Acts 17:22

22 And Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus said, Athenians, in every way I see you given up to demon worship;

Acts 17:22 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 17:22

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill
Or of Areopagus, as it is better rendered in ( Acts 17:19 ) for it is the same place, and it is the same word that is here used: Paul stood in the midst of that court of judicature, amidst the Areopagites, the judges of that court, and the wise and learned philosophers of the different sects that were assembled together:

and said, ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too
superstitious;
or "more religious", than any other persons, in other places, which has been observed before on ( Acts 17:16 ) they had more gods, and more altars, and more festivals, and were more diligent and studious in the worship of the gods, than others. And this manner of addressing them, both as citizens of Athens, and as very religious persons, and who, as such, greatly exceeded all others, must greatly tend to engage their attention to him.

Acts 17:22 In-Context

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears. We wish therefore to know what these things may mean.

21 Now all [the] Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else than to tell and to hear the news.

22 And Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus said, Athenians, in every way I see you given up to demon worship;

23 for, passing through and beholding your shrines, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye reverence, not knowing [him], him I announce to you.

24 The God who has made the world and all things which are in it, *he*, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,

Footnotes

• [a]. i.e. 'the hill of Mars.' The tribunal which watched over the morals of the Athenians, and saw that due honour was paid to the gods, held its sessions on Areopagus and was so designated. The word here may therefore refer either to the place, or to the tribunal which met there.
• [b]. Lit. 'Men Athenians.' The introduction of 'men' in these passages is not merely a Hebraism. It is the accustomed oratorical address in Greek.
• [c]. Or 'worship of the gods.'