Acts 17 · Verse 16

Acts 17:16

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Acts 17:16, King James Version

Acts 17:16 in other translations

BSBWhile Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
WEBNow while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
ASVNow while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.
YLTand Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry,
DARBYBut in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit was painfully excited in him seeing the city given up to idolatry.
BBENow while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was troubled, for he saw all the town full of images of the gods.
WebsterNow, while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

What does Acts 17:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 17:16-17

Ac 17:16-34. Paul at Athens.

16-17. wholly given to idolatry--"covered with idols"; meaning the city, not the inhabitants. Petronius, a contemporary writer at Nero's court, says satirically that it was easier to find a god at Athens than a man. This "stirred the spirit" of the apostle. "The first impression which the masterpieces of man's taste for art left on the mind of St. Paul was a revolting one, since all this majesty and beauty had placed itself between man and his Creator, and bound him the faster to his gods, who were not God. Upon the first contact, therefore, which the Spirit of Christ came into with the sublimest creations of human art, the judgment of the Holy Ghost--through which they have all to pass--is set up as "the strait gate," and this must remain the correct standard for ever" [Baumgarten].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Now while Paul waited. How long he was there is not intimated; but doubtless some time would elapse before they could arrive. In the mean time, Paul had ample opportunity to observe the state of the city.

His spirit was stirred in him. His mind was greatly excited. The word used here παρωξυνετο denotes any excitement, agitation, or paroxysm of mind, 1Cor 13:5. It here means that the mind of Paul was greatly concerned, or agitated, doubtless with pity and distress, at their folly and danger.

The city wholly given to idolatry. Greek, κατειδωλον. It is well translated in the margin, "full of idols." The word is not elsewhere used in the New Testament. That this was the condition of the city is abundantly testified by profane writers. Thus Pausanias (in Attic. i. 24) says, "The Athenians greatly surpassed others in their zeal for religion" Lucian (T. i. Prometh. p. 180) says of the city of Athens," On every side there are altars, victims, temples, and festivals." Livy (45, 27) says, that Athens "was full of the images of gods and men, adorned with every variety of material, and with all the skill of art." And Petronius (Sat. xvii.) says humourously of the city, that "it was easier to find a god than a man there." See Kuin�el. In this verse we may see how a splendid, idolatrous city will strike a pious mind. Athens then had more that was splendid in architecture, more that was brilliant in science, and more that was beautiful in the arts, than any other city in the world; perhaps more than all the rest of the world united. Yet there is no account that the mind of Paul was filled with admiration; there is no record that he spent his time in examining the works of art; there is no evidence that he forgot his high purpose in an idle and useless contemplation of temples and statuary. His was a Christian mind; and he contemplated all this with a Christian heart. That heart was deeply affected in view of the amazing guilt of a people that were ignorant of the true God, and that had filled their city with idols reared to the honour of imaginary divinities; and who, in the midst of all this splendour and luxury, were going down to the gates of death. So should every pious man feel who treads the streets of a splendid and guilty city. The Christian will not despise the productions of art; but he will feel, deeply feel, for the unhappy condition of those who, amidst wealth and splendour and adorning, are withholding their affections from the living God, bestowing them on the works of their own hands, or on objects degraded and polluting, and who are going unredeemed to eternal woe. Happy would it be if every Christian traveller who visits cities of wealth and splendour would, like Paul, be affected in view of their crimes and dangers; and happy if, like him, men could cease their unbounded admiration of magnificence and splendour in temples and palaces and statuary, to regard the condition of mind, not perishable like marble; and of the soul, more magnificent even in its ruins than all the works of Phidias or Praxiteles.

(d) "his spirit" Ps 119:136, 2Pet 2:8 (1) "wholly given to idolatry" "full of idols"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 He saw the city wholly given to idolatry - Κατειδωλον, Full of idols, as the margin has it, and very properly. Whoever examines the remains of this city, as represented by Mr. Stuart in his Antiquities, already referred to, will be satisfied of the truth of St. Luke's remark: it was full of idols. Bishop Pearce produces a most apposite quotation from Pausanias, which confirms the observation: Ουκ ην αλλαχου τοσαυτα ιδειν ειδωλα. There was no place where so many idols were to be seen. Paus. in Attic. cap. xvii. 24. Petronius, who was contemporary with St. Paul, in his Satyr. cap. xvii., makes Quartilla say of Athens: Utique nostra regio tam Praesentibus Plena Est Numinibus, ut facilius possis Deum quam Hominem invenire. Our region is so full of deities that you may more frequently meet with a god than a man.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 17:16-21
Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fine arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning and ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, as occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the most directly contrary to Christianity, made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, which are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a future state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed at Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new and strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired into such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it was good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies. They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable account they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious, and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upon it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Acts 17:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘνEnInG1722
δὲdenowG1161
ταῖςtais<the>G3588
ἈθήναιςAthēnaisAthensG116
ἐκδεχομένουekdechomenouis waiting forG1551
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ΠαύλουPaulouPaulG3972
παρωξύνετοparōxunetowas provokedG3947
τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaspiritG4151
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἐνeninG1722
αὐτῷautōhimG846
θεωροῦντοςtheōrountosseeingG2334
κατείδωλονkateidōlonutterly idolatrousG2712
οὖσανousanto beG1510
τὴνtēntheG3588
πόλιν.polincity.G4172

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 17:16

  • Psalms 119:158

    I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

  • Psalms 119:136

    Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

  • Exodus 32:19-20

    And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

  • 2 Peter 2:7

    And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

  • Job 32:18-20

    For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

  • Micah 3:8

    But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

  • Mark 3:5

    And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

  • Jeremiah 20:9

    Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

  • Psalms 69:9

    For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

  • 1 Kings 19:14

    And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

  • 1 Kings 19:10

    And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

  • Job 32:2-3

    Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cir. A.M. 4058. A.D. 54. his spirit.
Ex 32:19,20; Nu 25:6-11; 1Ki 19:10,14; Job 32:2,3,18-20; Ps 69:9
Ps 119:136,158; Jer 20:9; Mic 3:8; Mr 3:5; Joh 2:13; 2Pe 2:7
wholly given to idolatry. or, full of idols.
23; *marg:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 17:15

    And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

  • Acts 17:16

    Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

  • Acts 17:17

    Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Read all of Acts 17

Acts 17:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y esperándolos Pablo en Atenas, su espíritu se deshacía en él viendo la ciudad dada á idolatría.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme Paul les attendait à Athènes, son esprit était excité au-dedans de lui, en voyant la ville remplie d’idoles.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Während aber Paulus sie in Athen erwartete, wurde sein Geist in ihm erregt, da er die Stadt voll von Götzenbildern sah.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Paulus autem cum Athenis eos exspectaret, incitabatur spiritus ejus in ipso, videns idololatriæ deditam civitatem.