Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Now when they had passed through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 So Paul, as was his custom, went in to them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures.
3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and that “this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah.”
He was opening the scriptures and explaining that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead. He said, “This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.”
4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of devout Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women.
5 But the disobedient Jews rounded up some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob they created an uproar in the city; and attacking the house of Jason, they wanted to bring them out to the crowd.
But the unbelieving Jews, being moved with jealousy, took certain wicked men from the marketplace, gathered a crowd together, and set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they wanted to bring Paul and Silas out to the people.
6 But not finding them they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials vociferating: “These who have upset the whole world have come here too,
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain other brothers before the officials of the city, crying, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.
7 to whom Jason has given lodging. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”
These men whom Jason has welcomed act against the decrees of Caesar; they say that there is another king—Jesus.”
8 Well they agitated the crowd and the city officials when they heard these things.
The crowd and the officials of the city were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 Then they took a security bond from Jason and the rest and let them go.
But after the officials made Jason and the rest pay money as security, then they let them go.
10 Immediately, during the night, the brothers sent both Paul and Silas away to Berea; on arriving they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
That night the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all goodwill, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things might be so.
Now these people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the Word of God was also being proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came too, agitating the crowds.
But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God at Berea, they went there and stirred up and troubled the crowds.
14 So then, without delay, the brothers sent Paul away, as if to go by sea, while both Silas and Timothy remained there.
Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
15 But those who were conducting Paul actually took him all the way to Athens; and receiving a command to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they started back.
Those who were leading Paul took him as far as the city of Athens. As they left Paul there, they received from him instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was increasingly aroused within him as he observed that the city was full of idols.
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
17 So he reasoned both in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and others who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.
18 Then certain philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoics, encountered him. Some said, “What might this idea-scavenger want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
But also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Some said, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be one who calls people to follow strange gods,” because he was proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection.
19 So taking him in tow they led him to the Areopagus and said: “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know this new teaching which you were speaking?
20 Because you are bringing some strange things to our ears, and we would like to know what they might mean.”
For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
21 (Now all Athenians and resident foreigners spent their time in nothing else but to tell, or else to hear, some novelty.)
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing but either telling or listening about something new.)
22 So standing in the middle of the Areopagus Paul said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;
So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “You men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way.
23 because as I went along and scrutinized the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO UNKNOWN GOD. Now then, the one you worship as ‘unknown’, this is the One I proclaim to you:
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription, “To an Unknown God.” What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples built by hands,
The God who made the world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built with hands.
25 neither is He cared for by men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself has always given life and breath to all.
Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives people life and breath and everything else.
26 And from one blood He made every ethnic nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
From one man he made every nation of people to live on the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their living areas,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;
so that they should search for God and perhaps they may feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us.
28 because in Him we live and move and have our being. As also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
For in him we live and move and have our being, just as one of your own poets has said, 'For we also are his offspring.'
29 Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divinity is like gold or silver or stone—something shaped by human skill and imagination.
Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the qualities of deity are like gold, or silver, or stone—images created by the art and imagination of man.
30 Such times of ignorance God did indeed overlook, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent,
Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent.
31 because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the inhabited world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained; He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
This is because he has set a day when he will judge the world in righteousness by the man he has chosen. God has given proof of this man to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
32 Well when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some started scoffing, while others said, “We will hear you again about this.”
Now when the men of Athens heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked Paul; but others said, “We will listen to you again about this matter.”
33 And with that Paul went out from among them.
After that, Paul left them.
34 However some men believed and joined him, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, also a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
But certain men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
