Acts 17:21

Mace New Testament

now the Athenians, and the foreigners residing at Athens generally amus'd themselves about nothing, but hearing and spreading of news.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
(The cool thing to do in Athens was to sit around and discuss news and the latest ideas.)

New American Standard Bible (1995)
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Legacy Standard Bible
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something newer.)

Bible in Basic English
(Now all the Athenians and the men from other lands who come there were giving all their time to talking or hearing of anything new.)

Darby Translation
Now all [the] Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else than to tell and to hear the news.

New King James Version
For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

Christian Standard Bible®
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

World English Bible
Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
(For all the Athenians, and the strangers sojourning there, spent their time in nothing else, but telling or hearing some new thing.)

Weymouth's New Testament
(For all the Athenians and their foreign visitors used to devote their whole leisure to telling or hearing about something new.)

King James Version (1611)
(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there, spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to heare some new thing.)

Literal Translation
And all Athenians and the strangers living there have leisure for nothing else than to say and to hear newer things.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for all they of Athens, and straungers & gestes, they gaue theselues to nothinge els, but either to tell, or to heare some newes.

Amplified Bible
(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners visiting there used to spend their [leisure] time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

American Standard Version
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

Revised Standard Version
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For all the Attenians and straungers which were there gave the selves to nothinge els but ether to tell or to heare newe tydynges.

Update Bible Version
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

Webster's Bible Translation
(For all the Athenians and strangers who were there, spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Young's Literal Translation
and all Athenians, and the strangers sojourning, for nothing else were at leisure but to say something, and to hear some newer thing.

New Century Version
(All the people of Athens and those from other countries who lived there always used their time to talk about the newest ideas.)

New English Translation
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.)

Berean Standard Bible
Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

Contemporary English Version
More than anything else the people of Athens and the foreigners living there loved to hear and to talk about anything new.

Complete Jewish Bible
(All the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their spare time talking or hearing about the latest intellectual fads.)

English Standard Version
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For all the Athenians, and strangers which dwelt there, gaue them selues to nothing els, but either to tell, or to heare some newes.

George Lamsa Translation
(For all the Athenians and the strangers who were there, were uninterested in anything except something new to tell or to hear.)

Hebrew Names Version
Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

International Standard Version
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time in nothing else than repeating or listening to the latest ideas.

Etheridge Translation
But all the Athinoyee, and those foreigners who are there, of no other thing are careful, but to say and to hear something new.

Murdock Translation
For all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there, cared for nothing else but to tell or to hear something new.

New Living Translation
(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

New Life Bible
The people of Athens and those visiting from far countries used all their time in talking or hearing some new thing.

English Revised Version
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

New Revised Standard
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, all Athenians and the sojourning foreigners, unto nothing else, were devoting their leisure, than to be telling or hearing, something newer.

Douay-Rheims Bible
(Now all the Athenians and strangers that were there employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)

King James Version
(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Lexham English Bible
(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For all the Athenians and straungers which were there, gaue them selues to nothing els, but either to tell or to heare some newe thyng.

Easy-to-Read Version
(The people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent all their time either telling or listening to all the latest ideas.)

New American Standard Bible
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Good News Translation
(For all the citizens of Athens and the foreigners who lived there liked to spend all their time telling and hearing the latest new thing.)

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For alle men of Athenys and comlingis herborid yauen tent to noon other thing, but ether to seie, ethir to here, sum newe thing.

Contextual Overview

¹⁶ While Paul was expecting them at Athens, he was grieved to the soul to see the whole city o'er-spread with idols. ¹⁷ he disputed therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and the proselyted Greeks: and in the publick place daily with those he met. ¹⁸ there certain Epicurean and Stoick philosophers encountred him: "what does this mountebank mean?" said some: "he seems to proclaim some strange deitys," said others: because he talk'd to them of Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ One day they conducted him to the Areopagus, and said to him, may we know what this new doctrine is, which you publish? ²⁰ for what you say sounds so very strange, we should be glad to know what it means. ²¹ now the Athenians, and the foreigners residing at Athens generally amus'd themselves about nothing, but hearing and spreading of news.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

spent: Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5, 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Timothy 5:13, 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:17

Reciprocal: Psalms 123:4 - with the scorning Matthew 20:6 - Why 1 Timothy 6:20 - oppositions 2 Timothy 4:3 - having

Cross-References

Luke 1:55
which he promised to our forefathers, to Abraham, and to his posterity for ever."

Luke 1:72
to show regard to our forefathers, in performing his holy covenant,

Acts 1:7
and he said to them, it is not for you, to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath reserv'd in his own disposal.

Romans 9:9
for the words of the promise run thus, "at this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son."

