Acts 17
1 Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And they passed through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, and came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,
And Paul, as was his custom, went in to them; and during three sabbaths he discoursed with them from the scriptures;
3 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.”
expounding and showing, that the Messiah was to suffer, and to arise from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I announce to you is the Messiah.
4 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.
And some of them believed, and adhered to Paul and Silas; and of those Greeks who feared God, a great many; and also of noted women, not a few.
5 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.
But the Jews were indignant, and gathered to themselves evil men from the marketplace of the city, and formed a great mob; and they alarmed the city, and came and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to draw them from it, and to deliver them up to the mob.
6 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,
And when they found them not there, they drew Jason and the brethren who were there, and brought them before the chiefs of the city, crying out: These are they who have terrified all the country; and lo, they have come hither also:
7 and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
and this Jason is their entertainer: and they all resist the commands of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,
And the chiefs of the city and all the people, were alarmed when they heard these things.
9 and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.
And they took sureties from Jason, and also from the brethren, and then released them.
10 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.
And the brethren immediately, on the same night, sent away Paul and Silas to the city of Berea. And when they came there, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 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.
For the Jews there were more liberal than the Jews of Thessalonica; and they gladly heard the word from them daily, and searched from the scriptures whether these things were so.
12 And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.
And many of them believed; and so likewise of the Greeks, many men, and women of note.
13 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.
And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached by Paul in the city of Berea, they came thither also, and they ceased not to excite and alarm the people.
14 And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
And the brethren sent away Paul, that he might go down to the sea. But Silas and Timothy abode in that city.
15 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.
And they who conducted Paul, went with him to the city of Athens. And when they departed from him, they received an epistle from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him speedily.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.
And while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, he was pained in his spirit; because he saw that the whole city was full of idols.
17 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.
And in the synagogue he spoke with the Jews, and with those that feared God, and in the market-place with them who daily assembled there.
18 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.
And also philosophers of the sect of Epicureans, and others who were called Stoics, disputed with him. And one and another of them said: What doth this word-monger mean? Others said: He announceth foreign deities; because he preached to them Jesus and his resurrection.
19 And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?
And they took him and brought him to the place of judgments called Areopagus, and said to him: May we know what this new doctrine which thou preachest is?
20 For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”
For thou scatterest in our ears strange words; and we wish to know what they are.
21 (Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)
For all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there, cared for nothing else but to tell or to hear something new.
22 But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious.
And as Paul stood in the Areopagus, he said: Men, Athenians, I perceive that in all things ye are excessive in the worship of demons.
23 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:
For, as I was rambling about, and viewing the temples of your worship, I met with an altar, on which was inscribed, TO THE HIDDEN GOD. Him, therefore, whom ye worship while ye know him not, the very same I announce to you.
24 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.
For the God who made the world and all that is in it, and who is Lord of heaven and of earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
25 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.
Nor is he ministered to by human hands, neither hath he any wants; for he it is giveth life and breath to every man.
26 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,
And of one blood hath he made the whole world of men, that they might dwell on the face of all the earth: and he hath separated the seasons by his ordinance; and hath set bounds to the residence of men:
27 so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
that they might inquire and search after God, and, by means of his creations, might find him; because he is not afar off from each one of us:
28 ‘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.’
for in him it is we live, and move, and exist: as one of your own wise men hath said: From him is our descent.
29 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.
Therefore we, whose descent is from God, ought not to suppose that the Deity hath the likeness of gold, or silver, or stone, sculptured by the art and skill of men
30 And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.
And the times of this error God hath made to pass away; and at the present time, he commandeth all men, that each individual, in every place, should repent.
31 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.”
Because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge all the earth, with righteousness, by the man whom he hath designated: and he turneth every man to faith in him, in that he raised him from the dead.
32 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.”
And when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, some of them ridiculed, and others of them said: At another time, we will hear thee on this matter.
33 So Paul departed from their midst.
And so Paul departed from among them.
34 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.
And some of them adhered to him, and believed; one of these was Dionysius from among the judges of Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
