English Standard Version
Acts 17:21
21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
Acts 17:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
- New International Version (NIV)(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
- New King James Version (NKJV)For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
- New Living Translation (NLT)(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)
Context of Acts 17:21
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." Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
Read all of Acts 17Acts 17:21 word by word
Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ πάντες καὶ οἱ ἐπιδημοῦντες ξένοι εἰς οὐδὲν ἕτερον ηὐκαίρουν ἢ λέγειν τι ἢ ἀκούειν τι καινότερον.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forδέde · thenG1161
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the AtheniansἈθηναῖοςAthēnaios · AthenianG117
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- strangersξένοςxenos · foreignG3581
- whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- were thereἐπιδημέωepidēmeō · to sojournG1927
- spent their timeεὐκαιρέωeukaireō · to have opportunityG2119
- inεἰςeis · towardG1519
- nothingοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- elseἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- but eitherἤē · orG2228
- to tellλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- to hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- someτιςtis · oneG5100
- new thingκαινόςkainos · newG2537
Cross-references for Acts 17:21
- Ephesians 5:16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
- Colossians 4:5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
- 1 Timothy 5:13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
- 2 Timothy 2:16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
Commentaries on Acts 17:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21All the Athenians and strangers which were there - As Athens was renowned for its wisdom and learning, it became a place of public resort for philosophers and students from different parts of the then civilized world. The flux of students was in consequence great; and these, having much leisure time, would necessarily be curious to know what was passing in the world, and would frequently assemble together, in places of public resort, to meet with…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For all the Athenians - This was their general character. And strangers which were there - Athens was greatly distinguished for the celebrity of its schools of philosophy. It was at that time at the head of the literary world. Its arts and its learning were celebrated in all lands. It is known, therefore, that it was the favorite resort of people of other nations, who came there to become acquainted with its institutions and to listen to its sages. Spent…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 17:21
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