Galatians 3:29
and if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and his heirs by virtue of the promise.

Hebrews 11:9
'twas by faith that he sojourned in a land that was promised, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were equally entitled to the same promise.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For all the Athenians,.... The natives of Athens, who were born and lived there, and were inhabitants of the city, and free of it:

and strangers which were there; who came there from several parts of the world, to get wisdom and knowledge, to learn the several arts and sciences, and to attend the several sects of philosophers they made choice of:

spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing; that is, they did so for the most part; and this was the complexion and taste of the generality of them; and with this agrees what Demosthenes himself says of them m,

"we, says he (for the truth shall be said), sit here,

ουδεν ποιουντες, "doing nothing"----inquiring in the court,

ει τι λεγεται νεωτερον, "whether any new thing is said."''

The character of such persons is given, and they are described in a very lively manner by Theophrastus n. The Jewish doctors, at this time, were much of the same cast in their divinity schools; the usual question asked, when they met one another, was, מה חדוש, "what new thing" have you in the divinity school today o?

m Respons. ad Philippi Epistolam. n Ethic. character. p. 13. o T. Hieros. Taanith, fol. 75. 4. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 14. fol. 212. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For all the Athenians - This was their general character.

And strangers which were there - Athens was greatly distinguished for the celebrity of its schools of philosophy. It was at that time at the head of the literary world. Its arts and its learning were celebrated in all lands. It is known, therefore, that it was the favorite resort of people of other nations, who came there to become acquainted with its institutions and to listen to its sages.

Spent their time in nothing else - The learned and subtle Athenians gave themselves much to speculation, and employed themselves in examining the various new systems of philosophy that were proposed. Strangers and foreigners who were there, having much leisure, would also give themselves to the same inquiries.

But either to tell or to hear some new thing - Greek: “something newer” - καινότερον kainoteron. The latest news; or the latest subject of inquiry proposed. This is well known to have been the character of the people of Athens at all times. “Many of the ancient writers I bear witness to the garrulity, and curiosity, and intemperate desire of novelty among the Athenians, by which they inquired respecting all things, even those in which they had no interest, whether of a public or private nature (Kuinoel). Thus, Thucydides (3, 38) says of them, “You excel in suffering yourselves to be deceived with novelty of speech.” On which the old scholiast makes this remark, almost in the words of Luke: “He (Thucydides) here blames the Athenians, who care for nothing else but to tell or to hear something new.” Thus, Aelian (5, 13) says of the Athenians that they are versatile in novelties. Thus, Demosthenes represents the Athenians “as inquiring in the place of public resort if there were any news” - τι νεώτερον ti neōteron Meurslus has shown, also, that there were more than 300 public places in Athens of public resort, where the principal youth and reputable citizens were accustomed to meet for the purpose of conversation and inquiry.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 17:21. All the Athenians and strangers which were there — As Athens was renovated for its wisdom and learning, it became a place of public resort for philosophers and students from different parts of the then civilized world. The flux of students was in consequence great; and these, having much leisure time, would necessarily be curious to know what was passing in the world, and would frequently assemble together, in places of public resort, to meet with strangers just come to the city; and either, as St. Luke says, to tell or hear some new thing.

"The Athenian writers give the same account of their fellow citizens. DEMOSTHENES, in his reply to Epist. Philippi, represents the Athenians as πυνθανομενοι κατα την αγοραν, ει τι λεγεται νεωτερον; inquiring, in the place of public resort, if there are any NEWS. We find, likewise, that when Thucydides, iii. 38, had said, μετα καινοτητος μεν λογου απατασθαι αριϚοι, Ye are excellent in suffering yourselves to be deceived by NOVELTY of speech, the old scholiast makes this remark upon it, (almost in the words of St. Luke,) ταυτα προς τους. Αθηναιους αινιττεται, ουδεν τι μελετωντας, πλην λεγειν τι και ακουειν καινον; He here blames the Athenians, who made it their only business to tell and hear something that was NEW."-Bp. Pearce. This is a striking feature of the city of London in the present day. The itch for news, which generally argues a worldly, shallow, or unsettled mind, is wonderfully prevalent: even ministers of the Gospel, negligent of their sacred function, are become in this sense Athenians; so that the book of God is neither read nor studied with half the avidity and spirit as a newspaper. These persons, forgetful not only of their calling, but of the very spirit of the Gospel, read the account of a battle with the most violent emotions; and, provided the victory falls to their favourite side, they exult and triumph in proportion to the number of thousands that have been slain! It is no wonder if such become political preachers, and their sermons be no better than husks for swine. To such the hungry sheep look up, and are not fed. God pity such miserable Athenians, and direct them to a more suitable employment!