Acts 17:21

“For all the Athenians, etc.] The natives of Athens, who were born and lived there, and were inhabitants of the city, and free of it: and strangers which were there; who came there from several parts of the world, to get wisdom and knowledge, to learn the several arts and sciences, and to attend the several sects of philosophers they made choice of: spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing; that is, they did so for the most part; and this was the complexion and taste of the generality of them; and with this agrees what Demosthenes himself says of them f877, “we, says he (for the truth shall be said), sit here, ouden poiountev, “doing nothing” — — inquiring…”

“all the Athenians . . . spent their time in nothing else but to tell or hear some new thing--literally, "newer thing," as if what was new becoming presently stale, they craved something still more new [BENGEL]. This lively description of the Athenian character is abundantly attested by their own writers.”

“For all the Athenians - This was their general character. And strangers which were there - Athens was greatly distinguished for the celebrity of its schools of philosophy. It was at that time at the head of the literary world. Its arts and its learning were celebrated in all lands. It is known, therefore, that it was the favorite resort of people of other nations, who came there to become acquainted with its institutions and to listen to its sages. Spent their time in nothing else - The learned and subtle Athenians gave themselves much to speculation, and employed themselves in examining the various new systems of philosophy that were proposed. Strangers and foreigners who were there, having…”

“And the strangers sojourning there - And catching the distemper of them. Some new thing - The Greek word signifies some newer thing. New things quickly grew cheap, and they wanted those that were newer still. Acts 17:22”

“spent: Eph 5:16; Col 4:5; Th2 3:11, Th2 3:12; Ti1 5:13; Ti2 2:16, Ti2 2:17 Acts 17:22”