Acts 17:16-18

Expanded Bible

Paul Preaches in Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for ·Silas and Timothy [^Lthem] in Athens, ·he [^Lhis spirit] was ·troubled [very distressed] because he saw that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ In the synagogue, he ·talked [or argued; reasoned] with the Jews and the ·Greeks who worshiped God [God-fearing Gentiles; ^Lpious/devout ones; see 17:4]. He also ·talked [or argued; reasoned] every day with ·people [^Lthose who happened to be present] in the ·marketplace [or public square].

¹⁸ Some of the Epicurean [^Cwho believed the goal of life was pleasure and did not believe the soul survived death] and Stoic philosophers [^Cwho believed life should be lived with indifference to pleasure and pain, and did not believe the soul was immortal] ·argued [conversed; debated] with him, saying, “What is this ·babbler [or charlatan; or ignorant show-off; ^Lword-scatterer] trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be telling us about ·some other gods [foreign gods; strange deities],” because Paul was ·telling them [preaching the Good News/Gospel] about Jesus and ·his rising from the dead [the resurrection].