Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 17]
thuma theois kai anath•ma\ (all altar, all sacrifice and offering
to the gods). These statues were beautiful, but Paul was not
deceived by the mere art for art's sake. The idolatry and
sensualism of it all glared at him (Ro 1:18-32). Renan
ridicules Paul's ignorance in taking these statues for idols, but
Paul knew paganism better than Renan. The superstition of this
centre of Greek culture was depressing to Paul. One has only to
recall how superstitious cults today flourish in the atmosphere
of Boston and Los Angeles to understand conditions in Athens.
Pausanias says that Athens had more images than all the rest of
Greece put together. Pliny states that in the time of Nero Athens
had over 30,000 public statues besides countless private ones in
the homes. Petronius sneers that it was easier to find a god than
a man in Athens. Every gateway or porch had its protecting god.
They lined the street from the Piraeus and caught the eye at
every place of prominence on wall or in the agora.
17:17 {So he reasoned} (\dielegeto men oun\). Accordingly
therefore, with his spirit stirred by the proof of idolatry.
Imperfect middle of \dialeg•\, same verb used in verse 2 which
see. First he reasoned in the synagogue at the services to the
Jews and the God-fearers, then 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
paratugchanontas\). 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, \paratugchan•\, 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 \Poikil• 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.
17:18 {And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
encountered him} (\tines de kai t•n Epikouri•n kai St•ik•n
philosoph•n suneballon aut•i\). Imperfect active of \sunball•\,
old verb, in the N.T. only by Luke, to bring or put together in
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