Acts 17
1 And, travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;
Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 and, according to Paul’s custom, he went in unto them, and, for three sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures, —
Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,
3 opening up, and setting forth, that it was needful for, the Christ, to suffer, and to arise from among the dead; and [saying], This, is the Christ, —Jesus, whom, I, am declaring unto you.
interpreting and concluding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and that “this is the Jesus Christ, whom I am announcing to you.”
4 And, some from among them, were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great throng, and, of the chief women, not a few.
And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women.
5 But the Jews, being, jealous, and taking unto themselves certain wicked men, of the rabble, and making a riot, were setting the city in an uproar; and, besieging the house of Jason, were seeking to lead them forth unto the populace, —
But the Jews, being jealous, and joining with certain evildoers among the common men, caused a disturbance, and they stirred up the city. And taking up a position near the house of Jason, they sought to lead them out to the people.
6 and, not finding them, they began dragging Jason and certain brethren unto the city-rulers, shouting—They who have thrown the inhabited earth into confusion, the same, hither also, are come, —
And when they had not found them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out: “For these are the ones who have stirred up the city. And they came here,
7 unto whom Jason hath given welcome; and, these all, contrary to the decrees of Caesar, are acting, —saying that there is another king, Jesus.
and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 And they troubled the multitude and the city-rulers, when they heard these things;
And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,
9 and, taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.
10 But, the brethren, straightway, during the night, sent away both Paul and Silas unto Beroea, who, indeed, arriving, unto the synagogue of the Jews, went off;
Yet truly, the brothers promptly sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. And when they had arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews.
11 and, these, were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they welcomed the word with all readiness of mind, daily, searching the Scriptures, —whether these things could be so.
But these were more noble than those who were at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all enthusiasm, daily examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so.
12 Many, therefore, from among them, believed, and, of the Grecian women of the higher class, and of men, not a few.
And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.
13 But, when the Jews from Thessalonica came to know that, in Beroea also, had the word of God been declared by Paul, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.
Then, when the Jews of Thessalonica had realized that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they went there also, stirring up and disturbing the multitude.
14 Howbeit, then, immediately, the brethren sent away, Paul, to be journeying as far as unto the sea; and both Silas and Timothy stayed behind, there.
And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 But, they who were conducting Paul, brought him as far as Athens, and, receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy, that with, all possible speed, they would come unto him, they departed.
Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out.
16 But, while, in Athens, Paul was expecting them, his spirit within him was being urged on, seeing how the city was given to idols.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.
17 So then, he began reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them who worshipped; and, in the market-place, every day, with them who happened to be at hand.
And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there.
18 But, certain both of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers, were encountering him; and some were saying—What might this picker-up-of-scraps wish to be saying? And, others—Of foreign demons, he seemeth to be a declarer: because, of Jesus and the Resurrection, he was announcing the joyful tidings.
Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection.
19 And so, laying hold of him, they brought him up, to the Hill of Mars, saying—Can we get to know what this new teaching is, which, by thee, is being spoken.
And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?
20 For, certain foreign things, art thou bringing into our hearing: We are minded to get to know, therefore, what these things please to be!
For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”
21 Now, all Athenians and the sojourning foreigners, unto nothing else, were devoting their leisure, than to be telling or hearing, something newer.
(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)
22 And Paul taking his stand in the midst of the Hill of Mars, said—Ye men of Athens! In every way, how unusually reverent of the demons ye are, I perceive.
But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious.
23 For, passing through, and carefully observing your objects of devotion, I found an altar also, in which was inscribed—Unto an Unknown God. What, therefore, not knowing, ye reverence, the same, do, I, declare unto you.
For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you:
24 The God that made the world and all things that are therein, the same, being, Lord, of heaven and earth, not in hand-made shrines, doth dwell,
the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.
25 nor, by human hands, is waited upon, as though in want of anything, himself, giving unto all life and breath and all things;
Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else.
26 he made also, of one, every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, —marking out fitting opportunities, and the bounds of their dwelling place,
And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation,
27 that they might be seeking God—if, after all, indeed, they might feel after him and find him, —although, in truth, he is already not far from any one of us.
so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28 For, in him, we live and move and are: as, even some of your own poets, have said—For, his offspring also, we are.
‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’
29 Being, then, offspring, of God, we ought not to be supposing that, unto gold or silver or stone, graven by art and device of man, the Divine, is like.
Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine.
30 The times of ignorance, therefore, overlooking, God, as things now are, is charging all men everywhere to repent,
And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.
31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day, in which he is about to be judging the habitable earth in righteousness, by a man whom he hath pointed out, —offering faith unto all, by raising him from among the dead?
For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now, when they heard of raising the dead, some, indeed, began to mock, while, others, said—We will hear thee, concerning this, even again.
And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, “We will listen to you about this again.”
33 Thus, Paul, came forth out of their midst.
So Paul departed from their midst.
34 But, certain persons, joining themselves unto him, believed; among whom were even Dionysius the Mars-hill judge, and a woman by name Damaris, and others with them.
Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
