Acts 17
1 When Paul and his companions had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there 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 As was his custom, Paul went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he 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 explaining and presenting evidence that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
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 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of the devout Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
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 who refused to believe rounded up some evil men from the marketplace and formed a mob, setting the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, seeking to bring Paul and Silas out to the public assembly.
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 But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers to the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
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 and Jason has welcomed them. They all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, 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 stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things.
And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,
9 But when the city officials had received a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.
10 As soon as it was night the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived, they went to the synagogue of the Jews.
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 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, and they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
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 As a result, many of them believed, as did quite a few of the Greek women of high standing and the men.
And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that Paul was proclaiming the word of God in Berea also, they went there as well, agitating the crowds.
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 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away, as though he were going by sea, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after they had received an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, 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 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was full of 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 he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout Greeks, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
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 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. Some said, “What is this babbler trying to say?” But others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities.” (They said this because he was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)
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 So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that yoʋ are presenting?
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 yoʋ are bringing some strange things to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.”
For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”
21 (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who dwelt there would spend their time in nothing else but talking about and listening to whatever the newest idea might be.)
(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)
22 Paul then stood before the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see just how religious you are in every way.
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 as I was going around and closely observing yoʋr objects of worship, I even found an altar that had been inscribed: ‘To an unknown god.’ I proclaim to you therefore the one whom you worship in ignorance.
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 who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands,
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 neither is he served by the hands of men, as though he needed anything. Rather, he himself continually gives life and breath to all mankind.
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 From one bloodline he created every nation of mankind to dwell on the entire face of the earth. He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they would dwell,
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 so that they might seek the Lord and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him, though he is 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 have our being, as even some of your own poets have said: ‘For we also are his offspring.’
‘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 the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, an image formed by the skill and imagination of man.
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 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people 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 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by a man he has appointed. He has provided assurance of this to everyone by raising this man from 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 about the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We wish to hear about this from yoʋ 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 So Paul departed from them,
So Paul departed from their midst.
34 but some of the people joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named 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.
