Acts 17:21

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.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
• 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.

Context of Acts 17:21

19Then they brought Paul to the city court, the Areopagus, and asked, “Could you tell us these new ideas that you’re teaching? 20Some of the things you say sound strange to us. So we would like to know what they mean.” Everyone who lived in Athens looked for opportunities to tell or hear something new and unusual. 22Paul stood in the middle of the court and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious. 23As I was going through your city and looking closely at the objects you worship, I noticed an altar with this written on it: ‘To an unknown god.’ I’m telling you about the unknown god you worship.

Acts 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 5:16Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days.
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:11We hear that some of you are not living disciplined lives. You’re not working, so you go around interfering in other people’s lives.
• 1 Timothy 5:13At the same time, they learn to go around from house to house since they have nothing else to do. Not only this, but they also gossip and get involved in other people’s business, saying things they shouldn’t say.
• 2 Timothy 2:16Avoid pointless discussions. People who ⌞pay attention to these pointless discussions⌟ will become more ungodly,

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

• Athens
• Curiosity
• Idleness
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Assurance
• Athens
• Blood
• Determine
• Ignorantly
• James
• Manner
• Mind
• Move

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