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Acts 17:18

Jesus

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.

Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

19 So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

20 For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
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.
WEB
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
ASV
And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
DARBY
But some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him. And some said, What would this chatterer say? and some, He seems to be an announcer of foreign demons, because he announced the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection [to them].
BLB
And also some of the Epicureans and Stoics, philosophers, encountered him, and some were saying, “What may this babbler desire to say?” but others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange gods,” because he was proclaiming the gospel—Jesus and the resurrection.
ÅB
Noen av de epikureiske og stoiske filosofene begynte også å diskutere med ham. Noen sa «hva er det denne pratmakeren sier?», mens andre sa «Han later til å forkynne utenlandske guder.» Det var fordi han forkynte evangeliet om Jesus og gjenoppstandelsen.
OTB
Noen epikureiske og stoiske filosofer engasjerte ham også i diskusjon. Noen sa: «Hva er det denne pratmakeren prøver å si?» Andre bemerket: «Han ser ut til å være en forkynner av fremmede guder,» fordi han forkynte Jesus og oppstandelsen.
B1930
Nogen av de epikureiske og stoiske visdomslærere innlot sig også i ordskifte med ham, og nogen sa: Hvad mener vel denne ordgyder? Andre igjen sa: Han synes å være en som forkynner utenlandske guddommer det var fordi han forkynte evangeliet om Jesus og opstandelsen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Corinthians 1:20–21

    Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

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  • Luke 11:53

    As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

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  • 1 Corinthians 3:18

    Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.

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  • Colossians 2:8

    See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

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  • Acts 4:2

    greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

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  • 1 Corinthians 4:10

    We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

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  • Proverbs 26:12

    Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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  • Acts 6:9

    But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They began to argue with Stephen,

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