Acts 17
1 SO journeying through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of 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 And Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them, and for three sabbaths he 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 opening them clearly, and laying it evidently down that the Messiah must suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this man is the Messiah, even Jesus, whom I preach unto you.
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 And some of them believed, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas; and of the religious Greeks a vast multitude, and of the wives of the first people not a few.
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 unbelieving Jews, roused to a fit of zeal, and taking some of the lowest vulgar men of vile characters, and raising a mob, set the city in an uproar, and besetting the house of Jason, sought them to bring them unto the people.
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 there, they dragged Jason and certain brethren to the city magistrates, roaring out, These are the men who are movers of sedition through the world, and are come in hither;
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 whom Jason has entertained in his house: and the practice of all these fellows is in direct opposition to all Caesar’s ordinances, for they affirm that another is king, one Jesus.
These men whom Jason has welcomed act against the decrees of Caesar; they say that there is another king—Jesus.”
8 And they greatly agitated the people and the city magistrates when they heard these things.
The crowd and the officials of the city were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 So after taking sufficient security from Jason and the rest, they dismissed them.
But after the officials made Jason and the rest pay money as security, then they let them go.
10 Then the disciples immediately by night sent off both Paul and Silas to Berea; who were no sooner arrived, than 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 liberally minded men than those of Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, daily, examining the Scriptures if these things were really 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 Then many of them truly believed: and of the Grecian proselyte women of respectability, and of the men not a few.
Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that at Berea also the word of God was preached by Paul, they came thither, and stirred up the populace.
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 Then immediately on this the brethren sent off Paul, to go as if by sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.
Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
15 And those who conduced Paul brought him as far as Athens, and receiving an injunction for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as speedily as possible, they departed.
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 waited for them at Athens, his spirit within him was greatly grieved, beholding the city so devoted to idolatry.
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped there, and in the forum every day with those he happened to meet.
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 of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers attacked him: and some said, What will this chattering fellow say? but others, He seemeth to be a preacher of foreign deities, because he preached to them 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 they took him and led him to the hill of Mars, saying, May we know what this novel doctrine taught by thee is?
They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know this new teaching which you were speaking?
20 For thou bringest some strange stories to our ears; we wish therefore to know what these things mean.
For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
21 Now all the Athenians and the strangers who come to sojourn there, take pleasure in spending their time in nothing else but in talking, or hearing of 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 Then Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus said, Ye men of Athens, I observe that in all things ye are too much devoted to the worship of daemons.
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 For as I walked about, and attentively viewed the objects of your worship, I found even an altar on which was this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you in ignorance adore, him I preach unto 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 created the world, and all things in it, he that is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples of man’s construction;
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 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed any creature, himself imparting to all beings life, and breath, and all things.
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 hath made from one man’s blood all the nations of mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, fixing the predetermined periods of their existence, and the boundaries of their several abodes;
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 that they should seek the Lord, if indeed they might haply grope him out, and find him, though truly he is not far from any individual 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 for from him we derive life, and power of motion, and existence; as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are even 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 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to imagine that the Divinity is like to gold, or silver, or stone sculptured by human art or contrivance.
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 These times indeed of ignorance God then overlooked; but he now commands all men in every place to repent:
Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent.
31 because he hath fixed the day in which he will judge the whole world in righteousness by the man whom he hath appointed; affording evidence 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 But when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, Some scoffed: and others said, We will hear thee again on this subject.
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 so Paul departed from the midst of them.
After that, Paul left them.
34 But certain persons cleaving to him, believed: among whom was even Dionysius the Areopagite, and 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.
