(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.)
Ver. 21. For all the Athenians, &c.] The self-same truth is testified by Demosthenes, in an answer to Philip's letter. ημεις ουδεν ποιουντες ενθαδε καθημεθα πυνθανομενοι ει τι λεγεται νεωτερον. We (saith he to his countrymen of Athens), to speak truth, sit here, doing nothing but trifling out our time, and listening what news abroad. This their national itch after novelties, made them the more willing to hear Paul speak. It is not amiss to hearken how it goeth with the Church, that we may rejoice with those that rejoice, and weep with those that weep; Cum, singulis pectus meum copulo, saith Cyprian. Eli sat to hear what became of the ark; which when it was taken, it is hard to say whether was first broke, his heart or his neck.