Stoics
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Acts 17:18)—members of the philosophical school founded by Zeno of Citium around 300 BC and named from the painted portico, or Stoa, in Athens. They taught that virtue is the true good and sought freedom from passions through life according to reason and nature. At Athens certain Stoic and Epicurean philosophers disputed with Paul, calling him a setter forth of strange gods because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. Paul’s address begins from truths his hearers could recognize but summons them beyond philosophical speculation to repentance before the risen Judge (Acts 17:18–31).