Do you know how to talk to philosophers? Acts 17-18

Acts 17:17-20 (NASBStr)  (Paul at Athens)

So he was "reasoning" in the synagogue with the Jews and the God- fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were "conversing" with him. Some were saying, “What would this "idle babbler" wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a "proclaimer" of strange deities,”—because he was "preaching" Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we "know what this new teaching" is which you are proclaiming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.”

Notice the words used in this portion of Scripture to show the events with Paul and the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.  It should be noted that Paul was "driven" here by Jews who didn't want him in Thessalonica or Berea.   God used the rebellious nature of the Jews toward Christ to drive Paul to the very epicenter of Greek thought.  Paul's visit that day to the Greeks would forever change the forms of Greek thought.   Note the words used:

Reasoning - dialegomai - meant to ponder and resolve in one's mind

Conversing - sumballo - lit., “to throw together” (sun, “with,” ballo, "to throw")

Idle Babbler - spemologos - Primarily an adjective, it came to be used as a noun signifying a crow, or some other bird, picking up seeds (sperma, “a seed,” lego, “to collect”). Then it seems to have been used of a man accustomed to hang about the streets and markets, picking up scraps which fall from loads; hence a parasite, who lives at the expense of others, a hanger on.

Proclaimer - katangeleus - “a proclaimer, herald” (akin to katangello, “to proclaim”), “a setter forth (of strange gods).” It is found in inscriptions in connection with proclamations made in public places.

Preaching - euangelizo (ευαγγελιζω, 2097), “to bring or announce glad tidings” (Eng., “evangelize”),

Teaching - didache (διδαχη, 1322), akin to No. 1, under DOCTOR, denotes “teaching,” either (a) that which is taught, e. g., Matt. 7:28, kjv, “doctrine,” rv, “teaching”; Titus 1:9, rv; Rev. 2:14- 15, 24, or (b) the act of teaching, instruction,

The lesson for us to learn is that when conversing with the unbelieving world about truth we need to incorporate and utilize many different forms of argumentation and debate.  One method doesn't always work.  Compared to modern day indicators of success, Paul was not successful at Athens.  The majority rejected his message of the risen Christ.  Yet, God was successful utilizing him.  He equipped Paul with a variety of styles to convey the message of Christ.  He reasoned; conversed; babbled to some; proclaimed to others; preached and taught.   The lesson: Multiple methods don't guarantee success that people will believe you, but they do assure you have done your job in delivering the message.