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Acts Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Acts 17 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33 V34
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OET (OET-RV) Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers enjoyed discussing things with him, but others just mocked him, “What does this babbler want to talk about now?”
¶ But others said, “Seems that he’s talking about strange demons,” because he was preaching the good message about Yeshua and coming back to life.
OET-LV On_the_other_hand some also of_the Epikoureios and Stōikos philosophers were_conferring with_him, and some were_saying:
What wishfully might_ this - _be_wanting babbler to_be_saying?
But the others:
He_is_supposing to_be a_proclaimer of_strange demons, because he_was_good_message_preaching the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) and the resurrection.
SR-GNT Τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ, καί τινες ἔλεγον, “Τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν;” Οἱ δέ, “Ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι”· ὅτι τὸν ˚Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο. ‡
(Tines de kai tōn Epikoureiōn kai Stoikōn filosofōn suneballon autōi, kai tines elegon, “Ti an theloi ho spermologos houtos legein?” Hoi de, “Xenōn daimoniōn dokei katangeleus einai”; hoti ton ˚Yaʸsoun kai taʸn anastasin euaʸngelizeto.)
Key: yellow:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT But also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were disputing with him. And some were saying, “What might this word-picker want to say?” But others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection.
UST Paul met some teachers who liked to talk about what people believe. Some of them called themselves Epicureans, and others called themselves Stoics. They told Paul what they believed, and they asked him what he believed. Then some of them said to one another, “He really does not know what he is talking about.” But others said, “He seems to be teaching a philosophy about some gods that we have never heard of.” Those others said that because Paul was telling them that Jesus had died and then had become alive again, and they thought that Resurrection was the name of a god.
BSB § 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.
BLB 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.
AICNT Now some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him, and some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
OEB Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined issue with him. Some asked ‘What is this prater wanting to make out?’, while others said ‘He seems to be a preacher of foreign Deities.’ (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection).
2DT Also some of the Epikoureioi [Epicureans] and Stoïkoi [Stoic] philosophers were engaging him, and some were saying, “Whatever might this scrounger want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign demons.” (Because he was gospeling Yēsous and the resurrection.)
WEB Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also[fn] 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.
17:18 TR omits “also”
WMB Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also[fn] 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 Yeshua and the resurrection.
17:18 TR omits “also”
NET 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.)
LSV 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, “He seems to be an announcer of strange demons”; because he proclaimed to them Jesus and the resurrection as good news,
FBV Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also argued with him. “What is he going on about?”[fn] they wondered. Others concluded, “He seems to be teaching about some foreign gods,” because he was speaking about Jesus and the resurrection.
17:18 Literally, “What is this seed-collector trying to say?” “Seed-collector” referred to chattering birds picking up seeds in the marketplace; otherwise translated “babbler.”
TCNT Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers [fn]also conversed with him. Some said, “What is this babbler trying to say?” But others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities.” (They said this because he was [fn]preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
T4T Paul met some teachers who liked to talk about what people should believe. People called some of them Epicureans and they called others Stoics. They told Paul what they believed, and they asked him what he believed. Then some of them said to one another, “This ignorant person is just talking nonsense [RHQ]!” Others said, “We(exc) think that he is teaching people about ◄foreign gods/new gods that we (exc) have not heard about►.” They said that because Paul was telling them that Jesus had died and had become alive again afterwards. They had not heard that message before.
LEB And even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What does this babbler want to say?” But others said,[fn] “He appears to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was proclaiming the good newsabout Jesus and the resurrection.
?:? *The words “others said” are not in the Greek text but are implied
BBE And some of those who were supporters of the theories of the Epicureans and the Stoics, had a meeting with him. And some said, What is this talker of foolish words saying? And others, He seems to be a preacher of strange gods: because he was preaching of Jesus and his coming back from the dead.
MOF No MOF ACTs book available
ASV 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.
DRA And 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.
YLT 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,
DBY But some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him. And some said, What would this chatterer say? and some, He seems to be an announcer of foreign demons, because he announced the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection [to them].
RV 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.
WBS 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.
KJB 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.
BB Then certaine philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes disputed with hym. And some saide: What wyll this babler say? Other some, he seemeth to be a setter foorth of newe gods: because he preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.
