Acts

Acts 17:18–21

¹⁸Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

¹⁹So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus,^b where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

²¹Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

Footnotes

b 17:19 Or Ares Hill or Mars Hill; also in verse 22 and added for clarity in verse 33

Read all of Acts 17

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Acts 17:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Some	Τινὲς	Tines	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G5100 any one, some one
Epicurean	Ἐπικουρείων	Epikoureiōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G1946 an Epicurean
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
Stoic	Στοϊκῶν	Stoikōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4770 Stoic
philosophers	φιλοσόφων	philosophōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G5386 a philosopher
also	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
began to debate	συνέβαλλον	syneballon	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G4820 I ponder, encounter, confer or dispute with
with him	αὐτῷ	autō	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
Some	τινες	tines	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G5100 any one, some one
asked	ἔλεγον	elegon	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
What	Τί	Ti	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5101 who, which, what
this	οὗτος	houtos	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
babbler	σπερμολόγος	spermologos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4691 a babbler
trying	θέλοι	theloi	Verb - Present Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire
to say	λέγειν	legein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G3004 I say, speak
Others	οἱ	hoi	Article - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3588 the
He seems	δοκεῖ	dokei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1380 I think, seem, appear, it seems
to be	εἶναι	einai	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G1510 I am, exist
advocating	καταγγελεὺς	katangeleus	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2604 a reporter, herald
foreign	Ξένων	Xenōn	Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural	G3581 new, novel, a foreigner
gods	δαιμονίων	daimoniōn	Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural	G1140 an evil-spirit, demon
because	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
was proclaiming the good news	εὐηγγελίζετο	euēngelizeto	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular	G2097 I bring good news, preach good tidings
of Jesus	Ἰησοῦν	Iēsoun	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G2424 Jesus
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
resurrection	ἀνάστασιν	anastasin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G386 a rising again, resurrection

Acts 17:19

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So	τε	te	Conjunction	G5037 and, both
they took	Ἐπιλαβόμενοί	Epilabomenoi	Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1949 I seize, take hold of
brought	ἤγαγον	ēgagon	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G71 I lead
to	ἐπὶ	epi	Preposition	G1909 on, to, against, on the basis of, at
the	τὸν	ton	Article - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
Areopagus	Ἄρειον	Areion	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G697 the Areopagus
they asked	λέγοντες	legontes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3004 I say, speak
May we	Δυνάμεθα	Dynametha	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural	G1410 I am powerful, am able
know	γνῶναι	gnōnai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
what	τίς	tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
this	αὕτη	hautē	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
new	καινὴ	kainē	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2537 fresh, new
teaching	διδαχή	didachē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1322 teaching, doctrine
you	σοῦ	sou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular	G4771 you
are presenting	λαλουμένη	laloumenē	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2980 I speak, say

Acts 17:20

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γάρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
you are bringing	εἰσφέρεις	eisphereis	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G1533 I lead into, bring in
some	τινα	tina	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G5100 any one, some one
strange notions	ξενίζοντα	xenizonta	Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3579 I entertain a stranger, I startle
to	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
our	ἡμῶν	hēmōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
ears	ἀκοὰς	akoas	Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural	G189 hearing, faculty of hearing, ear
we want	βουλόμεθα	boulometha	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural	G1014 I will, intend, desire
to know	γνῶναι	gnōnai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G1097 I come to know, learn, realize
what	τίνα	tina	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural	G5101 who, which, what
mean	θέλει	thelei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2309 I will, wish, desire

Acts 17:21

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
all	πάντες	pantes	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
Athenians	Ἀθηναῖοι	Athēnaioi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G117 Athenian
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
foreigners	ξένοι	xenoi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3581 new, novel, a foreigner
who lived there	ἐπιδημοῦντες	epidēmountes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1927 I sojourn, am resident
spent their time	ηὐκαίρουν	ēukairoun	Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2119 I have a good opportunity, have leisure
nothing	οὐδὲν	ouden	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3762 no one, none, nothing
than	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
hearing	ἀκούειν	akouein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G191 I hear, listen
and	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
articulating	λέγειν	legein	Verb - Present Infinitive Active	G3004 I say, speak
new	καινότερον	kainoteron	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative	G2537 fresh, new