Acts 17:32

KJV

¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter].

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} when they heard {G191} of the resurrection {G386} of the dead {G3498}, some {G3303} mocked {G5512}: and {G1161} others said {G2036}, We will hear {G191} thee {G4675} again {G3825} of {G4012} this {G5127} matter.

Complete Jewish Bible

At the mention of a resurrection of dead people, some began to scoff; while others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”

Berean Standard Bible

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”

American Standard Version

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 17:32 vividly captures the immediate and diverse reactions to the Apostle Paul's climactic declaration of the resurrection of the dead during his sermon on Mars' Hill in Athens. Upon hearing this foundational Christian doctrine, the audience fractured into distinct groups: some responded with outright mockery, while others, though not immediately rejecting the message, opted for a polite deferral, expressing a desire to hear Paul speak on the "matter" again at a later time. This verse encapsulates the profound challenge and varied reception the Gospel message often encountered in the ancient world, particularly concerning concepts alien to prevailing philosophical thought.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Acts 17:32 serves as the abrupt conclusion to Paul's masterful sermon at the Areopagus. Paul, having been brought before the Athenian council of philosophers (including Stoics and Epicureans), skillfully engaged their intellectual curiosity by starting with their "Altar to the Unknown God" [Acts 17:23](/acts/17-23 "Acts 17:23 - Paul's Sermon on the Unknown God"). He then transitioned to proclaiming the true God as Creator and Sustainer, who does not dwell in temples made by human hands and is not served by human hands [Acts 17:24-25](/acts/17-24-25 "Acts 17:24-25 - God as Creator and Sustainer"). His discourse built towards a call for repentance, emphasizing God's universal sovereignty and the impending judgment of the world by a man whom He had appointed and attested to by raising Him from the dead [Acts 17:30-31](/acts/17-30-31 "Acts 17:30-31 - God's Call to Repentance and Future Judgment"). The mention of "the resurrection of the dead" in verse 31 is the precise point that triggers the reactions recorded in verse 32, marking the sermon's end and the audience's immediate, polarized response.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Athens in the first century AD was a renowned center of philosophy, art, and intellectual discourse, though its political power had waned. The Areopagus (Mars' Hill) was a prominent rock outcropping near the Acropolis, serving as a traditional meeting place for the city's highest court and philosophical discussions. Paul's audience included sophisticated thinkers from various schools, notably the Stoics (who emphasized virtue, reason, and living in harmony with the divine *logos*, often believing in the soul's absorption into the divine fire upon death, not bodily resurrection) and the Epicureans (who pursued pleasure as the highest good, understood as tranquility and freedom from fear, and generally denied an afterlife or divine intervention). For both groups, the concept of a bodily resurrection was profoundly alien and often considered absurd. Greek philosophy generally held the physical body in disdain, viewing it as a prison for the immortal soul, and thus, a return to a physical body was illogical and undesirable. This cultural and philosophical backdrop is crucial to understanding why the resurrection proved to be such a stumbling block for many Athenians.
* **Key Themes:** This verse highlights several key themes central to the book of Acts and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **varied reception of the Gospel message**, demonstrating that divine truth elicits diverse responses, from outright rejection to cautious curiosity and, as seen in [Acts 17:34](/acts/17-34 "Acts 17:34 - Those Who Believed"), genuine belief. Secondly, it emphasizes **the centrality of the resurrection** to the Christian kerygma. Paul consistently preached Christ's resurrection as the cornerstone of the Gospel, the proof of His divine authority, and the assurance of future judgment and eternal life. For the Greeks, this was a radical, offensive concept, highlighting the **clash between pagan philosophy and biblical revelation**. Lastly, the reactions illustrate the **stumbling block of intellectual pride** and established worldviews when confronted with new, challenging truths. The "mockery" reveals an unwillingness to consider a concept outside their philosophical framework, while the "postponement" suggests a more open, yet uncommitted, intellectual engagement.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **heard (Greek, _akoúō'_):** This primary verb signifies "to hear" in various senses, including giving audience, coming to the ears, or understanding. In this context, it implies not merely the physical act of hearing sounds, but the reception of information, indicating that Paul's message, specifically about the resurrection, was clearly communicated and apprehended by the audience, even if not accepted.
* **resurrection (Greek, _anástasis'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to stand up again," this term refers to a standing up again, specifically a resurrection from death. It can denote an individual's literal rising from the dead or, figuratively, a moral recovery of spiritual truth. Here, it is used in its literal sense, referring to the physical rising of bodies from the grave, a concept deeply offensive to the Greek philosophical mind which often viewed the body as a burden.
* **mocked (Greek, _chleuázō'_):** This verb literally means "to throw out the lip" and conveys a strong sense of ridicule, sneering, or jeering at. It's not merely disagreement but open scorn, indicating a contemptuous and dismissive reaction from some in the audience, likely rooted in intellectual pride and the perceived absurdity of a bodily resurrection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead":** This phrase pinpoints the precise theological concept that served as the catalyst for the audience's varied reactions. Paul's sermon, which had been building to this climax, presented the resurrection of Jesus as the divine authentication of His role as God's appointed judge of the world. The mention of "the dead" implies a general resurrection, which would have been even more shocking than the resurrection of one individual.
* **"some mocked":** This indicates an immediate, scornful, and outright rejection of Paul's message by a segment of his audience. Their response was not merely intellectual disagreement but a derisive dismissal, likely stemming from the profound clash between the concept of bodily resurrection and their prevailing philosophical beliefs, which often disdained the physical body and denied an afterlife involving physical restoration.
* **"and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter].":** This group represents a different, more nuanced reaction. Instead of outright mockery, they expressed a desire to hear Paul again. This could have been a polite form of dismissal, a way to avoid direct confrontation, or a genuine expression of intellectual curiosity and a desire for further consideration. Their response indicates that while they were not yet convinced, they were not entirely closed off to the possibility of further discussion, leaving a door open for future evangelistic opportunity.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Contrast** to highlight the divergent responses to Paul's message. The audience is sharply divided into those who "mocked" and those who desired to "hear thee again," showcasing the polarized nature of human reception to divine truth. This contrast underscores the inherent challenge of the Gospel, particularly its most radical claims, to established worldviews. There is also an element of **Irony** in the scene: Paul, a highly educated individual, is speaking to the intellectual elite of Athens, yet their sophisticated philosophies prove incapable of embracing a truth that, to them, seems primitive or absurd. The very concept meant to offer assurance and hope [Acts 17:31](/acts/17-31 "Acts 17:31 - God's Assurance of Judgment") becomes a point of division and ridicule.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 17:32 profoundly illustrates the timeless reality that the Gospel, particularly its core tenets, will always provoke varied and often extreme reactions. The resurrection of the dead, central to Christian theology as the proof of Christ's victory over sin and death and the promise of future hope, served as a "stumbling block" to the philosophical Greeks, just as the cross was to the Jews. This highlights the antithetical nature of divine revelation to human wisdom when that wisdom is not submitted to God. The varied responses — mockery, deferral, and ultimately belief (as seen in [Acts 17:34](/acts/17-34 "Acts 17:34 - Those Who Believed")) — serve as a paradigm for evangelism throughout history, reminding believers that faithful proclamation is paramount, while the reception of the message rests with the hearer and the sovereign work of God.

