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Acts 17:20

in Acts 17

For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

KJV

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

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This verse in Acts 17

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

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.

This site's exposition

brought him to the Areopagus

on Acts 17:19-21

They brought Paul to the Areopagus, the ancient council that then oversaw religion and teaching in the city. The text leaves open whether their question was courteous inquiry or formal examination. Luke adds that the Athenians spent their time hearing and articulating new ideas.

This site's exposition

some strange notions to our ears

The charge echoes the one brought against Socrates in the same city, of bringing in strange new gods, which Xenophon records at Memorabilia 1.1.1. Athens had tried a teacher for this before. Luke's readers would hear the echo.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 38 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And having taken him, they brought him to the Areopagus" - not to punish, but in order to learn - "to the Areopagus" where the trials for murder were held. Thus observe, in hope of learning they ask him, saying, "May we know what is this new doctrine spoken of by thee? For thou bringest certain strange matters to our ears": everywhere novelty is the charge: "we would fain know therefore, what these things may mean."

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

If it may be, we would gladly know, and desire thee to tell us, what these things mean, that we may be able to pass a judgment upon them." This was a fair proposal; it was fit they should know what this doctrine was before they embraced it; and they were so fair as not to condemn it till they had had some account of it.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

), and the account he gave of natural religion, for the conviction of those that were addicted to polytheism and idolatry, and to lead them to the Christian religion (

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

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.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

While therefore the Stoical was in itself superior to the Epicurean system, both were alike hostile to the Gospel. "The two enemies it has ever had to contend with are the two ruling principles of the Epicureans and Stoics--Pleasure and Pride" [HOWSON].
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

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.

The words behind it

15 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

16 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hosea 8:12Though I wrote for them the great things of My law, they regarded them as something strange.5 works1 Corinthians 1:23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,5 works1 Corinthians 2:14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.5 works1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.4 works1 Peter 4:4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.4 worksActs 2:12Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”3 works
The other 10 cross-references, with their words ▾
Matthew 19:23–25Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.2 worksHebrews 5:11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.2 worksMark 9:10So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.2 worksMark 10:24–26And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!2 worksJohn 7:35–36At this, the Jews said to one another, “Where does He intend to go that we will not find Him? Will He go where the Jews are dispersed among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?2 worksJohn 6:60On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”2 worksActs 10:17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.2 worksActs 17:19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?2 worksMatthew 11:20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.2 worksGenesis 1:26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”-2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 1:18

    For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 2:14

      The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Romans 1:16

      I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

    • 2 Thessalonians 2:10

      and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

    • 1 Corinthians 1:23–25

      but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 2:14

    The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 1:18

      For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    • Romans 8:5–8

      Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

    • Matthew 13:11–17

      He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

    • 2 Corinthians 4:4–6

      The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 17 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 38; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; R. J. Knowling, The Acts of the Apostles, The Expositor's Greek Testament; William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen and Xenophon, Memorabilia 1.1.1.

Read on in Acts 17 →