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But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:34 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
  • BSB But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.
  • NKJV However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
  • NASB But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
  • NLT but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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

A few Athenians believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, showing the gospel bore real fruit even amid widespread rejection.

Overview

Though Athens did not see a great harvest, God saved individuals, including a member of the city's leading council. Luke names them as evidence that no city is beyond the reach of the gospel. The conversion of a respected man and a woman together reflects the gospel's power to cross lines of status and gender, gathering all who receive Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Acts 17:19They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?
  • Rom 11:5–6Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
  • Acts 17:4Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
  • Acts 13:48As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
  • John 19:38–42After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body.
  • John 7:48–52Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?
  • Phil 4:22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
  • Acts 17:22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
  • Isa 55:10–11For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
  • Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (6)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 17:34YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 17:34 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.