New English Translation
Acts 17:18
18Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Acts 17:18
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. 17So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there. Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, “What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.” (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) 19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? 20For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they 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 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
- 1 Corinthians 1:20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
- Colossians 2:8Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
- Acts 6:9But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.
- Mark 9:14When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them.
- Luke 11:53When he went out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to ask him hostile questions about many things,
- Proverbs 23:9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- Proverbs 26:12Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.
- Acts 17:31because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
- Acts 26:23that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
- Romans 14:9For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to 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
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