Paul is saying that when it comes to being able to help others know and follow Jesus, then we must be ready and able to fit in with them in their culture.
That makes sense to me, dear Wasblind (peace to you!). If, however, their culture calls a quarry... a quarry... what would "Paul" have one do? I mean, do you think he would expect one to know... when all appearances indicate otherwise... that, for example, while virtually everyone else in the village may know that a quarry is a quarry, one family's lack of such knowledge is indicative of the "culture" of the entire village?
Since you mention Paul, I would also like to offer, if I may, an account that may just shine some light on just how HE might take a similar situation:
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him came to be irritated at beholding that the city was full of idols. Consequently he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews and the other people who worshiped [God] and every day in the marketplace with those who happened to be on hand. But certain ones of both the Ep·i·cu·re´an and the Sto´ic philosopherstook to conversing with him controversially, and some would say: “What is it this chatterer would like to tell?” Others: “He seems to be a publisher of foreign deities.” This was because he was declaring the good news of [Jesus] and the resurrection. So they laid hold of him and led him to the Ar·e·op´a·gus, saying: “Can we get to know what this newteaching is which is spoken by you? For you are introducing some things that are strange to our ears. Therefore we desire to get to know what these things purport to be.” In fact, all Athenians and the foreigners sojourning there would spend their leisure time at nothing but telling something or listening to something new.
Paul now stood in the midst of the Ar·e·op´a·gus and said:
“Men of Athens, I behold that in all things YOU seem to be more given to the fear of the deities than others are. For instance, while passing along and carefully observing YOUR objects of veneration I also found an altar on which had been inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore what YOU are unknowingly giving godly devotion to, this I am publishing to YOU . The God that made the world and all the things in it, being, as this One is, Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade temples, neither is he attended to by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to all [persons] life and breath and all things. And he made out of one [man] every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed times and the set limits of the dwelling of [men], for them to seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us. For by him we have life and move and exist, even as certain ones of the poets among YOU have said, ‘For we are also his progeny.’
“Seeing, therefore, that we are the progeny of God, we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man. True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance, yet now he is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent. Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead.”
Well, when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some began to mock, while others said: “We will hear you about this even another time.” Thus Paul went out from their midst, but some men joined themselves to him and became believers, among whom also were Di·o·nys´i·us, a judge of the court of the Ar·e·op´a·gus, and a woman named Dam´a·ris, and others besides them."
So, as you can see, some took offense at what Paul said. But even a judge got what he was talking about. And he was talking... in an arena/forum... where philosophers, judges, and many Athenians (who gave HIGH regard to education, particularly science, etc.) were. Now, true, the 12 most likely would not have been able to speak here (NOT because they didn't have holy spirit; they did!)... but because they were AS "learned" as Paul... and most probably would have been less... confident. Maybe even begged off. So, the Most Holy One of Israel sent... TO THE NATIONS... the One HE chose... to SPEAK... to the nations.
So, I am not sure Paul is the best example for what I think you're trying to say, here, dear WB... but I could be wrong. If so, please excuse and accept my sincere apology.
Peace to you!
YOUR servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
