed to go

full time. We grew apart and wanted different things. I should have read the signs in 2007. I

had compromised my dream wedding to a cliché Vegas one. What girl wants to get married

fast/drive-thru style and only 25 members of the family allowed to witness? I started getting

addicted to video games playing around the clock 24/7 because that was what he was into. Let

me tell you what I’ve learned: there is a difference between compromise and insanity. Yes, I

thought I was compromising but I was dead wrong. Long story short, towards the end it was

quite evident as to why Paco and I had decided it was for the best to separate and go our own

ways. It was hard for me at first because I couldn’t understand it. I was comfortable with Paco,

he was all I knew for 5 years. I never really dated guys like I had dated him. And as I was going

through the painful process, I had read through this scripture and I read into it literally! As a

woman, I am special, unique and one of a kind! I was created to be more and not settle for less.
For myself, I had to split myself away from my ex husband and cling on to something more. He

was just no good for me. I have been learning quite a lot about myself. I came to realize that I

needed to be an individual and be whole again before I can give my heart out to my one true

love. I have done many crazy, stupid, ‘I would never think Damaris would ever do that’ kind of

things. And I won’t lie most of the time I had a good time doing them and my ex husband right

along with me. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful group of family and friends who have

helped me with this journey called life. For many women/men, it is not as easy to get over such

a traumatic experience. For me, it was easy because I fell out of love with Paco in 2005 and we

have no physical attachment (no kids), I just didn’t want to tell myself that I did not love him.

Paco needed action and adventure (whatever that might be) to make his life function. As for

myself, I found my answer and it wasn’t him. I needed my family, friends, and God to make my

life a LEGACY. This experience has taught me so much about myself and the woman God

wants me to be. Because I believe I was born to do a greater good for mankind. Is it to travel the

world and do good deeds? Is it to establish a 2 year accredited institution for the minority class

who cannot afford an education? Is it to become a mother one day of a soccer team? I wouldn’t

know what to tell you because I am still discovering who that woman is. But I can tell you that it

all begins with the creator, to love God with all your heart. Focus on the good and the rest will

fall into place where it needs to be. Because in the end, do we want to say, “I never really

believed in anything, I just always followed the crowd”? Or “I want to take action and believe in

something that is greater than me”? I will say this, my name is Damaris: I am a passionate

living creature who thinks that everyone should believe in something that is bigger than

ourselves, to act on it, change and impact the world to make it a better place.
Afterthoughts:

I hope you enjoyed my first piece! I have been working on this since July of 2008! I really

enjoyed taking the time to write, and reflecting on God’s awesomeness! GOD has brought me

from far and this is a piece that I hope it brings some sort of understanding whatever you think

God is in your life and the level of importance he is for you.

Acknowledgements:

First and foremost to God, for working in my life the way he does… yes I am a crazy fun loving

child but I cannot deny what I was born to do. To my parents for blessing me with such a

wonderful name DAMARIS! My mother and sisters, your words of wisdom and encouragement

are not wasted in vain. I do listen and appreciate you ladies very much; you are all incredible

and amazing women. I love you all. My pastors, Brother Rojas and Brother Pounds…pastors, I

appreciate and applaud the line of work you do for the community. Last and just as important

you the reader! For some reason you are a part of my life and I hope you continue to contribute

to it!

**If you plan to use this dissertation in anyway please do so! Just please be courteous to give

proper credit to the writer . After all, my name is all over it! haha. **