Acts 17:19 So 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?

◄ Acts 17:19 ►

New International Version
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

New Living Translation
Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.

English Standard Version
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

Berean Standard Bible
So 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?

Berean Literal Bible
And having taken hold of him they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "Are we able to know what is this new teaching which is spoken by you.

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

New King James Version
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

New American Standard Bible
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

NASB 1995
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

NASB 1977
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

Legacy Standard Bible
And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are speaking?

Amplified Bible
They took him and brought him to the Areopagus (Hill of Ares, the Greek god of war), saying, “May we know what this [strange] new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

Christian Standard Bible
They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of?

American Standard Version
And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?

Contemporary English Version
They brought Paul before a council called the Areopagus, and said, "Tell us what your new teaching is all about.

English Revised Version
And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then they brought Paul to the city court, the Areopagus, and asked, "Could you tell us these new ideas that you're teaching?

Good News Translation
So they took Paul, brought him before the city council, the Areopagus, and said, "We would like to know what this new teaching is that you are talking about.

International Standard Version
Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, and asked, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is?

Majority Standard Bible
So 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?

NET Bible
So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming?

New Heart English Bible
They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?

Webster's Bible Translation
And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest?

Weymouth New Testament
Then they took him and brought him up to the Areopagus, asking him, "May we be told what this new teaching of yours is?

World English Bible
They took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which you are speaking about?

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
having also taken him, they brought [him] to the Areopagus, saying, “Are we able to know what this new teaching [is] that is spoken by you,

Berean Literal Bible
And having taken hold of him they brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "Are we able to know what is this new teaching which is spoken by you.

Young's Literal Translation
having also taken him, unto the Areopagus they brought him, saying, 'Are we able to know what is this new teaching that is spoken by thee,

Smith's Literal Translation
And having taken him, they brought upon Mars' hill, saying, Can we know what this new teaching is, spoken by thee?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?

New American Bible
They took him and led him to the Areopagus and said, “May we learn what this new teaching is that you speak of?

New Revised Standard Version
So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So they arrested him and brought him to the court house which is called Ar-e-op’agus, and said to him, May we know what is this new doctrine which you preach?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they took him and brought him to the place of judgment, which is called Arios-Pagos, while they were saying to him, “Can we know what this new teaching is that you proclaim?”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And they took him, and brought him to Mars hill, saying: Are we able to understand what this new teaching is, which is announced by you?

Godbey New Testament
And taking him, they led him to the Areopagus, saying; Are we able to know what is this new teaching, spoken by thee?

Haweis New Testament
So they took him and led him to the hill of Mars, saying, May we know what this novel doctrine taught by thee is?

Mace New Testament
One day they conducted him to the Areopagus, and said to him, may we know what this new doctrine is, which you publish?

Weymouth New Testament
Then they took him and brought him up to the Areopagus, asking him, "May we be told what this new teaching of yours is?

Worrell New Testament
And, laying hold of him, they led him upon Mars Hill, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, that is being spoken by you!

Worsley New Testament
And they took and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul in Athens
…18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. 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? 20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Acts 17:22-23
Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. / For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

Acts 17:31-32
For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” / When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”

Acts 17:16-18
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols. / So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day. / Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 17:34
But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.

Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Acts 17:28
‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

Acts 17:26-27
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. / God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.

Acts 17:33
At that, Paul left the Areopagus.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, / but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, / but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. / For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

1 Corinthians 9:19-22
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. / To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. / To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. ...

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

Colossians 4:5-6
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. / Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Treasury of Scripture

And they took him, and brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof you speak, is?

Areopagus.

Acts 17:22
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.

May.

Acts 17:20
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Acts 24:24
And 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.

Acts 25:22
Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.

new.

Mark 1:27
And 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.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

1 John 2:7,8
Brethren, 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…

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Areopagus Are-Op'agus Clear Doctrine Hill Hold Mars Meeting New Present Presenting Proclaiming Speakest Teaching Whereof

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Areopagus Are-Op'agus Clear Doctrine Hill Hold Mars Meeting New Present Presenting Proclaiming Speakest Teaching Whereof

Acts 17

1. Paul preaches at Thessalonica, where some believe,
5. and others persecute him.
10. He is sent to Berea, and preaches there.
13. Being persecuted by Jews from Thessalonica,
16. he comes to Athens, and disputes and preaches the living God, to them unknown;
32. whereby, though some mock, many are converted unto Christ.

Berean Study Bible

So they took him
This phrase indicates a deliberate action by the Athenians. The Greek word for "took" (ἐπιλαμβάνομαι, epilambanomai) suggests a firm grasp or taking hold of someone. In the context of Acts, it reflects the Athenians' interest and perhaps a sense of authority or control as they escort Paul. Historically, Athens was a center of learning and debate, and the Athenians were known for their curiosity about new ideas, as noted in Acts 17:21.

and brought him
The act of bringing Paul to the Areopagus signifies a formal setting for discussion. The Greek word "ἄγω" (ago) implies leading or guiding, which in this context, shows the Athenians' intention to hear Paul in a structured environment. This reflects the cultural and intellectual climate of Athens, where public discourse was highly valued.

to the Areopagus
The Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill, was a prominent rock outcropping in Athens and served as the meeting place for the council of elders, which was a significant judicial and legislative body. The name "Areopagus" comes from "Ares," the Greek god of war, and "pagos," meaning "hill." This location was historically significant as a place of philosophical and legal discussions, making it a fitting venue for Paul's presentation of the Gospel.

where they asked him
The Athenians' inquiry reflects their cultural disposition towards learning and debate. The Greek word "λέγω" (lego) for "asked" implies a dialogue or discourse, indicating that they were not merely questioning Paul but were open to engaging with his ideas. This openness to dialogue is a hallmark of the Athenian intellectual tradition.

