¹⁶ So Paul found himself alone for some time in Athens. He would walk through the city, feeling deeply frustrated about the abundance of idols there. ¹⁷ As in the previous cities, he went to the synagogue. Once again, he engaged in debate about Jesus with both ethnic Jews and devout Greek-born converts to Judaism. He would even wander around in the marketplace, speaking with anyone he happened to meet. ¹⁸ Eventually he got into a debate with some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Some were dismissive from the start.

They said this because of what Paul had been preaching about Jesus and the resurrection.