Act 17 | LSB | STEP | Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

Acts 17

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 ^{▼▼Lit opening}explaining and setting before them that the ^{▼▼Messiah}Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is that ^{▼▼Messiah}Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, ^{▼▼Lit and a large}along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews, becoming jealous, taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, and forming a mob, set the city in an uproar. And attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the assembly. 6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset ^{▼▼Lit the inhabited earth}the world have come here also; 7 ^{▼▼Lit whom Jason has welcomed}and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And they disturbed the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had received the bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

In Berea

10 And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, ^{▼▼Lit who}and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, ^{▼▼Lit who received}for they received the word with ^{▼▼Lit all}great eagerness, ^{▼▼Or inquiring about the Scriptures}examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with not a few prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, shaking up and disturbing the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

In Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were ^{▼▼Or disputing}conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this ^{▼▼One who makes his living by picking up scraps}idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him ^{▼▼Or before}to the ^{▼▼Or Hill of Ares; Greek god of war}Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is ^{▼▼Lit which is being spoken by you}which you are speaking? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. So we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something newer.)

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the ^{▼▼Or the Council of the Areopagus}Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to inhabit all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and ^{▼▼Lit are}exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His offspring.’ 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to suppose that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the craft and thought of man. 30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge ^{▼▼Lit the inhabited earth}the world in righteousness ^{▼▼Or in; lit by}through a Man whom He determined, having furnished proof to all ^{▼▼Or when He raised}by raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you ^{▼▼Lit also again}again concerning this.” 33 In this way, Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.