Note 3 at Acts 17:18: The Epicureans were so named after the philosopher Epicurus. He was born in 341 B.C. and taught for thirty eight years in a school that he founded in Athens. He did not believe in a Creator, believing that everything just happens. However, he did believe in multiple gods which took no part in human affairs.

He taught that pleasure was to be pursued and pain avoided. Regardless of how pure Epicurus' motives may have been, it was not long until the Epicureans had degenerated into a materialistic, pleasure seeking sect. This was the exact opposite of the other popular school of thought of the day upheld by the Stoicks (see note 4 at this verse).

Note 4 at Acts 17:18: The name Stoick came from the Greek word "stoa" which meant porch. This sect was so named because it's founder, Zeno, taught for about fifty eight years (308-250 B.C.) in the market place of Athens from a porch. The Stoick philosopher Seneca was a tutor to Nero and Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor, was a devout Stoick.

Stoicks believed that a truly wise man would dominate his emotions so that they would never influence him positively or negatively. They accomplished this by believing that whatever happened was fate and therefore their lot in life. They taught a very frugal life, rejecting all luxury in food and clothing. Their philosophy was the opposite of the Epicureans (see note 3 at this verse) although they both did not believe in a resurrection of the body. Together the Stoics and Epicureans represented the complete spectrum of man's wisdom at that time.

Note 5 at Acts 17:18: The use of the word "strange" here means more than just unusual or different. The Greek word used is "xenos" and means foreign or alien. They were accusing Paul of preaching a new religion which was expressly forbidden and which was punishable by death.

The Athenians believed in many gods but their law forbid the introduction of any new religion or god. This was common throughout the Roman world and was the offense referred to when the Philippians persecuted Paul and Silas (Acts 16:21) and later became the basis of expelling the Jews from Rome.

Cicero wrote (106-43 B.C.-Roman statesman and orator), "No person shall have any separate gods, nor new ones; nor shall he privately worship any strange gods, unless they be publicly allowed."

Because of this law, the Athenians brought Paul to Areopagus (or Mars hill- v.22) which was the place where the highest court of Athens held session. It is supposed that what is recounted in Acts 17:19-32 is actually a trial of the apostle Paul for introducing a strange god. This gives added importance to Paul's defense made before the Athenians in these verses (see note 1 at Acts 17:23, p. ???).