Acts 17:16-18 Yet during Paul's waiting for them and progressively taking in the scene from the midst of the people and the situation within Athens, his breath-effect (spirit; attitude) began being progressively on edge (sharpened; thus: irritated or incited) within the midst of him, while being a spectator and steadily observing the city being full of idols (or: as he was progressively beholding the city which was continuously existing in a state of being sunken down in idolatry; or: repeatedly noticing the city as being held down in concepts of external form and appearances, as well as being followers of perceptions).

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹⁶ Yet during Paul's waiting for them and progressively taking in [the scene] from the midst of the people and the situation within Athens, his breath-effect (spirit; attitude) began being progressively on edge (sharpened; thus: irritated or incited) within the midst of him, while being a spectator and steadily observing the city being full of idols (or: as he was progressively beholding the city [which] was continuously existing in a state of being sunken down in idolatry; or: repeatedly noticing the city as being [held] down in concepts of external form and appearances, as well as being followers of perceptions). ¹⁷ Consequently, he began to reason and dialogue (hold discussions) with the Jews and with the reverent, religious folks within the synagogue, and then, day by day in the marketplace, to those happening along (or: toward people whom he is happening to meet, at the side). ¹⁸ Now certain folks – both of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers – began throwing [comments; thoughts; ideas] together to (or: took to conversing with; were intermittently tossing remarks at) him, and some had been saying, "What could this seed-collector (= a bird that picks up scraps in the market place or fallen seeds in the field; = a chatterer who gathers scraps of knowledge and repeats trifling things) now possibly intend (or: want) to continue saying?" While others [said], "He seems to be an announcer of (publisher for; one putting forth a case about) foreign (or: alien; strange) demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influence; here may refer to foreign divinities)," because he had been announcing the message of goodness, ease and well-being: Jesus and the resurrection!