The populace of the town was divided; some sided with the Jews, some with the apostles.

Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also came across him. Some said, "Whatever does the fellow mean with his scraps of learning'?" Others said, "He looks like a herald of foreign deities" (this was because he preached 'Jesus' and 'the Resurrection').

Some men, however, did join him and believe, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman called Damaris, and some others.

Some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority had no idea why they had met.

Some of the crowd roared one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts owing to the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks.

Thus a loud clamour broke out. Some of the scribes who belonged to the Pharisaic party got up and contended, "We find nothing wrong about this man. What if some spirit or angel has spoken to him?"