May we know
This phrase reveals the Athenians' desire for understanding and knowledge. The Greek word "γινώσκω" (ginosko) for "know" suggests a deep, experiential understanding rather than mere intellectual assent. It highlights the Athenians' pursuit of wisdom and truth, which Paul seeks to fulfill by presenting the Gospel.

what this new teaching is
The term "new teaching" indicates that Paul's message was unfamiliar and intriguing to the Athenians. The Greek word "διδαχή" (didache) for "teaching" refers to doctrine or instruction. In the context of Acts, this new teaching is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was revolutionary and counter-cultural to the prevailing philosophies of the time.

that you are presenting?
The word "presenting" (λαλέω, laleo) in Greek implies speaking or proclaiming. This suggests that Paul was actively and publicly sharing the Gospel message. The Athenians' request to understand this teaching underscores their openness to new ideas and sets the stage for Paul's subsequent discourse on the nature of God and the resurrection, which challenges their existing beliefs and philosophies.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) They took him, and brought him unto Areopagus.--The name may stand either for the Hill of Mars, simply as a locality, or for the Court which sat there, and was known as the Court of the Areopagus, and which, as the oldest and most revered tribunal in Athens, owing its origin to Athena, and connected with the story of Orestes and the worship of the propitiated Erinnyes (the Avengers) as the Eumenides (the Gentle Ones), still continued to exercise jurisdiction in all matters connected with the religion of the state, and numbered among its members men of the highest official rank. It had originally consisted only of those who had filled the office of Archon and were over sixty years of age. Its supreme authority had been in some measure limited by Pericles, and it was as the organ of the party who opposed the ideas of freedom and progress of which he was the representative, that 'schylus wrote the tragedy of the Eumenides, in which the divine authority of the Court was impressed upon men's minds. Here, however, the narrative that follows presents no trace of a formal trial, and hence it has been questioned whether the Apostle was brought before the Court of the Areopagus. Unless, however, there had been some intention of a trial, there seems no reason for their taking him to the Areopagus rather than to the Pnyx or elsewhere; and the mention of a member of the Court as converted by St. Paul's preaching, makes it probable that the Court was actually sitting at the time. The most natural explanation of the apparent difficulty is, that as the charge of bringing in "strange deities" was one which came under the jurisdiction of the Areopagus Court, the crowd who seized on St. Paul hurried him there, not presenting a formal indictment, but calling for a preliminary inquiry, that his speech accordingly, though of the nature of an apologia, was not an answer to a distinct accusation, and that having heard it, the Court looked on the matter as calling for no special action, and passed to the order of the day.

May we know . . .?--The form of the question, courteous in semblance, but with a slight touch of sarcasm, is eminently characteristic in itself, and shows also that there was no formal accusation, though the words that followed suggested the thought that there possibly might be materials for one. What had been said was "strange" enough to require an explanation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - Took held of for took, A.V.; the Areopagus for Areopagus, A.V.; teaching is for doctrine... is, A.V.; which is spoken by thee for whereof thou speakest, A.V. Took hold of him. The word ἐπιλάβεσθαι means simply to "take hold of" the hand, the hair, a garment, etc. The context alone decides whether this taking held is friendly or hostile (for the former sense, see Matthew 14:31; Mark 8:23; Luke 9:47; Luke 14:4; Acts 9:27; Acts 23:19, etc.; for the latter, Luke 23:26; Acts 16:19; Acts 18:17; Acts 21:30, 33). Here the sense is well expressed by Grotius (quoted by Meyer): "Taking him gently by the hand." The Areopagas. Mars' Hill, close to the Agora ("the market") on the north, was so called from the legend that Mars was tried there before the gods for the murder of a son of Neptune. It is (says Lewin) a bare, rugged rock, approached at the south-eastern corner by steps, of which sixteen still remain perfect. Its area at the top measures sixty paces by twenty-four, within which a quadrangle, sixteen paces square, is excavated and leveled for the court. The judges seem to have sat on benches tier above tier on the rising rock on the north side of the quadrangle. There were also seats on the east and west sides, and on the south on either side of the stairs. The Areopagus (the upper court) was the most august of all the courts at Athens. Socrates was tried and condemned before it for impiety. On the present occasion, there is no appearance of judicial proceedings, but they seem to have adjourned to the Areopagus from the Agora, as to a convenient place for quiet discussion.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

So
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

they took
Ἐπιλαβόμενοί (Epilabomenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1949: To lay hold of, take hold of, seize (sometimes with beneficent, sometimes with hostile, intent).

[Paul]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[and] brought [him]
ἤγαγον (ēgagon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 71: A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.

to
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Areopagus,
Ἄρειον (Areion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 697: From Ares and a derivative of pegnumi; rock of Ares, a place in Athens.

[where] they asked [him],
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“May we
Δυνάμεθα (Dynametha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

know
γνῶναι (gnōnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

what
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

this
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

new
καινὴ (kainē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2537: Fresh, new, unused, novel. Of uncertain affinity; new

teaching [is]
διδαχή (didachē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1322: Teaching, doctrine, what is taught. From didasko; instruction.

[that] you
σοῦ (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are presenting?
λαλουμένη (laloumenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

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NT Apostles: Acts 17:19 They took hold of him and brought (Acts of the Apostles Ac)