Acts 17 21

Acts 17:21 kjv

(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.)

Acts 17:21 nkjv

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.

Acts 17:21 niv

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Acts 17:21 esv

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

Acts 17:21 nlt

(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.)

Acts 17 verses

Acts 17 21 Meaning

Acts 17:21 portrays the Athenians, both citizens and resident foreigners, as people whose primary occupation and pleasure lay in discussing and hearing the latest news and philosophical ideas. It highlights their insatiable intellectual curiosity and constant search for novelty, characterizing a culture steeped in rhetoric, debate, and the exchange of information. This intellectual busyness often manifested as a superficial engagement with various ideas, rather than a deep commitment to one truth.

Acts 17 21 Context

Acts 17 records Paul's visit to Athens. After observing the city "wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:16), he engaged in daily discussions in the synagogue with Jews and devout persons, and in the market (agora) with anyone who happened to be there (Acts 17:17). This open marketplace debate, involving Stoic and Epicurean philosophers, directly precedes and leads to the situation described in verse 21. The verse provides the underlying cultural reason why Paul, a "babbler" or "proclaimer of foreign gods" in their eyes, was invited to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) – not out of genuine interest in divine truth necessarily, but out of their cultural penchant for hearing novelties. It sets the stage for Paul's sophisticated sermon (Acts 17:22-31) that skillfully addresses their intellectual disposition.

Acts 17 21 Word analysis

• For all the Athenians (Pantes Athēnaioi): Refers specifically to the citizens of Athens. This emphasizes the widespread nature of this characteristic, not just a fringe group. Athens was a prestigious city, renowned for its intellectual prowess and the birthplace of philosophy.
• and strangers (kai hoi epidēmouai): "Epidēmous" (Greek: ἐπιδημοῦντες) means sojourners or those dwelling temporarily in a place, implying foreigners who resided in Athens. This expands the scope to include visitors, scholars, merchants, and others attracted to Athens' intellectual climate, indicating this cultural trait was pervasive beyond the native populace.
• which were there (hoi ontes ekei): Simple descriptive phrase, reinforcing their physical presence in Athens.
• spent their time (escholazon): From the Greek verb "scholazō" (σχολάζω), meaning to have leisure, to be at leisure, or to devote oneself to. It is the root of our English word "school." It implies not just casual conversation but a dedicated, intentional allocation of time, often to study or debate. Here, it is specifically applied to intellectual and conversational pursuits.
• in nothing else (ouden heteron): This is a hyperbole, a figure of speech exaggerating for effect. It emphasizes the extraordinary degree to which this activity consumed their attention and time, highlighting their preoccupation. It underscores their exclusive focus on novelty.
• but either to tell, or to hear (ei mē legein ti ē akouein): This dual activity ("to tell" and "to hear") indicates a constant exchange and reciprocal engagement. They were not merely passive recipients but active contributors to the discourse, eager to share their own insights as much as they were to receive new ones. It speaks to a culture of robust public discourse and intellectual curiosity.
• some new thing (kainoteron ti): From the Greek "kainos" (καινος), meaning new, fresh, unused. The comparative form "kainoteron" suggests not just "a new thing," but "something newer" or "something more novel/original." This reveals a craving for absolute freshness, intellectual trends, and the cutting edge of thought, implying a superficial pursuit of knowledge that prioritizes novelty over timeless truth. It highlights their restless and constantly searching minds.

Acts 17 21 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "new things" contrasts sharply with the timeless, unchanging truth of God's Word, which Paul sought to declare (Heb 13:8, Mal 3:6).
• Luke's description acts as a commentary on the inherent limitation of human wisdom when disconnected from divine revelation. While intellectually stimulating, this pursuit could lead to endless debate without true understanding or spiritual transformation.
• This verse provides a crucial insight into Paul's missional strategy: understanding the cultural context of his audience and adapting his approach (e.g., sermon on the Unknown God, Acts 17:22-31) to gain a hearing for the gospel, without compromising its core message.

Acts 17 21 Commentary

Acts 17:21 succinctly captures the cultural zeitgeist of ancient Athens, presenting it as a city obsessed with intellectual discourse and novelty. This characteristic served as both an opportunity and a challenge for Paul. It was an opportunity because it provided a ready-made audience for any "new thing," including the gospel. Paul skillfully leverages this by introducing the truly "new thing" of the resurrection and the living God to an audience perpetually seeking intellectual stimulation. However, it was also a challenge, as their incessant pursuit of novelty could mean a shallow engagement with truth, quickly discarding one idea for the next without deep reflection or commitment. Their intellectual curiosity often bordered on intellectual restlessness, making them hearers but not necessarily doers of the word. Luke's observation, arguably satirical, implies that despite their renowned intellectual heritage, their constant craving for the "newer" indicated a spiritual emptiness and a lack of true, lasting wisdom, which can only be found in God's revealed truth.