Acts 17:34

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. HOWBEIT CERTAIN MEN CLAVE (OR 'ATTACHED THEMSELVES') UNTO HIM, AND BELIEVED. Instead of mocking or politely waiving the subject, having listened eagerly, they joined themselves to the apostle for further instruction, the consequence of which was that they "believed." AMONG THE WHICH WAS DIONYSIUS, [ kai (G2532) Dionusios (G1354)] - even Dionysius, THE AREOPAGITE, a member of that august tribunal. Ancient tradition says be was placed by the apostle over the little flock at Athens. Certainly (as Olshausen says) the number of converts there, and of men fit for office in the church, was not s...

− 34._Among whom was also Dionysius. _Seeing that Luke doth name one man and one woman only, it appeareth that there was but a small number of those which believed at the first. For those other of whom he maketh mention remained indifferent; because they did neither wholly despise Paul’s doctrine, neither were they so thoroughly touched, that they joined themselves unto him that they might be his scholars. Luke maketh mention of Dionysius above the rest, because he was in no small authority among his citizens. Therefore, it is likely that Damaris was also a woman of some renown, [rank.] − Furthermore, it is ridiculous in that the Papists [have] made of a judge an astrologer. But this is to be imputed partly to their ignorance, partly to their boldness, − (309) who, seeing they knew not what Areopagus or Mars’ Street meant, took to themselves liberty to feign whatsoever they would. And t...

32-34 The apostle was treated with more outward civility at Athens than in some other places; but none more despised his doctrine, or treated it with more indifference. Of all subjects, that which deserves the most attention gains the least. But those who scorn, will have to bear the consequences, and the word will never be useless. Some will be found, who cleave to the Lord, and listen to his faithful servants. Considering the judgement to come, and Christ as our Judge, should urge all to repent of sin, and turn to Him. Whatever matter is used, all discourses must lead to Him, and show his authority; our salvation, and resurrection, come from and by Him....

Verse Acts 17:34. _CERTAIN MEN CLAVE UNTO HIM_] Became affectionately united to him, _and believed_ the doctrines he had preached. _DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE_] There can be no doubt that this man was one of the _judges_ of this _great court_, but whether the _president_ or otherwise we cannot tell. Humanly speaking, his conversion must have been an acquisition of considerable importance to the Christian religion; for no person was a judge in the Areopagus who had not borne the office of _archon_, or chief governor of the city; and none bore the office of judge in this court who was not of the _highest reputation_ among the people for his _intelligence_ and _exemplary conduct_. In some of the popish writers we find a vast deal of groundless conjecture concerning Dionysius, who, they say, was first bishop of Athens, and rais

CLAVE UNTO HIM - Adhered to him firmly; embraced the Christian religion. DIONYSIUS - Nothing more is certainly known of this man than is here stated. THE AREOPAGITE - Connected with the court of Areopagus, but in what way is not known. It is probable that he was one of the judges. The conversion of one man was worth the labor of Paul, and that conversion might have had an extensive influence on others. In regard to this account of the visit of Paul to Athens probably the only one which he made to that splendid capital - we may remark: (1) That he was indefatigable and constant in his great work. (2) Christians, amidst the splendor and gaieties of such cities, should have their hearts deeply affected in view of the moral desolations of the people....

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

HOWBEIT, CERTAIN MEN CLAVE UNTO HIM, AND BELIEVED,.... There were some who were ordained to eternal life, to whom the Gospel came in power, and they received the love of the truth, and their hearts and affections were knit unto the apostle; and they followed him, and kept to him, and privately conversed with him, and believed his doctrine, and in Jesus Christ, whom he preached unto them; to these the Gospel was the savour of life unto life, when to the scoffers and mockers it was the savour of death unto death: and this is the fruit and effect of the Gospel ministry, wherever it comes: AMONG THE WHICH WAS DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE; a judge in the court of Areopagus: how many judges that court consisted of, is not certain, nor whether there was one who was superior to the rest; if there was such an one, Dionysius seems to have been he, since he is called the Areopagite. The business of th...

ACTS 17:34 The omission in codex Bezae of the words kai. gunh. ovno,mati Da,marij has been taken by some (e.g. Wm. M. Ramsay) to be another indication of the anti-feminist attitude of the scribe (see the comment on ver. 12 above). 330 It is, however, more likely, as A. C. Clark suggests, 331 that a line in an ancestor of codex Bezae had been accidentally omitted, so that what remains in D is evn oi-j kai. Dionu,sio,j tij VAreopagei,thj euvsch,mwn kai. e[teroi su.n auvtoi/j (“among whom also was a _certain_ Dionysius, _an_ Areopagite of _high standing,_ and others with them”). In either case, however, the concluding phrase...

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

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