New International Version While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. New Living Translation While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. English Standard Version Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. Berean Standard Bible While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. Berean Literal Bible Now Paul in Athens waiting for them, his spirit was provoked in him, seeing the city to be utterly idolatrous. King James Bible Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. New King James Version Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. New American Standard Bible Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. NASB 1995 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. NASB 1977 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was beholding the city full of idols. Legacy Standard Bible Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. Amplified Bible Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols. Berean Annotated Bible While Paul (humble) was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit {pneuma} to see that the city was full of idols. Christian Standard Bible While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. Holman Christian Standard Bible While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. American Standard Version Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols. Contemporary English Version While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city. English Revised Version Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, as he beheld the city full of idols. GOD'S WORD® Translation While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he saw that the city had statues of false gods everywhere. This upset him. Good News Translation While Paul was waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he was greatly upset when he noticed how full of idols the city was. International Standard Version While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. NET Bible While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. New Heart English Bible Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. Webster's Bible Translation Now, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Weymouth New Testament While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhile Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. World English Bible Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry, Berean Literal Bible Now Paul in Athens waiting for them, his spirit was provoked in him, seeing the city to be utterly idolatrous. Young's Literal Translation and Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry, Smith's Literal Translation And Paul waiting for them among the Athenians, his spirit was excited in him, seeing the city being addicted to idol worship. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry. Catholic Public Domain Version Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry. New American Bible While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he grew exasperated at the sight of the city full of idols. New Revised Standard Version While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow while Paul waited for them at Athens, he saw the whole city full of idols, and he murmured thereat in his spirit. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But while Paulus remained in Athens, he was provoked in his spirit when he saw that the whole city was full of idols. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentNow while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city full of idols. Godbey New Testament But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry. Haweis New Testament Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit within him was greatly grieved, beholding the city so devoted to idolatry. Mace New Testament While Paul was expecting them at Athens, he was grieved to the soul to see the whole city o'er-spread with idols. Weymouth New Testament While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols. Worrell New Testament And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols. Worsley New Testament Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his Spirit was greatly moved, when he saw the city wholly given up to idolatry. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Paul in Athens15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.… Cross References While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2 So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. / We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you. / For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith. Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. he was deeply disturbed in his spirit John 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. John 13:21 After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” 2 Peter 2:7-8 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless / (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— to see that the city was full of idols. Isaiah 2:8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. Romans 1:23-25 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. / Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. / They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. Deuteronomy 4:16-19 that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, / of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, / or of any creature that crawls on the ground or fish that is in the waters below. … Isaiah 44:9-20 All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. … Jeremiah 10:1-16 Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. / This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them. / For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. … 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Exodus 32:1-6 Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. … Deuteronomy 4:15-19 So since you saw no form of any kind on the day the LORD spoke to you out of the fire at Horeb, be careful / that you do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female, / of any beast that is on the earth or bird that flies in the air, … Treasury of Scripture Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Cir. Exodus 32:19,20 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount… Numbers 25:6-11 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation… 1 Kings 19:10,14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away… wholly given to idolatry. Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. Jump to Previous Athens Beheld Beholding City Distressed Excited Full Gods Greatly Idolatry Idols Images Noticed Observing Painfully Paul Provoked Spirit Stirred Waited Waiting Wholly WithinJump to Next Athens Beheld Beholding City Distressed Excited Full Gods Greatly Idolatry Idols Images Noticed Observing Painfully Paul Provoked Spirit Stirred Waited Waiting Wholly WithinActs 17 1. Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,5. and others persecute him. 10. He is sent to Berea, and preaches there. 13. Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica, 16. he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown; 32. whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, Paul had been brought from Berea for his safety and awaited Silas and Timothy there. Athens was a leading center of Greek learning, philosophy, art, and public life, yet its cultural influence was joined to widespread pagan worship. 