Acts 17
1 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.
And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures.
And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them; and for three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:
3 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.”
Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.
4 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.
And some of them believed, and were associated to Paul and Silas; and of those that served God, and of the Gentiles a great multitude, and of noble women not a few.
5 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.
But the Jews, moved with envy, and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort, and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar; and besetting Jason’s house, sought to bring them out unto the people.
6 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.
And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar, are come hither also;
7 These men whom Jason has welcomed act against the decrees of Caesar; they say that there is another king—Jesus.”
Whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
8 The crowd and the officials of the city were disturbed when they heard these things.
And they stirred up the people, and the rulers of the city hearing these things,
9 But after the officials made Jason and the rest pay money as security, then they let them go.
And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let them go.
10 That night the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 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.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.
And many indeed of them believed, and of honourable women that were Gentiles, and of men not a few.
13 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.
And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitude.
14 Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.
And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 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.
And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 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.
He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the marketplace, every day with them that were there.
18 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.
And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him; and some said: What is it, that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
19 They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know this new teaching which you were speaking?
And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?
20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean.”
For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing but either telling or listening about something new.)
(Now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)
22 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.
But Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.
23 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.
For passing by, and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the unknown God. What therefore you worship, without knowing it, that I preach to you:
24 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.
God, who made the world, and all things therein; he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives people life and breath and everything else.
Neither is he served with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing it is he who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things:
26 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,
And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation.
27 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.
That they should seek God, if happily they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us:
28 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.'
For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets said: For we are also his offspring.
29 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.
Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art, and device of man.
30 Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent.
And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should every where do penance.
31 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.”
Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed; giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead.
32 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.”
And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked, but others said: We will hear thee again concerning this matter.
33 After that, Paul left them.
So Paul went out from among them.
34 But certain men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
But certain men adhering to him, did believe; among whom was also Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
