“For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” Acts 17:20

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In the previous verse, Paul was taken to the Areopagus and asked what the new teaching he was presenting meant. Now, those same people say, “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears.”

The clause is almost impossible to directly translate because the words “strange things” come from a present participle, xenizonta. The word xenizó signifies to receive as a guest and thus to be strange. The people speaking to Paul use this verb which we will normally use as an adjective.

If one takes the word startling as a verb instead of an adjective, it can almost give the sense, such as, “He was startling his friend.” But because the word is plural, it would need to say, “For are startlings you bring to our ears.”

The sense is that what Paul is speaking to them actively causes their ears to respond through surprise. Because of this, they continue, saying, “Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” Again, the words are complicated because of the use of four verbs. A literal translation would be, “we desire, therefore, to know what these things wish to be.”

Most English translations get the point across well without being literal. The people confronted Paul wanting clarification for the things he had been saying. With that, an explanation concerning their curiosity will be given in the coming verse.

Life application: It is hard to imagine at times, but there are many people who have never heard the gospel. There are even many who have never heard of Jesus. In the West, that is less common, but even here this is true. When you meet someone who has never heard of Jesus and you begin to tell them about Him and what He did, you can often get a response like that of those in Athens.

People get confused or even bewildered as you try to explain. Some from foreign cultures may have never heard the word “sin” before. It may exist in their own language, but they think of it in a different way than believers will. Until they can properly understand the word, you are at a bit of a roadblock in what you can say.

So be ready to take the time to explain something carefully that most people just take for granted. Eventually, and with care, people will get what you are saying, but it may take a bit of time and effort. Don’t get discouraged. Rather, take it as a challenge and enjoy the process as you introduce precious souls to the wonderful saving message of Jesus.

Lord God, help us to be clear and precise in how we present the gospel. Open our minds to what we should say so that the words are properly set forth. From there, the choice must be made, but at least we have done our part in telling others about this glorious message of reconciliation and redemption. Amen.