Acts 17:19

Acts 17:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
• New International Version (NIV)Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

Context of Acts 17:19

17So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there. 18And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. They took him and brought him to the Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.” 21(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Acts 17:19 word by word

Ἐπιλαβόμενοί τε αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἄρειον πάγον ἤγαγον λέγοντες· δυνάμεθα γνῶναι τίς ἡ καινὴ αὕτη ἡ ὑπὸ σοῦ λαλουμένη διδαχή;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andτεte · and/bothG5037
• they tookἐπιλαμβάνωepilambanomai · to catchG1949
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• and brought himἄγωagō · to bringG71
• untoἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• AreopagusἌρειος ΠάγοςAreios Pagos · AreopagusG697
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Mayδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• we knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• newκαινόςkainos · newG2537
• doctrineδιδαχήdidachē · teachingG1322
• whereofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• speakestλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980

Cross-references for Acts 17:19

• Acts 17:22So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects.
• Acts 17:20For you are bringing some startling and strange things to our ears; so we want to know what they mean.”
• Acts 24:24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him talk about faith in Christ Jesus.
• Acts 25:22Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” Festus replied, “you will hear him.”
• Acts 26:1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You are [now] permitted to speak on your own behalf.” At that, Paul stretched out his hand [as an orator] and made his defense [as follows]:
• Matthew 10:18and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
• Mark 1:27They were all so amazed that they debated and questioned each other, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits (demons), and they obey Him.”
• John 13:34I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.
• 1 John 2:7Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the message which you have heard [before from us].

Commentaries on Acts 17:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19They took him, and brought him unto Areopagus - The Areopagus was a hill not far from the Acropolis, already described, where the supreme court of justice was held; one of the most sacred and reputable courts that had ever existed in the Gentile world. It had its name, , Areopagus, or the Hill of Mars, or Ares, from the circumstance, according to poetic fiction, of Mars being tried there, by a court of twelve gods, for the murder of Halirrhothius, son of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19And brought him unto Areopagus - Margin, or “Mars‘ hill.” This was the place or court in which the Areopagites, the celebrated supreme judges of Athens, assembled. It was on a hill almost in the middle of the city; but nothing now remains by which we can determine the form or construction of the tribunal. The hill is almost entirely a mass of stone, and is not easily accessible, its sides being steep and abrupt. On many accounts this was the most…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fine arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning and ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, as occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-34In this chapter, we see Paul presented as a model witness for Christ, engaging the thinkers of his day and challenging them with the Christian message. Paul quoted writers his audience would be familiar with and showed the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative (see Colossians 1:28). Paul reminded these proud intellectuals that there is a living God to whom all human…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2118-21. certain ... of the Epicureans--a well-known school of atheistic materialists, who taught that pleasure was the chief end of human existence; a principle which the more rational interpreted in a refined sense, while the sensual explained it in its coarser meaning. and of the Stoics--a celebrated school of severe and lofty pantheists, whose principle was that the universe was under the law of an iron necessity, the spirit of which was what is called…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 17:19

• Areopagus
• Athens
• Curiosity
• Paul

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Commentaries on Acts 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings