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Easy-to-Read Version

Acts 17:17

In the synagogue he talked with the Jews and with the Greeks who were worshipers of the true God. He also went to the public square every day and talked with everyone who came by.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Athens;   Gentiles;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Marketplaces;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Synagogues;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Athens;   Market;   Thessalonica;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Areopagus;   Athens;   Paul;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Disputation;   Ordination;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Market-Place;   Synagogue;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Proselytes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Athens;   Greece;   Jews in the New Testament;   Market Place;   Synagogue;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Achaia;   Epicureans;   Market, Marketplace;   Proselyte;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Arts;   Athens ;   Market, Market-Place ;   Market-Place;   Name ;   Proselyte;   Proselyte (2);   Simon Magus;   Street;   Synagogue;   Wisdom;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Athens ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Interesting facts about the bible;   Jason;   Proselyte;   Synagogue;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Mars' Hill,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Athens;   Devout;   Market;   Philippi;   Proselyte;   Reason;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Athens, Ancient;   Diaspora;   Purity of Race;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
King James Version (1611)
Therefore disputed he in the Synagogue with the Iewes, and with the deuout persons, and in the market dayly with them that met with him.
King James Version
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
English Standard Version
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
New American Standard Bible
So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present.
New Century Version
In the synagogue, he talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped God. He also talked every day with people in the marketplace.
Amplified Bible
So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.
Legacy Standard Bible
So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present.
Berean Standard Bible
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
Contemporary English Version
He went to the Jewish meeting place to speak to the Jews and to anyone who worshiped with them. Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market.
Complete Jewish Bible
So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the "God-fearers," and in the market square every day with the people who happened to be there.
Darby Translation
He reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped, and in the market-place every day with those he met with.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Therefore he disputed in the Synagogue with the Iewes, and with them that were religious, and in the market daily with whomesoeuer he met.
George Lamsa Translation
And he spoke in the synagogue to the Jews and to those who feared God, and in the market place daily with them who were there.
Good News Translation
So he held discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentiles who worshiped God, and also in the public square every day with the people who happened to come by.
Lexham English Bible
So he was discussing in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
Literal Translation
Then, indeed, he addressed the Jews in the synagogue, and those worshiping, also in the market every day, to those happening to be there .
American Standard Version
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.
Bible in Basic English
So he had discussions in the Synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and every day in the market-place with those who were there.
Hebrew Names Version
So he reasoned in the synagogue with Yehudim and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
International Standard Version
So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public squarein the marketplace
">[fn] with anyone who happened to be there.
Etheridge Translation
And he spake in the synagogue with the Jihudoyee, and with those who worshipped Aloha, and in the public place with those who met there daily;
Murdock Translation
And in the synagogue he spoke with the Jews, and with those that feared God, and in the market-place with them who daily assembled there.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore disputed he in the synagogue with the Iewes, and with the deuout persons, and in the market dayly with them that came vnto hym by chaunce.
English Revised Version
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met with him.
World English Bible
So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
He therefore discoursed in the synagogue to the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place daily to those whom he met with.
Weymouth's New Testament
So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the other worshippers, and in the market place, day after day, with those whom he happened to meet.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor he disputide in the synagoge with the Jewis, and with men that worschipiden God, and in the dom place, by alle daies to hem that herden.
Update Bible Version
So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those that met him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
New English Translation
So 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.
New King James Version
Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.
New Living Translation
He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.
New Life Bible
He talked to the Jews and other people who were worshiping in the Jewish place of worship. Every day he talked with people who gathered in the center of town.
New Revised Standard
So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So then, he began reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them who worshipped; and, in the market-place, every day, with them who happened to be at hand.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews and with them that served God: and in the market place, every day, with them that were there.
Revised Standard Version
So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market place every day with those who chanced to be there.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then he disputed in the synagoge wt the Iewes and with the devout persones and in the market dayly with the that came vnto him.
Young's Literal Translation
therefore, indeed, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the worshipping persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met with him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he spake vnto the Iewes and deuoute personnes in the synagoge, & in ye market daylie vnto the that came to him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
he disputed therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and the proselyted Greeks: and in the publick place daily with those he met.
THE MESSAGE
He discussed it with the Jews and other like-minded people at their meeting place. And every day he went out on the streets and talked with anyone who happened along. He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them dismissed him with sarcasm: "What an airhead!" But others, listening to him go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: "That's a new slant on the gods. Tell us more."
Simplified Cowboy Version
He went to the local Jewish church to try to talk some sense into the Jews and God-following mavericks. He even preached in the town square to anyone who would listen.

