Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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. New Living Translation He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” English Standard Version 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. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible 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 foreign gods," because he was proclaiming the gospel of Jesus and the resurrection. King James Bible 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 King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could this scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. NASB 1995 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"— because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. NASB 1977 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. Legacy Standard Bible And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. Amplified Bible And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to engage in conversation with him. And some said, “What could this idle babbler [with his eclectic, scrap-heap learning] have in mind to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities”—because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Christian Standard Bible Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off trying to say? ” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?” Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities"—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version Some of them were Epicureans and some were Stoics, and they started arguing with him. People were asking, "What is this know-it-all trying to say?" Some even said, "Paul must be preaching about foreign gods! That's what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from death." English Revised Version And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. GOD'S WORD® Translation Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers had discussions with him. Some asked, "What is this babbling fool trying to say?" Others said, "He seems to be speaking about foreign gods." The philosophers said these things because Paul was telling the Good News about Jesus and saying that people would come back to life. Good News Translation Certain Epicurean and Stoic teachers also debated with him. Some of them asked, "What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?" Others answered, "He seems to be talking about foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching about Jesus and the resurrection. International Standard Version Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, "What is this blabbermouth trying to say?" while others said, "He seems to be preaching about foreign gods." This was because Paul was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Majority Standard Bible 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. NET Bible 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.) New Heart English Bible 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. Webster's Bible Translation Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? some others, He seemeth to be a setter-forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection. Weymouth New Testament A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some of them asked, "What has this beggarly babbler to say?" "His business," said others, "seems to be to cry up some foreign gods." This was because he had been telling the Good News of Jesus and the Resurrection. World English Bible 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd certain of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers, were meeting together to see him, and some were saying, “What would this seed picker wish to say?” And others, “He seems to be an announcer of strange demons”; because he proclaimed to them Jesus and the resurrection as good news, Berean Literal Bible 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 foreign gods," because he was proclaiming the gospel of Jesus and the resurrection. Young's Literal Translation And certain of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers, were meeting together to see him, and some were saying, 'What would this seed picker wish to say?' and others, 'Of strange demons he doth seem to be an announcer;' because Jesus and the rising again he did proclaim to them as good news, Smith's Literal Translation And certain of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers deliberated with him. And certain said, What may this idle, talkative man wish to say? and others, He seems to be a declarer of strange demons: because he announced to them good news, and the rising up. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him; and some said: What is it, that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Catholic Public Domain Version Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection. New American Bible Even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers engaged him in discussion. Some asked, “What is this scavenger trying to say?” Others said, “He sounds like a promoter of foreign deities,” because he was preaching about ‘Jesus’ and ‘Resurrection.’ New Revised Standard Version Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.” (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.) Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BiblePhilosophers, also, who were of the teaching of Ep’i-cu-rus, and others, who were called Sto’ics, argued with him. And some of them said, What does this babbler want? And others said, He preaches foreign gods: because he preached to them Jesus and his resurrection. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Also philosophers from the school of Epicurus and others who are called Stoics were debating with him and some of them were saying, “What does this collector of words want?” And others were saying, “He is proclaiming foreign gods”, because he was proclaiming Yeshua and his resurrection to them. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him; and some said: What can this babbler possibly wish to say? Others said: He seems to be a proclaimer of strange demons: for he preached to them Jesus and the Resurrection. Godbey New Testament And certain ones of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers interviewed him, and some continued to say, What would this babbler wish to say? and others said, He seems to be the propagator of strange divinities: because he was preaching the gospel of Jesus, and the resurrection. Haweis New Testament Then certain of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him: and some said, What will this chattering fellow say? but others, He seemeth to be a preacher of foreign deities, because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Mace New Testament there certain Epicurean and Stoick philosophers encountred him: "what does this mountebank mean?" said some: "he seems to proclaim some strange deitys," said others: because he talk'd to them of Jesus and the resurrection. Weymouth New Testament A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some of them asked, "What has this beggarly babbler to say?" "His business," said others, "seems to be to cry up some foreign gods." This was because he had been telling the Good News of Jesus and the Resurrection. Worrell New Testament And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said, He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection. Worsley New Testament But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him; and some said, What would this babler say? and others, He seemeth to be a proclaimer of foreign deities: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Paul in Athens…17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day. 18 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. 19So 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?… Cross References 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 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. 1 Corinthians 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 2 Corinthians 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. Galatians 6:14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Philippians 1:18 What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, Philippians 3:18 For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 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. 1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Jeremiah 20:7-9 You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. / For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long. / If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: / “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.” Psalm 69:9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. Treasury of Scripture Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection. philosophers. Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1 Corinthians 1:20,21 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? … Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. encountered. Acts 6:9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. Mark 9:14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. Luke 11:53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: babbler. Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. Jesus. Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. Romans 14:9,10 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living… Jump to Previous Advocating Babbler Conversing Encountered Few Foreign Forth Good Idle Jesus Others Preached Resurrection Seemeth Seems Strange Telling Want WishJump to Next Advocating Babbler Conversing Encountered Few Foreign Forth Good Idle Jesus Others Preached Resurrection Seemeth Seems Strange Telling Want WishActs 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. Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers The Epicureans and Stoics were two prominent philosophical schools in ancient Greece. The Epicureans, founded by Epicurus, believed in seeking pleasure and avoiding pain as the highest good, often emphasizing materialism and the absence of divine intervention in the world. The Stoics, founded by Zeno of Citium, taught the development of self-control and fortitude as a means to overcome destructive emotions, emphasizing rationality and the natural order. The presence of these philosophers highlights the diverse intellectual environment of Athens, a city known for its rich tradition of philosophical inquiry. Paul's engagement with them demonstrates the early Christian mission's willingness to engage with contemporary thought and culture. 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 In the world of physics, Epicurus has been claimed as anticipating some of the results of modern science. The ideas of creation and control were alike excluded. Matter had existed from eternity, and the infinite atoms of which it was composed had, under the action of attractive and Tepelling forces as yet unknown, entered into manifold combinations, out of which had issued, as the last stage of the evolution, the world of nature as it now lies before us. The poem of Lucretius, De Rerum Natura, may be regarded as the grandest utterance of this negative and practically atheistic system, but its real nobleness lies chiefly in its indignant protest against the superstition which had cast its veil of thick darkness over all the nations. It may be well to give one or two characteristic examples of each of these phases. On the one side we have the ever-recurring advice of the popular poet of society to remember that life is short, and to make the most of it:-- "Quid sit futurum cras, fuge quaerere: et, Quern Fors dierum cunque dabit, lucro Appone." ["Strive not the morrow's chance to know, But count whate'er the Fates bestow As given thee for thy gain."]--Hor. Od. i. 9. "Sapias, vina liques, et spatio brevi Spem longam reseces. Dum loquimur, fugerit invida 'tas. Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." . . . Verse 18. - And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers for then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, A.V.; would for will, A.V.; preached for preached unto them, A.V. and T.R. The Epicureans (so called from Epicurus, their founder) and the Stoics (so called from the στοά, the colonnade or piazza where Zeno their founder taught) were the most numerous sects at Athens at this time; and their respective tenets were the most opposite to the doctrines of the gospel. Encountered him; σύνεβαλλον. In Acts 4:15 it is followed by πρός, and is properly rendered "conferred;" here it is followed by the dative, and may be understood to mean "disputed" (συμβάλλειν λόγους). It may, however, not less properly be taken in the sense of a hostile encounter of words, as Luke 14:31, and frequently in classical Greek. This babbler (σπερμολόγος); literally, a picker-up of seeds, applied to a crow (Aristoph., 'Ayes,' 232, 579). Plutarch too ('Demet.,' 28) has σπερμολόγοι ὅρνιθες, birds picking up seeds. Hence it is used of idle hangers-on in the markets, who get a livelihood by what they can pick up, and so generally of empty, worthless fellows. Hence it is further applied to those who pick up scraps of knowledge from one or another and "babble them indifferently in all companies" (Johnson's 'Dictionary,' under "Babble"). A setter forth of strange gods. There does not seem to be the least ground for Chrysostom's suggestion that they took Anastasis (the Resurrection) for the name of a goddess. But the preaching of Jesus the Son of God, himself risen from the dead (ver. 31), and hereafter to be the Judge of quick and dead at the general resurrection, was naturally, to both Stoics and Epicureans, a setting forth of strange gods. Χένα δαιμόνια are "foreign deities," or "daemons," inferior gods. The word καταγγελεύς, a setter forth, does not occur elsewhere. But the nearly identical word κατάγγελος is used by Plutarch.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek SomeΤινὲς (Tines) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. Epicurean Ἐπικουρείων (Epikoureiōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 1946: An Epicurean, one who holds the tenets of Epicurus. From Epikouros; an Epicurean or follower of Epicurus. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. Stoic Στοϊκῶν (Stoikōn) Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 4770: Stoic. From stoa; a 'Stoic', i.e. Adherent of a certin philosophy. philosophers φιλοσόφων (philosophōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5386: A philosopher. From philos and sophos; fond of wise things, i.e. A 'philosopher'. also καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. began to debate συνέβαλλον (syneballon) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4820: From sun and ballo; to combine, i.e. to converse, consult, dispute, to consider, to aid, to join, attack. with him. αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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. Some [of them] τινες (tines) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object. asked, ἔλεγον (elegon) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. “What Τί (Ti) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. {is} this οὗτος (houtos) Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it. babbler σπερμολόγος (spermologos) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 4691: From sperma and lego; a seed-picker, i.e. a sponger, loafer. trying θέλοι (theloi) Verb - Present Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design. to say?” λέγειν (legein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. while δέ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. others [said], οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. “He seems δοκεῖ (dokei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem. to be εἶναι (einai) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. advocating καταγγελεὺς (katangeleus) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2604: A reporter, announcer, proclaimer, herald. From kataggello; a proclaimer. foreign Ξένων (Xenōn) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural Strong's 3581: Apparently a primary word; foreign; by implication, a guest or entertainer. gods.” δαιμονίων (daimoniōn) Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural Strong's 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity. [They said this] because ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. [Paul] was proclaiming the good news εὐηγγελίζετο (euēngelizeto) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2097: From eu and aggelos; to announce good news especially the gospel. of Jesus Ἰησοῦν (Iēsoun) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. 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. resurrection. ἀνάστασιν (anastasin) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 386: A rising again, resurrection. From anistemi; a standing up again, i.e. a resurrection from death (its author), or a recovery. Links Acts 17:18 NIVActs 17:18 NLT Acts 17:18 ESV Acts 17:18 NASB Acts 17:18 KJV Acts 17:18 BibleApps.com Acts 17:18 Biblia Paralela Acts 17:18 Chinese Bible Acts 17:18 French Bible Acts 17:18 Catholic Bible NT Apostles: Acts 17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
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