Acts 17 16

Acts 17:16 kjv

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Acts 17:16 nkjv

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.

Acts 17:16 niv

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Acts 17:16 esv

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.

Acts 17:16 nlt

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 16 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate emotional and mental reaction of Paul when he encountered the city of Athens, a prominent center of Greek culture and philosophy. He was deeply affected by the pervasive idolatry and the multiplicity of gods worshipped in this renowned city. His spirit was stirred not in anger, but in a righteous distress or vexation, similar to the distress a person feels when seeing something profoundly wrong or offensive, particularly when it insults the honor of the One he serves. This stirring was a divine reaction prompting him to engage the people with the Gospel.

Acts 17 16 Context

Paul, after his experiences in Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:1-15), arrived in Athens, the intellectual and cultural capital of the ancient world. Athens was renowned for its philosophers, schools of thought, and extensive religious observances, featuring numerous temples and altars dedicated to a wide array of deities. While this verse stands alone in its description of Paul's internal reaction, it sets the stage for his famous sermon at the Areopagus. His encounter with the city's religious landscape directly provoked his spiritual and intellectual engagement, driven by a zealous concern for God's honor and the spiritual state of its inhabitants.

Acts 17 16 Word analysis

• Ὃτε (hote): "When." A temporal conjunction.
• οὖν (oun): "Therefore" or "So." A consequential particle. It links Paul's spiritual distress to his previous experiences or the general situation.
• εἶδεν (eiden): "He saw." Aorist indicative active, third person singular of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to understand."
• τὴν (tēn): "The." Definite article, accusative feminine singular.
• πόλιν (polin): "City." Accusative singular of πόλις (polis). Referring specifically to Athens.
• ὡς (hōs): "As," "like," "how." Used here adverbially, indicating the degree or manner of what follows.
• εἰδωλολατροῦσαν (eidōlatrousan): "Full of idols" or "given to idolatry." Participle of εἰδωλολατρέω (eidōlatreō), which means "to worship idols." It vividly portrays the pervasive nature of idolatry in Athens. This word itself highlights the specific religious condition that provoked Paul.
• τῶν (tōn): "The." Definite article, genitive plural.
• θεῶν (theōn): "Gods." Genitive plural of θεός (theos), God. Refers to the multiple deities worshipped.
• κατὰ (kata): "According to," "in accordance with," "throughout." A preposition often indicating distribution or characteristic. Here it suggests "full of gods."
• πόλιν (polin): "City." Another instance of the word for city.
• ἐν (en): "In." A preposition indicating location.
• τῇ (tē): "The." Definite article, dative feminine singular.
• πρόθυμος (prothymos): "Eager," "ready," "zealous," "spirited." It describes Paul's disposition or reaction.
• τοῦ (tou): "The." Definite article, genitive neuter singular.
• εἶναι (einai): "To be." Infinitive of εἰμί (eimi), to be.
• καταλυθεῖσαν (katatheisān): "Stirred up," "provoked," "annoyed." Aorist participle passive, accusative feminine singular of καταλύω (kataluō). This is a crucial word. While it can mean "to dissolve," "destroy," or "overthrow," in this context, referring to the spirit, it signifies being deeply affected, disturbed, or provoked to action. It conveys a sense of righteous indignation or inner commotion caused by the spiritual state observed. The emotion was not merely intellectual disapproval but a profound, active spiritual response. It suggests a disturbance that naturally leads to some form of action or declaration.

Acts 17 16 Bonus section

The specific Greek term katalytheisa (καταλυθεῖσαν) is rich in meaning. While modern English might use "angered" or "distressed," katalyō suggests a breakdown or dissolving. Paul's spirit felt disrupted; the ordered reality of God's truth was being undermined by Athens' pagan practices. It's similar to how a musician might feel hearing a discordant note, or a patriot witnessing the desecration of their nation's flag. This "stirring" was not an uncontrolled outburst but a righteous vexation that prepared him for reasoned dialogue. It underscores that impactful evangelism often stems from a deep, provoked empathy and a strong sense of divine truth being contradicted. His subsequent dialogue on the Areopagus was a direct outflow of this intensely felt spiritual reaction to Athenian religion.

Acts 17 16 Commentary

Paul's arrival in Athens brought him face-to-face with the pinnacle of Gentile civilization, yet it was a civilization saturated with idolatry. Seeing the vast array of pagan deities openly worshipped evoked a deep emotional and spiritual reaction in him. This "stirring" of his spirit was not mere anger but a fervent concern for God's honor and the people's ignorance of the true God. It reflects the apostolic zeal that characterized his ministry, a burden for lost souls ignited by the reality of their misguided worship. His internal disturbance directly compelled him to speak and to reason with them about the true nature of God and His redemptive plan, highlighting the crucial link between seeing spiritual error and the impulse to evangelize.