σταθεις 2476 5685 V-APP-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM παυλος 3972 N-NSM εν 1722 PREP μεσω 3319 A-DSN του 3588 T-GSM αρειου 697 N-GSM παγου 697 N-GSM εφη 5346 5713 V-IXI-3S ανδρες 435 N-VPM αθηναιοι 117 A-VPM κατα 2596 PREP παντα 3956 A-APN ως 5613 ADV δεισιδαιμονεστερους 1174 A-APM-C υμας 5209 P-2AP θεωρω 2334 5719 V-PAI-1S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
22. I perceive (qewrw). I regard you, in my careful observation of you. See on Luke x. 18.Too superstitious (deisidaimonesterouv). This rendering and that of the Rev., somewhat superstitious, are both unfortunate. The word is compounded of deidw, to fear, and daimwn, a deity. It signifies either a religious or a superstitious sentiment, according to the context. Paul would have been unlikely to begin his address with a charge which would have awakened the anger of his audience. What he means to say is, You are more divinity-fearing than the rest of the Greeks. This propensity to reverence the higher powers is a good thing in itself, only, as he shows them, it is misdirected, not rightly conscious of its object and aim. Paul proposes to guide the sentiment rightly by revealing him whom they ignorantly worship. The American revisers insist on very religious. The kindred word deisidaimonia occurs ch. xxv. 19, and in the sense of religion, though rendered in A.V. superstition. Festus would not call the Jewish religion a superstition before Agrippa, who was himself a Jew. There is the testimony of the Ephesian town-clerk, that Paul, during his three years' residence at Ephesus, did not rudely and coarsely attack the worship of the Ephesian Diana. "Nor yet blasphemers of your goddess" (Acts xix. 37).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:22 {Stood in the midst of the Areopagus} (staqeis en meswi tou areiou pagou). First aorist passive of histemi used of Peter in #2:14. Majestic figure whether on Mars Hill or in the stoa Basilica before the Areopagus Court. There would be a crowd of spectators and philosophers in either case and Paul seized the opportunity to preach Christ to this strange audience as he did in Caesarea before Herod Agrippa and the crowd of prominent people gathered by Festus for the entertainment. Paul does not speak as a man on trial, but as one trying to get a hearing for the gospel of Christ. {Somewhat superstitious} (hws deisidaimonesterous). The Authorized Version has "too superstitious," the American Standard "very religious." deisidaimwn is a neutral word (from deidw, to fear, and daimwn, deity). The Greeks used it either in the good sense of pious or religious or the bad sense of superstitious. Thayer suggests that Paul uses it "with kindly ambiguity." Page thinks that Luke uses the word to represent the religious feeling of the Athenians (_religiosus_) which bordered on superstition. The Vulgate has _superstitiosiores_. In #25:19 Festus uses the term deisidaimonia for "religion." It seems unlikely that Paul should give this audience a slap in the face at the very start. The way one takes this adjective here colors Paul's whole speech before the Council of Areopagus. The comparative here as in verse #21 means more religions than usual (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 664f.), the object of the comparison not being expressed. The Athenians had a tremendous reputation for their devotion to religion, "full of idols" (verse #16).
