Discovery BoxActs 17:16 
Context17:16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, 1 his spirit was greatly upset 2 because he saw 3 the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:22
Context17:22 So Paul stood 4 before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious 5 in all respects. 6
Acts 17:15
Context17:15 Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, 7 and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. 8
1 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
2 tn Grk “greatly upset within him,” but the words “within him” were not included in the translation because they are redundant in English. See L&N 88.189. The term could also be rendered “infuriated.”
sn His spirit was greatly upset. See Rom 1:18-32 for Paul’s feelings about idolatry. Yet he addressed both Jews and Gentiles with tact and reserve.
3 tn Or “when he saw.” The participle θεωροῦντος (qewrounto") has been translated as a causal adverbial participle; it could also be translated as temporal.
4 tn Grk “standing…said.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
5 tn The term δεισιδαιμονεστέρους (deisidaimonesterou") is difficult. On the one hand it can have the positive sense of “devout,” but on the other hand it can have the negative sense of “superstitious” (BDAG 216 s.v. δεισιδαίμων). As part of a laudatory introduction (the technical rhetorical term for this introduction was capatatio), the term is probably positive here. It may well be a “backhanded” compliment, playing on the ambiguity.
6 tn BDAG 513 s.v. κατά B.6 translates the phrase κατὰ πάντα (kata panta) as “in all respects.”
7 map For location see JP1 C2; JP2 C2; JP3 C2; JP4 C2.
8 sn They left. See 1 Thess 3:1-2, which shows they went from here to Thessalonica.
