For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
Parallel translations
- WEB For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”
- BSB For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
- NKJV For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”
- NASB For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.”
- NLT “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They admitted his ideas were strange and said they wanted to understand them.
Overview
The Athenians' curiosity, though shallow, opened a door for Paul to proclaim the gospel. Their interest in novelty would soon be confronted by a call to repent and believe. The verse shows God using even idle curiosity as an occasion for the truth of Christ to be declared.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Cor 1:23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
- Hos 8:12I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
- 1 Cor 2:14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- 1 Cor 1:18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
- 1 Pet 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
- Acts 2:12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
- John 7:35–36Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?
- John 6:60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?
- Mark 10:24–26And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
- Heb 5:11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
- Mark 9:10And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
- Matt 19:23–25Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- Acts 10:17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 17:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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