1Th 3:1-2 So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing… he was deeply disturbed in his spirit Paul was grieved by the dishonor given to God and by the spiritual condition of the people. His concern moved him to speak rather than remain silent in a city devoted to false worship. Jhn 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews… to see that the city was full of idols. Temples, statues, altars, and images of many gods filled Athens. Idolatry shaped both its religious practices and civic identity, revealing a city surrounded by religious activity but lacking knowledge of the true God. Isa 2:8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down… Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulThe apostle and missionary who is waiting in Athens for his companions, Silas and Timothy. He is a central figure in the spread of Christianity and is known for his missionary journeys and epistles. 2. Athens A prominent city in ancient Greece, known for its rich history in philosophy, arts, and religion. At the time of Paul's visit, it was a hub of intellectual and cultural activity but also steeped in idolatry. 3. Idols Physical representations of deities worshiped by the Athenians. The city's abundance of idols reflects its polytheistic culture and religious practices. Teaching Points The Reality of IdolatryIdolatry is not just a historical issue but a present-day challenge. Modern idols can be anything that takes precedence over God in our lives, such as money, power, or personal ambitions. Cultural Engagement Like Paul, Christians are called to engage with the culture around them. This involves understanding and addressing the spiritual needs and misconceptions present in society. Righteous Distress Feeling distressed by the sin and idolatry in the world is a natural response for believers. This should motivate us to share the Gospel and seek transformation through Christ. The Importance of Contextual Evangelism Paul’s approach in Athens shows the importance of understanding the cultural and religious context when sharing the Gospel. Tailoring the message to the audience can make it more impactful. The Call to Action Observing the spiritual state of our surroundings should lead to action. Whether through prayer, evangelism, or service, believers are called to be proactive in addressing spiritual needs. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Acts 17:16?2. How can we develop Paul's spirit of provocation against idolatry in our lives? 3. What modern "idols" might provoke a similar reaction as Paul in Acts 17:16? 4. How does Paul's response in Athens connect with the First Commandment? 5. In what ways can we address idolatry within our own communities today? 6. How can we cultivate a heart sensitive to spiritual needs like Paul's in Athens? 7. Why was Paul's spirit provoked in Acts 17:16 when he saw Athens full of idols? 8. How does Acts 17:16 challenge the practice of idolatry in modern society? 9. What historical evidence supports the presence of idols in ancient Athens as described in Acts 17:16? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 17? (16) His spirit was stirred in him.--The verb is the root of the noun from which we get our "paroxysm," and which is translated by "sharp contention" in Acts 15:39. Athens, glorying now, as it had done in the days of Sophocles (?dip. Col. 1008), in its devotion to the gods, presented to him, even after seeing Tarsus and Antioch, a new aspect. The city was "full of idols;" Hermes-busts at every corner, statues and altars in the atrium or court-yard of every house, temples and porticos and colonnades, all presenting what was to him the same repulsive spectacle. He looked on the Theseus and the Ilissus, and the friezes of the Centaurs and Lapithae on the Parthenon, as we look on them in our museums, but any sense of art-beauty which he may have had (and it was probably, in any case, but weak) was over-powered by his horror that men should bow down and worship what their own hands had made. The beauty of form which we admire in the Apollo or the Aphrodite, the Mercury or the Faun, would be to him, in its unveiled nakedness, a thing to shudder at. He knew too well to what that love of sensuous beauty had led in Greek and Roman life (Romans 1:24-27), when it had thrown aside what, to a Jew, were not only the natural instincts of purity, but the sanctions of a divine command (Genesis 9:22).Verse 16. - Provoked within for stirred in, A.V. (παρωξύνετο: see Acts 15:29, note); as he beheld for when he saw, A.V.; full of idols for wholly given to idolatry, A.V. The Greek κατείδωλος occurs only here, either in the New Testament or elsewhere. But the analogy of ether words similarly compounded fixes the meaning "full of idols" - a description fully borne out by Pausanias and Xenophon and others (Steph., 'Thesaur.;' Meyer, etc.). Acts 17:16 paints a vivid picture of a servant of God who refuses to be passive. While waiting, Paul surveyed his surroundings, felt a piercing grief over the idolatry he witnessed, and let that holy disturbance propel him into gospel engagement. The verse reminds us that moments of pause are opportunities, that spiritual eyes should read the culture around us, and that love for God and people drives us to confront idols with the good news of the living Christ. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [While]δὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. Paul Παύλου (Paulou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle. was waiting for ἐκδεχομένου (ekdechomenou) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 1551: To wait for, expect. From ek and dechomai; to accept from some source, i.e. to await. them αὐτοὺς (autous) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. in Ἐν (En) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. Athens, Ἀθήναις (Athēnais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 116: Athens, the intellectual capital of Greece. Plural of Athene; Athenoe, the capitol of Greece. he was deeply disturbed παρωξύνετο (parōxyneto) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 3947: To arouse anger, provoke, irritate. From para and a derivative of oxus; to sharpen alongside, i.e. to exasperate. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. his αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. spirit πνεῦμα (pneuma) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit. to see that θεωροῦντος (theōrountos) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2334: From a derivative of theaomai; to be a spectator of, i.e. Discern, (experience) or intensively (acknowledge). the τὴν (tēn) Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. city πόλιν (polin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 4172: A city, the inhabitants of a city. Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town. was οὖσαν (ousan) Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. full of idols. κατείδωλον (kateidōlon) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 2712: Full of images of idols, grossly idolatrous. From kata and eidolon; utterly idolatrous. Additonal Resources Acts 17:16 Blue Letter BibleActs 17:16 Bible Gateway Acts 17:16 Bible.com Acts 17:16 NIV |
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