Damaris is someone who I have not given too much thought. Her name means “cow” or “heifer”. I won’t lie; I almost feel sorry for her. She was a well-known Athenian woman. She is mentioned in Acts 17:34, “But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” Paul was preaching in Athens encouraging them to repent, set aside their idols, and believe in Jesus. Paul was mocked and became dismissive of his message. However, Damaris is of the ones mentioned as having believed.
Little is known about Damaris’s personal history. We can assume since she is mentioned by name, that her belief was significant. She would have been known to her community. It would not have been common to note the beliefs of a woman at that time in history.
Gotquestions.org notes, “We are not told whether Damaris was present on Mars Hill or if she heard Paul elsewhere in Athens. What we are told is that God worked a miracle in her heart, and she responded in faith to Paul’s gospel message. The fact that Damaris is mentioned by name may indicate that she was prominent in Athens or that she was somehow known to Luke’s original readers in the early church. Some commentators assert that Damaris was the wife of Dionysius, mentioned in the same verse, but that is pure conjecture.”
“Paul only visited Athens once, on his second missionary journey, and never again, as far as we know. Athens was not fertile ground for the spread of the gospel, and very few Athenians believed. Damaris was one of the few. The mention of Damaris by name may have been a way of honoring one of the small group of Athenian believers. Whatever reason Luke had for recording Damaris’s name is lost to us today but was most likely significant to the first readers of his account.”
Lessons to be Learned
- The gospel includes everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are wealthy, poor, man, or woman. The gift of salvation is all inclusive.
- The witness of everyone is important. We all have people around us who need to hear about the Lord.
- Do not hesitate. If you are being prompted to believe, respond to it immediately.
- You need no one else to believe for you. Everyone has to make the decision independently.
- We need to be the light to a lost people. Someone may need your testimony or witness to finally believe.
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Let me know what you think.