Acts 17:21

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

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul stands before the Athenian assembly at the Areopagus after they requested clarification on his teaching.

The words — ἐπιδημοῦντες (epidēmountes) describes those visiting or residing temporarily, and ξένοι (xenoi) identifies foreigners or outsiders among the crowd.

The thread — The verse records a cultural habit that aligns with New Testament warnings against idle talk in 2 Timothy 2:16 and calls to redeem time in Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5.

Why it lands — It requires readers to examine whether their daily conversations pursue substantive truth or merely chase novelty, and to direct their speech and time toward purposeful ends.

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

ἈθηναῖοιAthēnaioi[The] Athenians δὲdenow πάντεςpantesall καὶkaiand οἱhoithe ἐπιδημοῦντεςepidēmountesvisiting ξένοιxenoistrangers εἰςeisin οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]ἕτερονheteronelse ηὐκαίρουνēukairounwere spending their time ἢēthan λέγεινlegeinto tell τιtisomething ἢēand ἀκούεινakoueinto hear τιtisomething καινότερον.¶kainoteronnew.

King James Version

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Cross-references

2 Timothy 2:16 But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
Ephesians 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Colossians 4:5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives, accomplishing nothing, but being busybodies.
1 Timothy 5:13 At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.