(Then certain philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes disputed with him. And some said: What will this babler say? Other some, he seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods: because he preached unto them Yesus/Yeshua, and the resurrection.)
GNV Then certaine Philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes, disputed with him, and some sayde, What will this babler say? Others sayde, He seemeth to be a setter forth of straunge gods (because hee preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.)
(Then certain Philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoickes, disputed with him, and some said, What will this babler say? Others said, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods (because he preached unto them Yesus/Yeshua, and the resurrection.) )
CB But certayne Philosophers of ye Epicurees and Stoikes disputed with him. And some sayde: What will this babler saye? But some sayde: He semeth to be a tidinges brynger of new goddes (That was, because he had preached vnto the the Gospell of Iesus, & of the resurreccion.)
(But certain Philosophers of ye/you_all Epicurees and Stoikes disputed with him. And some said: What will this babler saye? But some said: He seemeth/seems to be a tidinges brynger of new goddes (That was, because he had preached unto the the Gospel of Yesus/Yeshua, and of the resurrection.))
TNT Certayne philosophers of the Epicures and of the stoyckes disputed with him. And some ther were which sayde: what will this babler saye. Other sayd: he semeth to be a tydynges bringer of newe devyls because he preached vnto them Iesus and the resurreccion.
(Certayne philosophers of the Epicures and of the stoyckes disputed with him. And some there were which said: what will this babler saye. Other said: he seemeth/seems to be a tidings/news bringer of new devyls because he preached unto them Yesus/Yeshua and the resurrection. )
WYC And summe Epeicureis, and Stoisens, and filosofris disputiden with hym. And summe seiden, What wole this sowere of wordis seie? And othere seiden, He semeth to be a tellere of newe fendis; for he telde to hem Jhesu, and the ayenrisyng.
(And some Epeicureis, and Stoisens, and filosofris disputiden with him. And some said, What will this sowere of words seie? And other said, He seemeth/seems to be a tellere of new fendis; for he telde to them Yhesu, and the ayenrisyng.)
LUT Etliche aber der Epikurer und Stoiker Philosophen zankten mit ihm; und etliche sprachen: Was will dieser Lotterbube sagen? Etliche aber: Es siehet, als wollte er neue Götter verkündigen. Das machte, er hatte das Evangelium von JEsu und von der Auferstehung ihnen verkündigt.
(Etliche but the Epikurer and Stoiker Philosophen zankten with ihm; and several said: What will dieser Lotterbube say? Etliche but: It siehet, als wanted he neue gods verkündigen. The machte, he had the Evangelium from YEsu and from the Auferstehung ihnen verkündigt.)
CLV Quidam autem epicurei et stoici philosophi disserebant cum eo, et quidam dicebant: Quid vult seminiverbius hic dicere? Alii vero: Novorum dæmoniorum videtur annuntiator esse: quia Jesum et resurrectionem annuntiabat eis.[fn]
(Quidam however epicurei and stoici philosophi disserebant cum eo, and quidam dicebant: Quid vult seminiverbius this dicere? Alii vero: Novorum dæmoniorum videtur annuntiator esse: because Yesum and resurrectionem annuntiabat eis.)
17.18 Epicurei. ID. Vocantur sic ab auctore suo, qui dicitur voluptatis assertor. Stoici Græce, Latine elementa; qui contendebant paria esse peccata, id est omne peccatum uniforme esse. Quid vult seminiverbius. Seminiverbius est qui verbum seminat; vel seminiverbius, id est sermologus; quia semen est verbum Dei; unde: Si vobis seminavimus, etc. AUG. Legimus Paulum apostolum dictum fuisse seminatorem verborum, quod dictum est ab irridentibus, sed non respuendum a credentibus; erat quippe seminator verborum, sed messor morum. Et nos, licet parvuli, nec illi comparandi in agro Dei (quod est cor vestrum) seminamus verbum Dei, exspectantes uberem frugem, vel fructum de moribus vestris. Alii vero. RAB. A Judæis audierunt vocabulum dæmoniorum esse abominabile, et ideo huic abominationi comparant doctrinam Pauli; vel Judæi sunt qui hoc dicunt, id est sadducæi.
