Acts 17:16

“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens. etc.] That is, for Silas and Timotheus: his spirit was stirred in him; not only his soul was troubled and his heart was grieved, but he was exasperated and provoked to the last degree: he was in a paroxysm; his heart was hot within him; he had a burning fire in his bones, and was weary with forbearing, and could not stay; his zeal wanted vent, and he gave it: when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry; or “full of idols”, as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it. So Cicero says f863 that Athens was full of temples; and Xenophon f864 observes that they had double the feasts of other people; and Pausanias f865 affirms, that the Athenians far…”

“PAUL AT ATHENS. (Acts 17:16-34) wholly given to idolatry--"covered with idols"; meaning the city, not the inhabitants. Petronius, a contemporary writer at Nero's court, says satirically that it was easier to find a god at Athens than a man. This "stirred the spirit" of the apostle. "The first impression which the masterpieces of man's taste for art left on the mind of St. Paul was a revolting one, since all this majesty and beauty had placed itself between man and his Creator, and bound him the faster to his gods, who were not God. Upon the first contact, therefore, which the Spirit of Christ came into with the sublimest creations of human art, the judgment of the Holy Ghost--through which…”

“Now while Paul waited - How long he was there is not intimated; but doubtless some time would elapse before they could arrive. In the meantime Paul had ample opportunity to observe the state of the city. His spirit was stirred in him - His mind was greatly excited. The word used here (παρωξύνετο parōxuneto) denotes “any excitement, agitation, or paroxysm of mind,” 1 Corinthians 13:5. It here means that the mind of Paul was greatly concerned, or agitated, doubtless with pity and distress at their folly and danger. The city wholly given to idolatry - Greek: κατέιδωλον kateidōlon. It is well translated in the margin, “or full of idols.” The word is not used elsewhere in the New Testament.…”

“While Paul was waiting for the - Having no design, as it seems, to preach at Athens, but his zeal for God drew him into it unawares, without staying till his companions came. Acts 17:18”

“17:16-34 In this chapter, we see Paul presented as a model witness for Christ, engaging the thinkers of his day and challenging them with the Christian message. Paul quoted writers his audience would be familiar with and showed the relevance of the gospel by dialoguing with them, critiquing their assumptions, and offering Jesus as a constructive alternative (see Col 1:28). Paul reminded these proud intellectuals that there is a living God to whom all human beings are answerable; that they will be judged by him through Jesus, whom God raised from the dead; and that they should therefore repent and put their faith in Jesus. 17:16-17 Athens, like Alexandria and Tarsus, prided itself on its…”

“Cir, am 4058, ad 54 his spirit: Exo 32:19, Exo 32:20; Num 25:6-11; Kg1 19:10, Kg1 19:14; Job 32:2, Job 32:3, Job 32:18-20; Psa 69:9; Psa 119:136, Psa 119:158; Jer 20:9; Mic 3:8; Mar 3:5; Joh 2:13; Pe2 2:7 wholly given to idolatry: or, full of idols, Act 17:23 \*marg. Acts 17:17”