Acts 17:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Standing before the Areopagus, Paul opens by observing that the Athenians are in every way unusually devoted to worship.
What Does Acts 17:22 Mean?
Paul stands in the midst of Mars' hill and begins, as good speakers in Athens did, with his hearers: "I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious." The word is double-edged, meaning intensely reverent toward the divine -- their forest of shrines proved a deep, restless instinct to worship.
Paul names what is true of them before declaring what is true of God. He neither flatters nor scorns; he reads Athens' idolatry as longing that has lost its way. Every human heart worships something, and that universal hunger is the gospel's point of contact. To see even misdirected devotion as evidence of the soul's need for God is to begin where Paul begins.
Acts 17:22 in the Original Language
deisidaimon (δεισιδαίμων), 'superstitious' -- reverent toward divine powers; very religious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 17:22
What does Acts 17:22 mean?
Standing before the Areopagus, Paul opens by observing that the Athenians are in every way unusually devoted to worship.