One of the beliefs with which the early apostles of Christ had to contend with in their ministry was the belief in many gods. People believed that the many gods were local and were dominant over certain areas of the country. When Paul reached Athens with the gospel, he found the people eager to please all the gods they could. Their pantheon of gods included all those of which they had heard. Thus Athens was “wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:16).