Paul in Athens

16 [While] Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So 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.

19 So they took [Paul] [and] brought [him] to the Areopagus,[fn] [where] they asked [him], “May we know what this new teaching [is] [that] you are presenting? 20 For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, [and] we want to know what [they] mean.”

21 Now all [the] Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time [doing] nothing [more] than hearing and articulating new [ideas].