The phrase paid close attention may be rendered in a number of different ways, for example, “listened to him well,” “opened their ears to him,” or “received his word with care.”

They all translates the same word as gathered frequently … as a group in 1.14.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .