17:34a

But some joined him and believed: The Greek words here are literally “some men, having been glued/joined to him, believed.” The verb “glued/joined” indicates that the people who believed became devoted students of Paul’s teaching about Jesus. Other ways to translate this clause are:

there were some who attached themselves to him and became believers, (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Some people ⌊there⌋ devoted themselves to Paul ⌊and his teaching⌋, and believed.
-or-
Some people ⌊there⌋ devoted themselves to Paul ⌊and to what he taught⌋, and believed ⌊in Jesus⌋.

The Greek probably implies that the people became students of Paul first and then believed.

But some: Here the word some refers generally to people, because the list in 17:34b–c includes a woman. For example:

some of the people (New Century Version)

believed: Here the verb believed implies that the people believed in Jesus. For example:

put their faith in the Lord (Contemporary English Version)

17:34b

including Dionysius the Areopagite: The word including indicates that Dionysius was one of the people who believed. Other ways to translate this clause are:

among whom was Dionysius (Good News Translation)

the Areopagite: The phrase the Areopagite indicates that Dionysius was one of the men who participated in the city council of Athens, which was called the Areopagus. This word also occurs in 17:19. The Revised English Bible translates it here with the same phrase:

the Council of the Areopagus (Revised English Bible)

However, the Good News Translation uses an explanatory phrase in 17:19 (“the city council, the Areopagus”). The Good News Translation shortens it here to:

the council (Good News Translation)

17:34c

others who were with them: This phrase indicates that more people than just Dionysius and Damaris believed in Jesus. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

others besides (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
some other people (Good News Translation)

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