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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Acts 17:16

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gentiles;   Idolatry;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Idolatry;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Epicureans;   Image;   Thessalonica;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Areopagus;   Athens;   Paul;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Ordination;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Acts of the Apostles;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Athens;   Greece;   Jews in the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Achaia;   Acts of the Apostles;   Epicureans;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gentiles;   Idolatry;   Simon Magus;   Wisdom;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Athens ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jason;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Image;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Catechist;   Gods;   Provocation;   Teach;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Purity of Race;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for October 8;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was upset because he saw that the city was full of idols.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Whyll Paul wayted for them at Attens his sprete was moved in him to se the cite geven to worshippinge of ymages.
Hebrew Names Version
Now while Sha'ul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
International Standard Version
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred to its depths to see the city full of idols.2 Peter 2:8;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols.
New Century Version
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was troubled because he saw that the city was full of idols.
Update Bible Version
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked inside him as he looked at the city full of idols.
Webster's Bible Translation
Now, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
English Standard Version
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
World English Bible
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
Weymouth's New Testament
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred within him when he noticed that the city was full of idols.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And while Poul abood hem at Atenys, his spirit was moued in him, for he saiy the citee youun to ydolatrie.
English Revised Version
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, as he beheld the city full of idols.
Contemporary English Version
While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city.
Amplified Bible
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the city was full of idols.
American Standard Version
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.
Bible in Basic English
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was troubled, for he saw all the town full of images of the gods.
Complete Jewish Bible
While Sha'ul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him was disturbed at the sight of the city full of idols.
Darby Translation
But in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit was painfully excited in him seeing the city given up to idolatry.
Etheridge Translation
But he, Paulos, while he waited in Athinos, was embittered in his spirit, (for he) saw how the whole city was filled with idols.
Murdock Translation
And while Paul was waiting [fn] at Athens, he was pained in his spirit; because he saw that the whole city was full of idols.
King James Version (1611)
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when hee saw the city wholy giuen to idolatrie.
New Living Translation
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.
New Life Bible
While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was troubled as he saw the whole city worshiping false gods.
New Revised Standard
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirite was stirred in him, when hee sawe the citie subiect to idolatrie.
George Lamsa Translation
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, he saw the whole city full of idols, and he murmured thereat in his spirit.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, while, in Athens, Paul was expecting them, his spirit within him was being urged on, seeing how the city was given to idols.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
Revised Standard Version
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whyle Paul wayted for them at Athens, his spirite was moued in hym, when he sawe the citie geue to worshippyng of idoles.
Good News Translation
While Paul was waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he was greatly upset when he noticed how full of idols the city was.
Christian Standard Bible®
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols.
King James Version
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Lexham English Bible
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he observed the city was full of idols.
Literal Translation
But awaiting them in Athens, Paul's spirit was pained within him, seeing the city full of images.
Young's Literal Translation
and Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whyle Paul wayted for them at Athens, his sprete was moued in him, whan he sawe the cite geue so to the worshippinge of ymages.
Mace New Testament (1729)
While Paul was expecting them at Athens, he was grieved to the soul to see the whole city o'er-spread with idols.
THE MESSAGE
The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got—all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.
New English Translation
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols.
New King James Version
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Paul waited on his pards to get to Athens. He strolled the city and was torn-up inside with all the idols of other gods he saw there.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.
Legacy Standard Bible
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

Contextual Overview

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day. 18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" while 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? 20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cir, am 4058, ad 54

his spirit: Exodus 32:19, Exodus 32:20, Numbers 25:6-11, 1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:14, Job 32:2, Job 32:3, Job 32:18-20, Psalms 69:9, Psalms 119:136, Psalms 119:158, Jeremiah 20:9, Micah 3:8, Mark 3:5, John 2:13, 2 Peter 2:7

wholly given to idolatry: or, full of idols, Acts 17:23, *marg.

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 28:24 - he made Isaiah 2:8 - is full Jeremiah 6:11 - Therefore Jeremiah 50:38 - mad Luke 4:31 - taught John 13:21 - he was Acts 4:20 - we cannot Acts 14:15 - and preach Acts 17:22 - I perceive Acts 18:5 - was 2 Corinthians 7:11 - zeal

