Bible Strands
Acts 17:18
Some 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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens after concluding his daily teaching in the synagogue and marketplace. The philosophers interrupt his proclamation to question his message before taking him to the Areopagus.
The words — The text explicitly identifies the speakers as τινὲς (tines), meaning "some," and names two specific schools: Ἐπικουρείων (Epikoureiōn), or Epicureans, and Στοϊκῶν (Stoikōn), or Stoics. These terms record the exact philosophical factions that initiated the debate.
The thread — The confrontation between apostolic preaching and philosophical inquiry runs through 1 Corinthians 1:20, where God renders worldly wisdom foolish. The same pattern of religious and intellectual opposition to resurrection teaching appears in Acts 4:2 and the scribes' contentious questioning in Luke 11:53.
Why it lands — The text reports that Paul's message provoked direct skepticism and accusations of advocating foreign deities. It requires a reader to acknowledge that proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection will consistently meet with rational dismissal and cultural resistance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
- Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
- Acts 4:2 greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
- 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
- Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
- Proverbs 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
- Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
- Mark 9:14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
- Acts 6:9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,