Act 17 | ISV | STEP | Paul and Silas in Thessalonica They traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17

1 Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

They traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went in and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them.Luke 4:16; Acts 9:20; 14:1; 16:13; 19:8 3 He explained and showed them that the Christ ^{▼▼I.e. the Messiah} had to suffer and rise from the dead. He said, ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks He said} “This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” ^{▼▼I.e. the Messiah}Luke 24:26, 46; Acts 18:28; Gal 3:1

4 Some of them were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men.Acts 15:22, 27, 32, 40; 28:24 5 But the Jews became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square, ^{▼▼Or in the marketplace} formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason's home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people.Rom 16:21 6 When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, “These fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too,Acts 16:20 7 and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by saying that there is another king—Jesus!”Luke 23:2; John 19:12; 1Pet 2:15

8 The crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this, 9 but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others they let them go. 10 Paul and Silas in BereaThat night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.Acts 9:14, 25 11 These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so.Isa 34:16; Luke 16:29; John 5:39 12 Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men.

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.Matt 10:23

15 Paul in AthensThe men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left.Acts 18:5 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred to its depths to see the city full of idols.2Pet 2:8 17 So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square ^{▼▼Or in the marketplace} with anyone who happened to be there. 18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, “What is this blabbermouth trying to say?” while others said, “He seems to be preaching about foreign gods.” This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

19 Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, ^{▼▼I.e. the city council} and asked, “May we know what this new teaching of yours is? 20 It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time in nothing else than repeating or listening to the latest ideas.

22 So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus ^{▼▼I.e. the city council} and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23 For as I was walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: ‘To an unknown god.’ So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human hands,Matt 11:25; Acts 7:48; 14:15 25 and he isn't served by hands as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything.Gen 2:7; Num 16:22; Job 12:10; 27:3; 33:4; Ps 50:8; Isa 42:5; 57:16; Zech 12:1 26 From one man ^{▼▼Other mss. read From one blood} he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the boundaries they live in,Deut 32:8 27 so that they might look for God, ^{▼▼Other mss. read for the Lord} somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any one of us.Acts 14:17; Rom 1:20 28 For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: ‘For we are his children, too.’ ^{▼▼This quotation is from the Phainomena (5) of Aratus, a poet of Cicilian origin (3^rd century BC), though Cleanthes the Stoic (3^rd century BC) used almost identical language.}Col 1:17; Titus 1:12; Heb 1:3 29 So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by human imagination and skill.Isa 40:18 30 Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent,Luke 24:47; Acts 14:16; Rom 3:25; Titus 2:11-12; 1Pet 1:14; 4:3 31 for he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice ^{▼▼Or in righteousness} through a man he has appointed, and he has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”Acts 2:24; 10:42; Rom 2:16; 14:10

32 When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 And so Paul left the meeting. ^{▼▼Lit. went out from the middle of them} 34 Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, ^{▼▼I.e. the city council} a woman named Damaris, and some others along with them.