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth."
Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Genesis 17:6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.
Genesis 17:10
This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, which you are to keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.
Genesis 17:14
But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."
Genesis 17:26
Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the same day.
Genesis 24:60
And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands upon thousands. May your offspring possess the gates of their enemies."
Genesis 35:11
And God told him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation-even a company of nations-shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.
Isaiah 49:23
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame."
Romans 9:9
For this is what the promise stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens..... That is, for Silas and Timotheus:

his spirit was stirred in him; not only his soul was troubled and his heart was grieved, but he was exasperated and provoked to the last degree: he was in a paroxysm; his heart was hot within him; he had a burning fire in his bones, and was weary with forbearing, and could not stay; his zeal wanted vent, and he gave it:

when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry; or "full of idols", as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it. So Cicero says x that Athens was full of temples; and Xenophon y observes that they had double the feasts of other people; and Pausanias z affirms, that the Athenians far exceeded others in the worship of the gods, and care about religion; and he relates, that they had an altar for Mercy, another for Shame, another for Fame, and another for Desire, and expressed more religion to the gods than others did: they had an altar dedicated to twelve gods a; and because they would be sure of all, they erected one to an unknown god; in short, they had so many of them, that one b jestingly said to them, our country is so full of deities, that one may more easily find a god than a man: so that with all their learning and wisdom they knew not God, 1 Corinthians 1:21.

x De responsis Aruspicum. y De Athen. Polit. z Attica, p. 29, 42. a Thucydides Bell. Peloponness. l. 6. b Petronius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Now while Paul waited - How long he was there is not intimated; but doubtless some time would elapse before they could arrive. In the meantime Paul had ample opportunity to observe the state of the city.

His spirit was stirred in him - His mind was greatly excited. The word used here (παρωξύνετο parōxuneto) denotes “any excitement, agitation, or paroxysm of mind,” 1 Corinthians 13:5. It here means that the mind of Paul was greatly concerned, or agitated, doubtless with pity and distress at their folly and danger.

The city wholly given to idolatry - Greek: κατέιδωλον kateidōlon. It is well translated in the margin, “or full of idols.” The word is not used elsewhere in the New Testament. That this was the condition of the city is abundantly testified by profane writers. Thus, Pausanias (in Attic. 1 Corinthians 1:24) says, “the Athenians greatly surpassed others in their zeal for religion.” Lucian (t. i. Prometh. p. 180) says of the city of Athens, “On every side there are altars, victims, temples, and festivals.” Livy (45, 27) says that Athens “was full of the images of gods and men, adorned with every variety of material, and with all the skill of art.” And Petronius (Sat. xvii.) says humorously of the city, that “it was easier to find a god than a man there.” See Kuinoel. In this verse we may see how a splendid idolatrous city will strike a pious mind. Athens then had more that was splendid in architecture, more that was brilliant in science, and more that was beautiful in the arts, than any other city of the world; perhaps more than all the rest of the world united.

Yet there is no account that the mind of Paul was filled with admiration; there is no record that he spent his time in examining the works of art; there is no evidence that he forgot his high purpose in an idle and useless contemplation of temples and statuary. His was a Christian mind; and he contemplated all this with a Christian heart. That heart was deeply affected in view of the amazing guilt of a people who were ignorant of the true God, who had filled their city with idols reared to the honor of imaginary divinities, and who, in the midst of all this splendor and luxury, were going down to destruction. So should every pious man feel who treads the streets of a splendid and guilty city. The Christian will not despise the productions of art, but he will feel, deeply feel, for the unhappy condition of those who, amidst wealth, and splendor, and outward adoring, are withholding their affections from the living God, and who are going unredeemed to eternal woe. Happy would it be if every Christian traveler who visits cities of wealth and splendor would, like Paul, be affected in view of their crimes and dangers; stud happy if, like him, people could cease their unbounded admiration of magnificence and splendor in temples, and palaces, and statuary, to regard the condition of mind, not perishable like marble of the soul, more magnificent even in its ruins than all the works of Phidias or Praxiteles.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 17:16. He saw the city wholly given to idolatry. — κατειδωλον, Full of idols, as the margin has it, and very properly. Whoever examines the remains of this city, as represented by Mr. Stuart in his Antiquities, already referred to, will be satisfied of the truth of St. Luke's remark: it was full of idols. Bishop Pearce produces a most apposite quotation from Pausanias, which confirms the observation: Ουκ ην αλλαχου τοσαυτα ιδειν ειδωλα. There was no place where so many idols were to be seen. PAUS. in Attic. cap. xvii. 24.

PETRONIUS, who was contemporary with St. Paul, in his Satyr. cap. xvii., makes Quartilla say of Athens: Utique nostra regio tam PRAESENTIBUS PLENA EST NUMINIBUS, ut facilius possis DEUM quam HOMINEM invenire. Our region is so full of deities that you may more frequently meet with a god than a man.


 
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