To Hear Some New Thing - Acts 17:21

The beloved physician Luke wrote how “certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered” Paul in Athens. ”And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof you speak, is? For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean”, and in chapter seventeen and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke parenthetically shared how, “the Athenians and strangers … spent their time” where we read:

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else,

but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

The verse begins, “(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, ...” Luke began with the words, “(for all the Athenians” which means “because, since and on account that each, every, the whole and everyone of the people who lived in Athens” “and strangers” or “and foreigners, aliens and guest” “which were there spent their time” which means “who were present, dwelt, had leisure and gave their time in Athens” “in nothing else” or “in not one other thing” except for the following. Luke parenthetically shared how the people who lived in “Athens” and those who visited there as guests did nothing other than the following with their time.

The verse continues, “... but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)” Luke added the words, “but either to tell” or “except to say, speak, affirm, maintain or advise”, “or to hear” which means “or to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding” “some new thing” or “a certain recent, fresh, unused, unworn or uncommon idea or thought”). Luke shared how the people who lived or visited “Athens” only expended their time there to declare or “perceive” a new thought or idea.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn what the people who were in “Athens” spent their time doing. They were highly interested in thoughts and ideas, and knowledge and wisdom were priorities for them. Therefore, they expended their lives in trading speeches and listening to what each other had to say. To be “in the know” was important to these philosophers, and whenever someone presented a “new idea”, they were interested. We shall see how this created an opportunity for “Paul” as he desired to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with “thinkers”. God's gospel is for everyone, and whenever those who are deep into “thoughts and ideas” are exposed to His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus, they align with God's thoughts when they submit themselves to His forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.

Next time Luke shares, “then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".