(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.)
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- 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.)
- BSB Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.
- ESV Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
- 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.
- NASB (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Luke notes that Athenians and visitors loved nothing more than to discuss the latest ideas.
Overview
This aside exposes a culture absorbed in novelty for its own sake, with little concern for truth. Such restless intellectualism contrasts with the substance of the eternal gospel. It warns that endless fascination with new ideas can become a substitute for the saving knowledge of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Tim 2:16–17But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
- Col 4:5Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
- Eph 5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- 2 Th 3:11–12For we hear of some who walk among you in rebellion, who don’t work at all, but are busybodies.
- 1 Tim 5:13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 17:21 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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