Acts 17:18 kjva — Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler…

King James Version with Apocrypha

"Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."

— Acts 17:18, King James Version with Apocrypha

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Acts 17:18 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”

  • ASV

    “And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. ”

  • WEB

    “Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.”

  • NET

    “Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking,“What does this foolish babbler want to say?” Others said,“He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.”(They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)”

  • DRB

    “And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him. And some said: What is it that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods. Because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.”

  • BBE

    “And some of those who were supporters of the theories of the Epicureans and the Stoics, had a meeting with him. And some said, What is this talker of foolish words saying? And others, He seems to be a preacher of strange gods: because he was preaching of Jesus and his coming back from the dead.”

Acts 17 — Context

15

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

16

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Acts 17:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Acts 17:18 say?
Acts 17:18 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”
Where is Acts 17:18 in the Bible?
Acts 17:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Acts, chapter 17, verse 18.
Who wrote Acts?
Acts is traditionally attributed to Luke. It was written c. AD 62–64.
What is the book of Acts about?
Acts is the sequel to Luke's Gospel — the story of how the message of the risen Jesus moved out from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Through Peter, Paul, and many ordinary believers, the Holy Spirit builds the early church across the Roman world.
What are the major themes of Acts?
Acts explores themes including Holy Spirit, Mission, Church Growth, Persecution, Gospel to the Gentiles. These themes shape the meaning and context of Acts 17:18.
What translation should I read Acts 17:18 in?
Acts 17:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Acts 17:18?
Acts 17:18 reads (KJVA): “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2