They reminded him of Socrates, a great philosopher, who was condemned to death because he was a setter forth of strange gods. Paul was counseled not to endanger his life in the same way. But the apostle’s discourse riveted the attention of the people; and his unaffected wisdom commanded their respect and admiration. He was not silenced by the science or irony of the philosophers; and, after exchanging many words with him, and satisfying themselves that he was determined to accomplish his errand among them, and tell his story at all hazards, they decided to give him a fair opportunity to speak to the people.{LP 92.2}

De mindede ham om Sokrates, den store filosof, som blev dødsdømt fordi han fremholdte de fremmede guder. Paulus blev rådet til at ikke bringe sit liv i fare på samme måde. Men Apostlens prædiken fastholdt folks opmærksomhed; og hans uberørte visdom påbød deres respekt og beundring. Han blev ikke fortiet af filosoffernes videnskab eller ironi; og efter at have udvekslet mange ord med ham, og forvisset sig om at han absolut ville udrette sit ærinde iblandt dem, og fortælle sin beretning under alle omstændigheder, besluttede de at give ham en rimelig mulighed for at tale til folk.