English Standard Version
Acts 17:18
18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
Acts 17:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
- New International Version (NIV)A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”
Context of Acts 17:18
16Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean."
Read all of Acts 17Acts 17:18 word by word
τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ· καί τινες ἔλεγον· τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; οἱ δέ· ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι· ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenδέde · thenG1161
- certainτιςtis · oneG5100
- philosophersφιλόσοφοςphilosophos · philosopherG5386
- of the Epicureansὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- of the EpicureansἘπικούρειοςEpikoureios · EpicureanG1946
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- of the StoicksΣτωϊκόςStōikos · StoicG4770
- encounteredσυμβάλλωsumballō · to ponder/conferG4820
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- babblerσπερμολόγοςspermologos · babblerG4691
- He seemethδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
- to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a setter forthκαταγγελεύςkataggeleus · proclaimerG2604
- of strangeξένοςxenos · foreignG3581
- godsδαιμόνιονdaimonion · demonG1140
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- he preachedεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- the resurrectionἀνάστασιςanastasis · resurrectionG386
Cross-references for Acts 17:18
- Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
- 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
- Acts 6:9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.
- Mark 9:14And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
- Luke 11:53As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,
- Proverbs 23:9Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
- Proverbs 26:12Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
- Acts 17:31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
- Acts 26:23that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
- Romans 14:9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
Commentaries on Acts 17:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Certain philosophers of the Epicureans - These were the followers of Epicurus, who acknowledged no gods except in name, and absolutely denied that they exercised any government over the world or its inhabitants; and that the chief good consisted in the gratification of the appetites of sense. These points the Epicureans certainly held; but it is not clear that Epicurus himself maintained such doctrines. And of the Stoics - These did not deny the existence…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Then certain philosophers - Athens was distinguished, among all the cities of Greece and the world, for the cultivation of a subtle and refined philosophy. This was their boast, and the object of their constant search and study, 1 Corinthians 1:22. Of the Epicureans - This sect of philosophers was so named from Epicurus, who lived about 300 years before the Christian era. They denied that the world was created by God, and that the gods exercised any care…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. 18Epicurean philosophers followed Epicureanism, a Greek school of thought founded by Epicurus, who lived from 341 to 270 BC. Epicureans believed that the main goal of life was happiness. They did not define pleasure as physical excess, as some critics said. Instead, they valued peace of mind and freedom from fear. Many people in their time called them atheists because they did not believe the gods controlled human life. They also believed that death was…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 17:18
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries