Acts 17:19

So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Unnamed Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens escort Paul to the Areopagus, asking him to explain the new teaching he is presenting.

The words — Ἐπιλαβόμενοι (Epilabomenoi) means "having taken hold," and ἤγαγον (ēgagon) means "they brought," describing the physical act of moving Paul to the council hill.

The thread — The phrase "new teaching" echoes Mark 1:27, where crowds recognize Jesus' message as a novel authority, and parallels the curiosity in Acts 24:24 about Paul's message.

Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to confront how unfamiliar doctrines are received by those who demand clarification before granting access.

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

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

Cross-references

Mark 1:27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
Acts 24:24 After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 25:22 Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear this man myself.” “Tomorrow you will hear him,” Festus declared.
Matthew 10:18 On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
Acts 17:20 For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
Acts 26:1 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
1 John 2:7 Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, but an old one, which you have had from the beginning. This commandment is the message you have heard.