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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 17:18–21

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth 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 thou speakest, is?
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
(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.)
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

20 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 18

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:20–21Rank 1 from verse 18
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    20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

    21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

  2. 1 Corinthians 3:18Rank 2 from verse 18
    Open

    18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

  3. 1 Corinthians 4:10Rank 3 from verse 18
    Open

    10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

  4. Acts 4:2Rank 4 from verse 18
    Open

    2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

  5. Colossians 2:8Rank 5 from verse 18
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    8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

From verse 19

  1. Mark 1:27Rank 1 from verse 19
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    27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

  2. Acts 17:22Rank 2 from verse 19
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    22¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

  3. Acts 24:24Rank 3 from verse 19
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    24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

  4. Acts 25:22Rank 4 from verse 19
    Open

    22Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

  5. 1 John 2:7–8Rank 5 from verse 19
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    7Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

    8Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

From verse 20

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:23Rank 1 from verse 20
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    23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

  2. 1 Corinthians 2:14Rank 2 from verse 20
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    14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  3. Hosea 8:12Rank 3 from verse 20
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    12I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

  4. 1 Corinthians 1:18Rank 4 from verse 20
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    18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

  5. 1 Peter 4:4Rank 5 from verse 20
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    4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

From verse 21

  1. 2 Timothy 2:16–17Rank 1 from verse 21
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    16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

    17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;

  2. Colossians 4:5Rank 2 from verse 21
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    5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

  3. Ephesians 5:16Rank 3 from verse 21
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    16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

  4. 1 Timothy 5:13Rank 4 from verse 21
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    13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

  5. 2 Thessalonians 3:11–12Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

    12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 17:18

COMBINED MEANING

certain

↗

1. A particular person, thing, place, time, amount, or number not named or not further specified; also some members or portion of a group. 2. Sure, settled, true, reliable, or known beyond doubt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

babbler

↗

1. One who talks idly or foolishly. 2. A contemptuous name applied by hearers to a speaker whose words they reject.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

seemeth

↗

Third-person singular present form of seem, meaning to appear, be regarded, or be fitting.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strange

↗

Foreign; belonging to another country. Wonderful; causing surprise; exciting curiosity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 17:19

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

new

↗

Recently made, begun, known, or received; fresh, different, or not old.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

doctrine

↗

That which is taught; teaching or instruction.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 17:20

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

certain

↗

1. A particular person, thing, place, time, amount, or number not named or not further specified; also some members or portion of a group. 2. Sure, settled, true, reliable, or known beyond doubt.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strange

↗

Foreign; belonging to another country. Wonderful; causing surprise; exciting curiosity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ears

↗

Plural form of ear. Sense 1: The organ of hearing. Sense 2: The seed-bearing head of grain.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mean

↗

Sense 1: To intend, purpose, signify, or have in view; lowly, common, or of little worldly distinction, with ‘no mean’ indicating the opposite; middle or intervening, as in the mean time. Sense 2: A means, instrument, method, or agency by which something is done.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 17:21

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spent

↗

1. Used, consumed, exhausted, or emptied. 2. Passed or drew toward its end, as time, a day, or life.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

tell

↗

1. To speak, relate, declare, report, inform, explain, reveal, recount, or make known. 2. To know, discern, or determine, especially in 'cannot tell' or 'who can tell.' 3. To count, number, or enumerate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hear

↗

Sense 1: To perceive sound or spoken words. Sense 2: To receive or learn by report. Sense 3: To listen to, regard, or heed. Sense 4: To attend favourably to a request.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

new

↗

Recently made, begun, known, or received; fresh, different, or not old.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Selected passage

19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

Selected passage

20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Selected passage

21(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.)

Selected passage

22¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

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