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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Acts 17:17

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."

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.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
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.
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 The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols. 17He 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." 19These people got together and asked him to make a public presentation over at the Areopagus, where things were a little quieter. They said, "This is a new one on us. We've never heard anything quite like it. Where did you come up with this anyway? Explain it so we can understand." Downtown Athens was a great place for gossip. There were always people hanging around, natives and tourists alike, waiting for the latest tidbit on most anything.

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
Overwhelmed, Abram fell flat on his face. Then God said to him, "This is my covenant with you: You'll be the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham, meaning that ‘I'm making you the father of many nations.' I'll make you a father of fathers—I'll make nations from you, kings will issue from you. I'm establishing my covenant between me and you, a covenant that includes your descendants, a covenant that goes on and on and on, a covenant that commits me to be your God and the God of your descendants. And I'm giving you and your descendants this land where you're now just camping, this whole country of Canaan, to own forever. And I'll be their God."
Genesis 17:19
But God said, "That's not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). I'll establish my covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that lasts forever.
Genesis 17:20
"And Ishmael? Yes, I heard your prayer for him. I'll also bless him; I'll make sure he has plenty of children—a huge family. He'll father twelve princes; I'll make him a great nation. But I'll establish my covenant with Isaac whom Sarah will give you about this time next year."
Numbers 14:5
Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in front of the entire community, gathered in emergency session.
Numbers 16:22
They threw themselves on their faces and said, "O God, God of everything living, when one man sins are you going to take it out on the whole community?"
Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I prostrated myself before God , just as I had at the beginning of the forty days and nights. I ate no food; I drank no water. I did this because of you, all your sins, sinning against God , doing what is evil in God 's eyes and making him angry. I was terrified of God 's furious anger, his blazing anger. I was sure he would destroy you. But once again God listened to me. And Aaron! How furious he was with Aaron—ready to destroy him. But I prayed also for Aaron at that same time.
Deuteronomy 9:25
When I was on my face, prostrate before God those forty days and nights after God said he would destroy you, I prayed to God for you, "My Master, God , don't destroy your people, your inheritance whom, in your immense generosity, you redeemed, using your enormous strength to get them out of Egypt.
Joshua 5:14
He said, "Neither. I'm commander of God 's army. I've just arrived." Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, "What orders does my Master have for his servant?"
Joshua 7:6
Joshua ripped his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the Chest of God , he and the leaders throwing dirt on their heads, prostrate until evening.
1 Chronicles 21:16
David, Satan, and Araunah Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel. David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, "Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number." Joab resisted: "May God multiply his people by hundreds! Don't they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this—why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?" But David wouldn't take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it—canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem and reported the results of the census: There were 1,100,000 fighting men; of that total, Judah accounted for 470,000. Joab, disgusted by the command—it, in fact, turned his stomach!—protested by leaving Levi and Benjamin out of the census-taking. And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel. Then David prayed, "I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin—I've been really stupid." God answered by speaking to Gad, David's pastor: "Go and give David this message: ‘ God 's word: You have your choice of three punishments; choose one and I'll do the rest.'" Gad delivered the message to David: "Do you want three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies while they chase you down, or three days of the sword of God —an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angel of God ? Think it over and make up your mind. What shall I tell the One who sent me?" David told Gad, "They're all terrible! But I'd rather be punished by God whose mercy is great, than fall into human hands." So God unleashed an epidemic in Israel—seventy thousand Israelites died. God then sent the angel to Jerusalem but when he saw the destruction about to begin, he compassionately changed his mind and ordered the death angel, "Enough's enough! Pull back!" The angel of God had just reached the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David looked up and saw the angel hovering between earth and sky, sword drawn and about to strike Jerusalem. David and the elders bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap.

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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