* [1 Corinthians 1:23](/1_corinthians/1-23 "1 Corinthians 1:23 - Christ Crucified, a Stumbling Block")
* [1 Corinthians 15:14](/1_corinthians/15-14 "1 Corinthians 15:14 - The Futility Without Resurrection")
* [Luke 8:12](/luke/8-12 "Luke 8:12 - The Seed on the Path")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 17:32 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers engaged in sharing their faith. It reminds us that the truth of the Gospel, especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ, remains a radical and often challenging message in a world shaped by diverse philosophies and secular thought. We should not be surprised or discouraged when our message is met with skepticism, ridicule, or polite indifference, just as Paul experienced. Our call is not to tailor the message to be palatable but to faithfully and articulately proclaim the core truths, including the resurrection, trusting the Holy Spirit to convict and transform hearts. This passage encourages perseverance in evangelism, recognizing that while some may mock, others may be genuinely open to further inquiry, and still others will believe. It underscores the importance of both boldness in proclamation and discernment in understanding the different responses, allowing us to pray for and minister to individuals according to their spiritual posture.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Athenian reaction to the resurrection challenge my own assumptions about how people will receive the Gospel today?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to soften or omit challenging truths of the Gospel to avoid mockery or rejection?**
* **How can I cultivate a spirit of patience and prayer for those who, like some Athenians, say, "We will hear thee again," indicating a potential openness but not immediate commitment?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the importance of being prepared to articulate the core doctrines of Christianity, even when they are counter-cultural?**

