17:32 mocked. The response is typical. Whenever one preaches or witnesses of the creation and resurrection to unbelievers, especially to pagan evolutionists such as the Stoics and Epicureans, many will ridicule, but some will defer judgment, and some will believe. The same is true, for that matter, when one witnesses to those monotheists (e.g., Jews, Muslims) who believe in a Creator but refuse to acknowledge that He must also be the Redeemer.

17:34 Dionysius the Areopagite. This term probably means that Dionysius was a member of the official council hearing Paul at the Areopagus (i.e., “hill of Ares” tribunal).