Acts 17
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
As usual, Paul went into the synagogue and over the course of three Sabbaths he debated with them using the Scriptures.
3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
He explained what the Scriptures meant, proving that the Messiah had to die and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I'm telling you about—he is the Messiah,” he told them.
4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, along with many Greek-speaking worshipers and some leading women of the town.
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
But the Jews became jealous and with some rabble-rousers they gathered from the marketplace they formed a mob. They rioted in the town, and attacked Jason's house. They tried to find Paul and Silas so they could bring them before the people.
6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
When they couldn't find them they dragged Jason and some of the other believers before the town leaders, shouting, “These people are famous for causing trouble, turning the world upside down. Now they've come here,
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.
and Jason has made them welcome in his house. They all defy Caesar's decrees, committing treason by saying there is another king called Jesus.”
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
The people and the leaders of the town were very disturbed when they heard this.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
So they made Jason and the others post bail before they let them go.
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews.
The believers had Paul and Silas leave for Berea that very night. When they arrived in Berea they went to the Jewish synagogue.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The people there had a better attitude than those in Thessalonica in that they were very quick to accept the word, and every day they examined the Scriptures to make sure what they were told was right.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
As a result many of them became believers, along with some highly-placed Greek women and men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
But when the Jews in Thessalonica heard that Paul was also spreading the word of God in Berea, they went there and caused the same kind of trouble, stirring up the crowds.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
Immediately the believers sent Paul to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.
15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
Those escorting Paul took him as far as Athens, and then returned with instructions from Paul to Silas and Timothy that they should join him there as soon as possible.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens he was very troubled to see all the idolatry in the city.
17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
He debated in the synagogue with the Jews and those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace with those he happened to meet from day to day.
18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also argued with him. “What is he going on about?” they wondered. Others concluded, “He seems to be teaching about some foreign gods,” because he was speaking about Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, [is]?
So they took him to the Areopagus, and asked him, “Please tell us about this new teaching that you're promoting.
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
We're hearing from you things that sound odd to us, so we'd like to know what they mean.”
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
(All the Athenians, including foreigners who lived there, spent their whole time doing nothing except explaining or listening to something new.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Paul stood up right in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens, I notice you are very religious about everything.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
As I was walking along, looking at your shrines, I found an altar that had the inscription, ‘To an Unknown God.’ This unknown God whom you worship is the one I'm describing to you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
The God who created the world and everything in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't live in temples we make.
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
He doesn't need to be served by us as if he needed anything, since he is the source of all life for every living being.
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
From one man he made all the peoples who live on the earth, and decided beforehand when and where they should live.
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
God's purpose was that they should seek him, hoping they would reach out for him and find him—though he isn't far from any one of us.
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
In him we live, move, and exist. Just as one of your own poets wrote, ‘We are his family.’
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Since we are his family we shouldn't think that God is like gold, or silver, or stone, shaped by human artistry and thinking.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
God disregarded people's ignorance in the past, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent.
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.
For he has set a time when he will rightly judge the world by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone that he is the one by raising him from the dead.”
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter].
Some of them laughed when they heard about the resurrection of the dead, while others said, “Please come back so we can hear more about this later.”
33 So Paul departed from among them.
So Paul left them.
34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which [was] Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
A few men joined him and trusted in God, including Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, as well as a woman called Damaris, and some others.
