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What Does "Stoa" Mean?

In the classical world oratory, logic, and debate reached a level of perfection never before seen in history.  This development first found its nexus in ancient Athens where people would gather at public buildings to listen to politicians, philosophers, and poets.  Greece’s Mediterranean climate rendered the interiors of these buildings unsuitable for crowds much of the year.  Architects therefore designed the Stoa (pl. stoae), the long covered porches fronting or surrounding buildings, often with a double colonnade, that became the symbolic feature of classical Greek architecture.  Here, in a shaded but well-lit and well-ventilated space, many people could gather to conduct business or sound out fresh ideas.  It was only natural that the Areopagus should meet in stoae as well.

The Areopagus, the most venerable institution in Athens, which dated back to times lost in legend, had special jurisdiction in matters of morals and religion.  This was the institution before which Paul testified when he gave his speech in Acts about the altar to the unknown god.  Formerly the Areopagus met at the Hill of Ares (Mars Hill) a bit NW of the Acropolis in Athens.  However, by historical and Biblical times it had removed to the Athenian marketplace (the agora) where it met at the Royal Porch (Stoa Basileios).  The status of the Areopagus assured that the Stoa Basileios would become a prime venue for speakers of various stripes to propound on issues of philosophy or religion whether the council was in session or not. 

Other stoae also were popular for these activities.  The Stoa Poikile, for instance, gave its name to a prominent group of philosophers who convened there, the Stoics.  These men had a substantial influence on Western thought and history.  Paul adapted their lexicon to form a common medium of communication for his many epistles and for his public speeches, including the one in Athens, John may also have lifted from Stoicism when he chose to use the term Logos in the first chapter of his Gospel discussing Christ.

In the broad sense, therefore, Stoa embodies an entire culture of thought, discourse, apologetics, and intellectual inquiry emblematic of the Western Civilization and representative of the many goals we are reaching for in our children as we strive to bring them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.