Acts 17:20

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. FOR THOU BRINGEST CERTAIN STRANGE THINGS, [ xenizonta (G3579) tina (G5100)] - 'certain foreign-sounding things' "to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean....

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 i...

Verse Acts 17:20. _THOU BRINGEST - STRANGE THINGS TO OUR EARS_] The doctrine of the apostles was different from any they had ever heard: it was wholly spiritual and divine; thus it was _strange_: it was contrary to their customs and manners; and thus it was _strange_ also. As it spoke much of the exaltation and glory of Jesus Christ, they supposed him to be a _setter forth_ of _strange gods_: and, therefore, on the authority of the laws, which forbade the introduction of any _new deities_, or _modes of worship_, he was called before the Areopagus....

CERTAIN STRANGE THINGS - Literally, something pertaining to a foreign country or people. Here it means something unusual or remarkable - something different from what they had been accustomed to hear from their philosophers. WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN - We would understand more clearly what is affirmed respecting Jesus and the resurrection....

EXPOSITION ACTS 17:1 AMPHIPOLIS. This was the ancient capital of that division of Macedonia (Macedonia Prima); see Acts 16:12, note. It was situated on the Via Egnatia, thirty-four miles southwest from Philippi, and three miles from the AEgean Sea. It lay in a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the Strymon, whence its name, _Amphipolis; _its modern name is _Neokhoria, _now a village. Its original name was Ἐννέα ̔οδοί, The Nine Ways. Originally a Thracian city, it was conquered by the Athenians, then by the Lacedaemonians, then fell under the dominion of Philip of Macedon, and finally, with the rest of Macedonia, became part of the Roman empire. APOLLONIA; now probably _Polina, _thirty miles due west

FOR THOU BRINGEST CERTAIN STRANGE THINGS TO OUR EARS,.... Strange doctrines and strange deities, such as they had never heard of before: WE WOULD KNOW THEREFORE WHAT THESE THINGS MEAN; they desire he would explain these things to them, and let them know the rise, and ground, and nature, and end, and design of them....

CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The Gospel in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1)._ 2. The Gospel in Beroea (Acts 17:10). 3. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:15). Three cities in which the Gospel is next preached are before us in this chapter. But there is a marked difference between these three places. In Thessalonica there was much hostility, the result of the success of the Gospel. In Beroea a more noble class of Jews were found. Their nobility consisted in submission to the Scriptures, the oracles of God, and in a ready mind. There was a still greater blessing among the Jews and the Gentiles. In Athens the Apostle Paul met idolatry, indifference and ridicule. An interesting fact is learned concerning the activity of the apostl

PAUL AT ATHENS. Athens was at this time no longer the intellectual centre of the world, nor the best of the leading schools of philosophy; but the fame of the city drew many to it, and a visit to Athens gave finish to the education of a Roman. With no great seriousness, all matters were discussed there, and it offered no promising soil for the Gospel. See Renan's chapter on Athens in his _St. Paul._ ACTS 17:16. The images of Athens were multitudinous; the pillaging of Greek masterpieces by Roman magistrates was not yet far advanced, and what Paul saw might have suggested reflections on the magnificent achievements of Greek art. But to his Jewish eye they were the aberrations of men who did not see God in His works but tried to make representations of Him to worship; he would consider they were all there for that purpose ...

IN THESSALONICA (Acts 17:1-9)...

STRANGE. Greek. _xenizo,_ to treat as _xenos_ (Acts 17:18), hence to lodge. See Acts 10:6; Acts 10:18; Acts 10:23; Acts 10:32. 1Pe 4:4, 1 Peter 4:12. EARS. Greek. _akoe,_ hearing. WOULD. wish to. Greek. _boulomai._ App-102. MEAN. Literally wish (Greek. _thelo._ App-102.) to be....