Contextual Overview

16 While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was upset because he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 In the synagogue he talked with the Jews and with the Greeks who were worshipers of the true God. He also went to the public square every day and talked with everyone who came by. 18 Some of the Epicurean and some of the Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some of them said, "This man doesn't really know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?" Paul was telling them the Good News about Jesus and the resurrection. So they said, "He seems to be telling us about some other gods." 19 They took Paul to a meeting of the Areopagus council. They said, "Please explain to us this new idea that you have been teaching. 20 The things you are saying are new to us. We have never heard this teaching before, and we want to know what it means." 21 (The people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent all their time either telling or listening to all the latest ideas.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

disputed: Acts 17:2-4, Acts 14:1-4

devout: Acts 8:2, Acts 10:2, Acts 13:16

daily: Proverbs 1:20-22, Proverbs 8:1-4, Proverbs 8:34, Jeremiah 6:11, Matthew 5:1, Matthew 5:2, Mark 16:15, Luke 12:3, 2 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 3:5

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:27 - that preach Matthew 20:3 - standing Luke 4:31 - taught Acts 4:20 - we cannot Acts 6:9 - there Acts 9:29 - disputed Acts 13:5 - in the Acts 17:4 - the devout Acts 18:4 - he Acts 19:8 - disputing 1 Thessalonians 2:2 - much

Cross-References

Genesis 17:3
Then Abram bowed down before God. God said to him,
Genesis 17:19
God said, "No, I said that your wife Sarah will have a son. You will name him Isaac. I will make my agreement with him that will continue forever with all his descendants.
Genesis 17:20
"You mentioned Ishmael, and I heard you. I will bless him, and he will have many children. He will be the father of twelve great leaders. His family will become a great nation.
Genesis 18:12
So she laughed to herself and said, "I am old, and my husband is old. I am too old to have a baby."
Genesis 21:6
Sarah said, "God has made me happy, and everyone who hears about this will be happy with me.
Leviticus 9:24
Fire came out from the Lord and burned the burnt offering and fat on the altar. When all the people saw this, they shouted with joy and then bowed to the ground to show their respect.
Numbers 14:5
Moses and Aaron bowed low to the ground in front of all the people gathered there.
Numbers 16:22
But Moses and Aaron bowed to the ground and cried out, "God, you know what people are thinking. Please don't be angry with all these people. Only one man really sinned."
Numbers 16:45
"Move away from these people so that I can destroy them now." So Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground.
Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I bowed down before the Lord with my face to the ground for 40 days and 40 nights, as I did before. I did not eat any food or drink any water. I did this because you had sinned so badly. You did the thing that is evil to the Lord , and you made him angry.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews,.... There being a synagogue of the Jews here, and there being many Jews settled in this place, hence we read in Jewish writings c of men going from Jerusalem to Athens, and from Athens to Jerusalem; and hence it may be accounted for, how many of the Athenian philosophers came to be acquainted with the books and sentiments of the Jews, from whom they borrowed may things; since there were so many that dwelt among them, and doubtless had for years past, as well as by their travels into Egypt: and a Jewish synagogue being here, the apostle went into it, according to his usual manner, and began with them, as he was wont to do, preaching the Gospel to the Jews first, and then unto the Gentiles: with them he disputed, not about idolatry, or the worship of many gods, to which they were not addicted; nor about the one true and living God, whom they knew and professed; but about the Son of God, about the Messiah, contending and proving that Jesus of Nazareth was he:

and with the devout persons; that is, with the Gentiles, who were proselytes to the Jewish religion, and worshipped the God of Israel with the Jews, in their synagogues, but knew nothing of Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation by him:

and in the market daily with them that met him; where there was a concourse of people; and where, after the apostle had been once or twice, the people came purposely to meet with him, and to hear his discourses, and reason with him about points in religion: the Syriac version renders it, "in the street"; and then the sense seems to be, that as he met persons in the street, day by day, as he walked along, he would stop and talk with them, about religious things, and about their idolatry, vanity, and superstition.

c Echa Rabbati, fol. 43. 3, 4. & 44. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore disputed he - Or reasoned. He engaged in an argument with them.

With the devout persons - Those worshipping God after the manner of the Jews. They were Jewish proselytes, who had renounced idolatry, but who had not been fully admitted to the privileges of the Jews. See the notes on Acts 10:2.

And in the market - In the forum. It was not only the place where provisions were sold, but was also a place of great public concourse. In this place the philosophers were not infrequently found engaged in public discussion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 17:17. Disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews — Proving that Jesus was the Messiah: and with the devout persons, probably heathens, proselyted to the Jewish religion. And in the market: I suppose the αγορα here means some such place as our exchange, where people of business usually met, and where the philosophers conversed and reasoned. The agora was probably like the Roman forum, and like places of public resort in all countries, where people of leisure assembled to converse, hear the news, &c.


 
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