Acts 17:21

Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

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Other translations

WEBBE

Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

BSB

Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

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.)

ASV

( Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

BBE

(Now all the Athenians and the men from other lands who come there were giving all their time to talking or hearing of anything new.)

Original Greek

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Ἀθηναῖοι Athēnaioi [The] Athenians G117 δὲ de now G1161 πάντες pantes all G3956 καὶ kai and G2532 οἱ hoi the G3588 ἐπιδημοῦντες epidēmountes visiting G1927 ξένοι xenoi strangers G3581 εἰς eis in G1519 οὐδὲν ouden no [thing] G3762 ἕτερον heteron else G2087 ηὐκαίρουν ēukairoun were spending their time G2119 ἢ ē than G2228 λέγειν legein to tell G3004 τι ti something G5100 ἢ ē and G2228 ἀκούειν akouein to hear G191 τι ti something G5100 καινότερον.¶ kainoteron new G2537

The early church

It was a city of talkers, that city of theirs. "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."
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts
"May we know, what is this new doctrine spoken of by thee? For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would fain know therefore what these things mean. 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." Here the thing noted is, that though ever occupied only in this telling and hearing, yet they thought those things strange - things which they had never heard.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on Acts

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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 most directly contrary to Christianity, made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, which are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a future state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed at Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new and strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired into such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it was good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies. They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable account they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious, and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upon it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.

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Cross-references

5

Topics

Idleness

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.