Acts 17:16

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.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city.

The longer Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, the angrier he got--all those idols! The city was a junkyard of idols.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was troubled, for he saw all the town full of images of the gods.

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

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.

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.