17.18 Epicurei. ID. Vocantur so away auctore suo, who dicitur voluptatis assertor. Stoici Græce, Latine elementa; who contendebant paria esse peccata, id it_is omne peccatum uniforme esse. Quid vult seminiverbius. Seminiverbius it_is who verbum seminat; or seminiverbius, id it_is sermologus; because seed it_is verbum Dei; unde: When/But_if to_you seminavimus, etc. AUG. Legimus Paulum apostolum dictum fuisse seminatorem verborum, that dictum it_is away irridentibus, but not/no respuendum a credentibus; was quippe seminator verborum, but messor morum. And nos, licet parvuli, but_not illi comparandi in agro Dei (that it_is heart of_you) seminamus verbum Dei, exspectantes uberem frugem, or fructum about moribus vestris. Alii vero. RAB. A Yudæis audierunt vocabulum dæmoniorum esse abominabile, and ideo huic abominationi comparant doctrinam Pauli; or Yudæi are who hoc dicunt, id it_is sadducæi.
UGNT τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρίων καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ, καί τινες ἔλεγον, τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν? οἱ δέ, ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι; ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο.
(tines de kai tōn Epikouriōn kai Stoikōn filosofōn suneballon autōi, kai tines elegon, ti an theloi ho spermologos houtos legein? hoi de, xenōn daimoniōn dokei katangeleus einai? hoti ton Yaʸsoun kai taʸn anastasin euaʸngelizeto.)
SBL-GNT τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων ⸀καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ, καί τινες ἔλεγον· Τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; οἱ δέ· Ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι· ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο.
(tines de kai tōn Epikoureiōn ⸀kai Stoikōn filosofōn suneballon autōi, kai tines elegon; Ti an theloi ho spermologos houtos legein? hoi de; Xenōn daimoniōn dokei katangeleus einai; hoti ton Yaʸsoun kai taʸn anastasin euaʸngelizeto. )
TC-GNT Τινὲς δὲ [fn]καὶ τῶν [fn]Ἐπικουρείων καὶ [fn]τῶν [fn]Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων [fn]συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ. Καί τινες ἔλεγον, Τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν; Οἱ δέ, Ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι· ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν [fn]εὐηγγελίζετο.
(Tines de kai tōn Epikoureiōn kai tōn Stoikōn filosofōn suneballon autōi. Kai tines elegon, Ti an theloi ho spermologos houtos legein? Hoi de, Xenōn daimoniōn dokei katangeleus einai; hoti ton Yaʸsoun kai taʸn anastasin euaʸngelizeto.)
17:18 και ¦ — ANT TR
17:18 επικουρειων ¦ επικουριων WH
17:18 των ¦ — CT
17:18 στοικων ¦ στωικων BYZ PCK TR WH
17:18 συνεβαλλον ¦ συνεβαλον PCK
17:18 ευηγγελιζετο ¦ αυτοις ευηγγελιζετο TR ¦ ευηγγελιζετο αυτοις ANT
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
17:18 Epicurean . . . philosophers: Epicureanism was a popular school of Greek philosophy, founded by Epicurus (341–270 BC). Epicureans believed that the principal aim of life was to secure happiness. They thought of pleasure not in terms of sensual indulgence, as their critics charged, but in terms of tranquility. Their contemporaries often called them atheists; in their view, there were no gods to fear, and death simply marked the end of human existence. They sought their security in organized communities where they could live in contentment apart from society.
• Stoic philosophers: Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium (335–263 BC) and became the most influential philosophy in the Greco-Roman world. It viewed the universe as permeated by Reason (sometimes referred to as God or Providence). Stoicism saw divine Reason as expressed in human reason and held that as humans made progress, they could advance from ignorance (the source of vice) to true knowledge (the source of virtue). They developed extensive lists of virtues and vices and produced detailed household codes to guide family behavior. Paul’s teaching resembles that of the Stoics in his use of household codes and lists of virtues and vices (Gal 5:19-23; Eph 5:22-33; Col 3:18–4:1; 1 Tim 3:1-13; 5:1–6:1). However, Paul’s message of Good News—focusing on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—was strange and foreign to these Greek philosophers.
• The air of superiority with which they addressed Paul as this babbler indicates their arrogance.
