John Bengel Commentary - Acts 17:21 - 17:21

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John Bengel Commentary - Acts 17:21 - 17:21


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Act 17:21. Ἀθηναῖοι, the Athenians) An elegant and characteristic description of them follows.-ἐπιδημοῦντες) sojourners: who through sojourning among them acquire the same customs.-εὐκαίρουν, used to spend their time) The Preterite, whereby it is implied, what kind of hearers Paul had at that time. Curiosity yields to faith.-λέγειν, to tell: ἀκούειν, to hear) Two classes. [Both unattended with fruit: and in such a way as that always whatever is newer is preferred to what has gone before (former news), even though the latter have been good. A common fault, and one very pernicious.-V. g.]-καινότερον, something more new) New things became immediately depreciated: newer things were sought for. Thence (owing to the prevalence of this feeling) καινότερος is a frequent comparative among the Greeks. Chrysostom do Sacerd. § 418, uses the same concerning Paul, τοὺς καινοτέρους διωγμούς· and Theophr. in the Character of the λογοποιὸς, says, οἷος ἐρωτῆσαι· ἔχεις περὶ τοῦδε εἰπεῖν καινόν; καὶ ἐπιβαλὼν ἐρωτᾶν, μὴ λέγεταί τι καινότερον; Moreover they used to seek for newer things, not merely in the case of the occurrences which daily happen; but what seems nobler, in philosophical matters.