"Athenian, inhabiting or belonging to Athens, Acts 17:21, 22*"
Definition and meaning
Athenian, inhabiting or belonging to Athens, Acts 17:21, 22*
In the original Greek the word is written: Ἀθηναῖος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of athenaios (G117) across the King James Bible.
(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.)
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G117 (athenaios) is a Greek word that means: Athenian, inhabiting or belonging to Athens, Acts 17:21, 22* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word athenaios (G117) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G117 is athenaios, a Greek word defined as: Athenian, inhabiting or belonging to Athens, Acts 17:21, 22*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
athenaios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.