The Unknown God
When Paul spoke to the Areopagus, the “high council of the city” of Athens (Acts 17:19), he was speaking to people who did not share his faith in the God of Abraham and Moses who had revealed himself “many times and in many ways to [his] ancestors through the prophets” (Heb 1:1). The members of his audience had a very different definition of the divine. A host of divinities inhabited their world, and the common people retained much of their belief in the ancient gods. But many of the cultural elite of Athens no longer believed in the gods in any literal sense. Instead, they held to either a form of materialism (the physical is everything) or pantheism (the divine inhabits everything).
What they all shared in common was the absence of the idea that there is one true God who is Lord of all. Their myths told of the activities of various gods, but they did not have faith that the ultimate reality, God himself, could be known. Instead, they reasoned and discussed “the latest ideas,” hoping for a better understanding of the nature of things.
There were a wide variety of philosophical ideas current in Athens when Paul visited, but two main schools of thought dominated, Stoicism and Epicureanism (Acts 17:18).
Zeno of Citium (334~262 BC) founded Stoicism. Stoics studied nature’s laws and believed in the Logos, a pervasive organizing and sustaining force that gives all things their essential nature and so gives life and reason to humanity. The good life is one in which reason rules, and peace of mind and harmony with nature prevail. Many prominent statesmen were Stoics or influenced by Stoicism, including Cicero, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Stoic ideas proved attractive to some Christians because of the similarities between the Stoic logos and the divine Logos (John 1:1-18), and between the idea of natural law and the law of God.
Those who followed Epicurus (341–270 BC) were empiricists; they relied upon sense experience (as opposed to reason) for knowledge. Epicureans were concerned with natural evidence and were unenthusiastic about mathematics. Their focus was ethics, the study of right behavior; they judged the value of an action or thing in terms of the pleasure or pain it brought. Epicurus saw belief in gods (meddling and powerful beings who terrified ordinary mortals) as a serious threat to tranquility. For him and his followers, neither the gods nor death (which is the end) should be feared.
When Paul spoke in that context, he used their own poets to proclaim things that they could barely comprehend: That the God who made everything is both personal and knowable; that he revealed himself clearly, historically, and definitively in Jesus Christ; that death is not followed by either the cessation of existence or the migration of the soul, but by judgment; and that the proof of all of this is the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
What was foolishness to most of the Greeks of Athens turns out to be the ultimate truth: God is knowable, and can be known through Jesus Christ.
Passages for Further Study
Ps 50:7-15; Isa 42:5-7; Acts 17:16-32; Rom 1:18-32; Col 1:15-23; 2:6-12; 1 Thes 1:9-10; Heb 1:1-4
Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns
αὐτῷ & δοκεῖ & εὐηγγελίζετο
˱with˲_him & ˱he˲_/is/_supposing & ˱he˲_/was/_gospel_preaching
The pronouns him, He, and he all refer to Paul.It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: “with Paul … He seems … Paul was proclaiming”
Note 2 topic: translate-names
τῶν Ἐπικουρίων
˱of˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στοϊκῶν φιλοσόφων συνέβαλλον αὐτῷ καί τινες ἔλεγον τί ἂν θέλοι ὁ σπερμολόγος οὗτος λέγειν οἱ δέ ξένων δαιμονίων δοκεῖ καταγγελεὺς εἶναι ὅτι τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ τὴν ἀνάστασιν εὐηγγελίζετο)
The word Epicurean is the name of a certain kind of philosopher. Epicureans believed that all things were formed by chance and that the gods were too busy being happy to be bothered with governing the universe. They rejected the resurrection and wanted only simple pleasures.
Note 3 topic: translate-names
Στοϊκῶν
Stoic
The word Stoic is the name of another kind of philosopher. Stoics believed that freedom comes from resigning oneself to fate. They rejected a personal, loving God and the resurrection.
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ὁ σπερμολόγος
¬the babbler
These Athenian philosophers are using a common expression in their culture that refers negatively to a person who only knows little bits of information. The expression depicts a person picking up words or ideas the way a bird picks up seeds. The philosophers are saying that Paul has only a few bits of information that are not worth listening to. Alternate translation: “uneducated person”
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ξένων δαιμονίων
˱of˲_strange demons
Luke assumes that his readers will understand that the Athenian philosphers misunderstood Paul and thought that he was introducing two new gods that the Greeks and Romans had not known about before, Jesus and Anastasis (the Greek word for resurrection). You can include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “of two new gods, Jesus and Anastasis”