### FAQ

**Why was the concept of "resurrection of the dead" so offensive to the Athenians?**

Answer: The concept of a bodily resurrection was deeply offensive to the prevailing Greek philosophical thought of the time. Philosophers like the Stoics and Epicureans generally held a dualistic view of humanity, believing the soul to be immortal but the physical body to be a temporary, often inferior, vessel or even a prison. They aspired for the soul to be freed from the body, either to be absorbed into the divine (Stoicism) or to simply cease to exist after death (Epicureanism). The idea of the body being resurrected and reunited with the soul was therefore considered illogical, absurd, and even undesirable, clashing fundamentally with their understanding of reality and the afterlife. Paul's emphasis on the physical resurrection of Jesus, and the promise of a future resurrection for all, directly contradicted their deeply held intellectual convictions, leading to mockery.

**What does "We will hear thee again of this [matter]" imply?**

Answer: This phrase implies a range of possible responses, from polite dismissal to genuine intellectual curiosity. It could have been a courteous way for some to end the discussion without outright confrontation or an admission that they were not convinced. However, it also suggests that Paul's message, despite its controversial nature, had piqued the interest of others. They were not ready to commit or believe, but they were not entirely closed off either. This group represents those who are intrigued but require more time, explanation, or perhaps a different context to fully process the implications of the Gospel. As seen in [Acts 17:34](/acts/17-34 "Acts 17:34 - Those Who Believed"), some of this group may have eventually come to faith.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 17:32, though highlighting human reactions, ultimately points to the pivotal role of Jesus Christ, particularly His resurrection, as the linchpin of God's redemptive plan. Paul's sermon on Mars' Hill culminates in the declaration that God "will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" [Acts 17:31](/acts/17-31 "Acts 17:31 - God's Assurance of Judgment"). This "man" is Jesus, and His resurrection is not merely a historical event but the divine attestation of His authority as the appointed judge and Savior. The mockery and curiosity in response to this truth underscore the scandalous nature of the Gospel to human wisdom, yet it is precisely through this "stumbling block" that God reveals His power and wisdom [1 Corinthians 1:23-24](/1_corinthians/1-23-24 "1 Corinthians 1:23-24 - Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God"). Christ's resurrection is the ultimate sign, validating His claims, conquering death, and offering the hope of eternal life to all who believe. It is the foundation upon which the entire Christian faith rests, without which "our preaching is in vain, and your faith is also in vain" [1 Corinthians 15:14](/1_corinthians/15-14 "1 Corinthians 15:14 - The Futility Without Resurrection"). Thus, the varied responses in Athens serve as a timeless reminder that the resurrected Christ remains the dividing line for humanity, calling all to repentance and faith in the one whom God has raised from the dead [Romans 10:9](/romans/10-9 "Romans 10:9 - Confession and Belief in Christ's Resurrection").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 17:18

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.

Acts 26:8

Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?

Acts 2:13

Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

Acts 25:19

But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Acts 24:25

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

2 Corinthians 6:2

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.)

Acts 17:31

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.