Acts 17:19
What does Acts 17:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 17:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 17:19 means
They seize the initiative and bring Paul to the Areopagus, the respected council setting for evaluating new ideas. Their request is courteous yet probing: they want to know what this new teaching is. God often grants the gospel a hearing through the very curiosity or opposition it provokes. Paul is not on trial in a legal sense here; he is given a platform before discerning listeners. The move from street conversations to the Areopagus elevates the discussion. Now the message must be framed for a pluralistic, philosophically trained audience, without assuming knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they took him to Mars' Hill, saying, Will you make clear to us what is this new teaching of yours?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862having also taken him, unto the Areopagus they brought <FI>him<Fi> , saying, `Are we able to know what <FI>is<Fi> this new teaching that is spoken by thee,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And having taken hold on him they brought [him] to Areopagus, saying, Might we know what this new doctrine which is spoken by thee [is]?
Context
This verse moves the conversation from marketplace encounters (verse 18) to the formal arena of the Areopagus. The invitation to explain his teaching continues in verse 20, followed by Luke’s aside about Athenian curiosity (verse 21). These verses prepare for Paul’s carefully contextualized address (verses 22–31). He will start with common ground (religiosity and an altar inscription), proclaim the Creator’s transcendence and nearness, dismantle idolatry, and end with God’s command to repent in light of the resurrection and coming judgment by the man He ordained.
v.18And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
v.19This passage
v.20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 2:7
Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.
- Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
- Acts 26:1
And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:
- Acts 17:22
And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very religious.
- Acts 25:22
And Agrippa said unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.
- Matthew 10:18
yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
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