SEV Biblia, Chapter 17:17
Así que, disputaba en la sinagoga con los judíos y con los que adoraban; y en la plaza cada día con los que le ocurrían.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 17:17
Verse 17. Disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews] Proving that Jesus was the Messiah: and with the devout persons, probably heathens, proselyted to the Jewish religion. And in the market: I suppose the agora here means some such place as our exchange, where people of business usually met, and where the philosophers conversed and reasoned. The agora was probably like the Roman forum, and like places of public resort in all countries, where people of leisure assembled to converse, hear the news, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews , etc.] There being a synagogue of the Jews here, and there being many Jews settled in this place, hence we read in Jewish writings of men going from Jerusalem to Athens, and from Athens to Jerusalem; and hence it may be accounted for, how many of the Athenian philosophers came to be acquainted with the books and sentiments of the Jews, from whom they borrowed may things; since there were so many that dwelt among them, and doubtless had for years past, as well as by their travels into Egypt: and a Jewish synagogue being here, the apostle went into it, according to his usual manner, and began with them, as he was wont to do, preaching the Gospel to the Jews first, and then unto the Gentiles: with them he disputed, not about idolatry, or the worship of many gods, to which they were not addicted; nor about the one true and living God, whom they knew and professed; but about the Son of God, about the Messiah, contending and proving that Jesus of Nazareth was he: and with the devout persons ; that is, with the Gentiles, who were proselytes to the Jewish religion, and worshipped the God of Israel with the Jews, in their synagogues, but knew nothing of Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation by him: and in the market daily with them that met him ; where there was a concourse of people; and where, after the apostle had been once or twice, the people came purposely to meet with him, and to hear his discourses, and reason with him about points in religion: the Syriac version renders it, in the street; and then the sense seems to be, that as he met persons in the street, day by day, as he walked along, he would stop and talk with them, about religious things, and about their idolatry, vanity, and superstition.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-21 - Athens was then famed for polite learning, philosophy, and the fin arts; but none are more childish and superstitious, more impious, or more credulous, than some persons, deemed eminent for learning an ability. It was wholly given to idolatry. The zealous advocate for the cause of Christ will be ready to plead for it in all companies, a occasion offers. Most of these learned men took no notice of Paul; but some, whose principles were the most directly contrary to Christianity made remarks upon him. The apostle ever dwelt upon two points, whic are indeed the principal doctrines of Christianity, Christ and a futur state; Christ our way, and heaven our end. They looked on this as very different from the knowledge for many ages taught and professed a Athens; they desire to know more of it, but only because it was new an strange. They led him to the place where judges sat who inquired int such matters. They asked about Paul's doctrine, not because it wa good, but because it was new. Great talkers are always busy-bodies They spend their time in nothing else, and a very uncomfortable accoun they have to give of their time who thus spend it. Time is precious and we are concerned to employ it well, because eternity depends upo it, but much is wasted in unprofitable conversation.
Greek Textus Receptus
διελεγετο 1256 5711 V-INI-3S μεν 3303 PRT ουν 3767 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF συναγωγη 4864 N-DSF τοις 3588 T-DPM ιουδαιοις 2453 A-DPM και 2532 CONJ τοις 3588 T-DPM σεβομενοις 4576 5740 V-PNP-DPM και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF αγορα 58 N-DSF κατα 2596 PREP πασαν 3956 A-ASF ημεραν 2250 N-ASF προς 4314 PREP τους 3588 T-APM παρατυγχανοντας 3909 5723 V-PAP-APM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
17:17 {So he reasoned} (dielegeto men oun). Accordingly therefore, with his spirit stirred by the proof of idolatry. Imperfect middle of dialegw, same verb used in verse #2 which see. First he reasoned in the synagogue at the services to the Jews and the God-fearers, qen daily in the agora or marketplace (southwest of the Acropolis, between it and the Areopagus and the Pnyx) to the chance-comers, "them that met him" (pros tous paratugcanontas). Simultaneously with the synagogue preaching at other hours Paul took his stand like Socrates before him and engaged in conversation with (pros) those who happened by. this old verb, paratugcanw, occurs here alone in the N.T. and accurately pictures the life in the agora. The listeners to Paul in the agora would be more casual than those who stop for street preaching, a Salvation Army meeting, a harangue from a box in Hyde Park. It was a slim chance either in synagogue or in agora, but Paul could not remain still with all the reeking idolatry around him. The boundaries of the agora varied, but there was always the poikile stoa (the Painted Porch), over against the Acropolis on the west. In this stoa (Porch) Zeno and other philosophers and rhetoricians held forth from time to time. Paul may have stood near this spot.
