Acts 17
1 And taking their journey 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 And according to Paul's custom, he entered in among them, and discoursed to them for three Sabbaths 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, and evidently showing that the Messiah ought to suffer, and to rise from the dead; and that this is the Messiah, even Jesus, whom I declare to 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 adhered to Paul and Silas; besides, a considerable number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the principal 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 unbelieving Jews, filled with zeal, gathered together some mean and profligate fellows, and making a mob, threw the city into a tumult; and assaulting the house of Jason, endeavored to bring them out to 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, they dragged Jason, and some of the brethren to the magistrates of the city, crying out, These men, that have turned the world upside down, are come hither, also;
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 and Jason has privately received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another 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 alarmed the multitude and the magistrates of the city, when they heard these things.
The crowd and the officials of the city were disturbed when they heard these things.
9 And having taken security of 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 But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas, by night, to Berea: and when they came thither, 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 of a more noble disposition that those of Thessalonica: for they received the word with all readiness of mind, daily examining the scriptures, whether those things were 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 Many of them, therefore, believed; both of the Grecian women of considerable rank, and of the men not a few.
Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.
13 But as soon as some of the Jews of Thessalonica understood that the word of God was announced by Paul at Berea, they came thither, also, exciting 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 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, as if he were to go by sea. But Silas and Timothy continued there.
Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
15 And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens: and having received an order for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they set out.
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 at Athens, his spirit within him was strongly moved when he beheld the city enslaved 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 He therefore reasoned with the Jews and proselytes in the synagogue; and in the forum, daily, with those who met with him.
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 some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers opposed him. Others said, What would this babbler say? And others, he seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities; because he declared to them the good news concerning 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 And they took him and conducted him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is, which is spoken by you?
They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know this new teaching which you were speaking?
20 for you bring some strange things to our ears; we would, therefore, know what these things mean.
For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
21 For all the Athenians, and the strangers that sojourned among them spent their leisure in nothing else but in telling or hearing news.
(Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing but either telling or listening about something new.)
22 Paul, therefore, standing up in the middle of Areopagus, said, Athenians, I perceive that you are exceedingly addicted to the worship of demons.
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 passed along, and beheld the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription, To the Unknown God: Him, therefore, you ignorantly worship, I announce 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 all things that are in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with 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 served by human hands, as if he stood in need of anything; he himself giving to all, 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 he has made of one blood, the whole race of men, to inhabit all the face of the earth; having marked out the times previously arranged in order, and the boundaries of their habitations:
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 might seek after the Lord, if possibly they might feel after him, and find him; though he be not far from every 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 for in him we live, and are moved, and do exist; as some of your own poets have said--"For we his offspring are."
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 We, therefore, being the offspring of God, ought not to imagine the Deity to be like gold, or silver, or stone, wrought by the art and contrivance of man.
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 For though God overlooked the times of ignorance, he now makes proclamation to all men, everywhere, to reform;
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 world righteously, by that Man whom he has ordained: of which he has given assurance to all men, 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 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some made a jest of it, and others said, We will hear you again upon 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 this Paul went out of the midst of them.
After that, Paul left them.
34 Nevertheless, some men adhered to him, and believed: among whom was Dionysius, the Areopagite; also a woman, whose name was Damaris; and others with them.
But certain men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
