Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul stands before the Athenian council at the Areopagus after walking through the city and noting their habit of debating new ideas. He addresses them directly as he begins his public speech.
The words — Σταθεὶς (Statheis) means "having stood," marking Paul’s deliberate preparation to speak. Ἀρείου (Areiou) specifies the location as the Hill of Ares, the traditional meeting place for Athenian judicial and philosophical assembly.
The thread — The text notes Paul’s observation of Athenian religiosity, which follows his spiritual disturbance over the city’s idols (Acts 17:16) and anticipates his appeal to their altar to an unknown deity (Acts 17:23). This mirrors his later encounter with religious contentions concerning Jesus (Acts 25:19) and the civic defense of temple traditions (Acts 19:35).
Why it lands — The text states that outward religious behavior is visible and measurable, but leaves the true object of that worship undefined. It asks a reader to examine whether their own religious practices are directed toward a known reality or remain culturally conditioned.
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 Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Cross-references
- Acts 25:19 They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
- Acts 17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
- Acts 19:35 Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
- Jeremiah 10:2 This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by the signs in the heavens, though the nations themselves are terrified by them.
- Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.