Paul in Athens

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was ^(A)provoked within him as he saw that the city was ^(B)full of idols. ¹⁷ So ^(C)he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, ^(D)“What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because ^(E)he was preaching ^(F)Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And they took him and brought him to ^(G)the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this ^(H)new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ For you bring some ^(I)strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” ²¹ Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Paul Addresses the Areopagus

²² So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ^(A)‘To the unknown god.’ ^(B)What therefore you worship ^(C)as unknown, this I proclaim to you. ^24 (D)The God who made the world and everything in it, being ^(E)Lord of heaven and earth, ^(F)does not live in temples made by man,^{[a] 25} nor is he served by human hands, ^(G)as though he needed anything, since he himself ^(H)gives to all mankind ^(I)life and breath and everything. ²⁶ And ^(J)he made from one man every nation of mankind to live ^(K)on all the face of the earth, ^(L)having determined allotted periods and ^(M)the boundaries of their dwelling place, ^27 (N)that they should seek God, ^(O)and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. ^(P)Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, ²⁸ for

as even some of ^(R)your own poets have said,

^29 (S)Being then God's offspring, ^(T)we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. ^30 (U)The times of ignorance ^(V)God overlooked, but ^(W)now he ^(X)commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed ^(Y)a day on which ^(Z)he will judge the world ^(AA)in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and ^(AB)of this he has given assurance to all ^(AC)by raising him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard of ^(AD)the resurrection of the dead, ^(AE)some mocked. But others said, ^(AF)“We will hear you again about this.” ³³ So Paul went out from their midst. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius ^(AG)the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

Praise the Name of the Lord

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

⁸ Finally, all of you, ^(A)have unity of mind, sympathy, ^(B)brotherly love, ^(C)a tender heart, and ^(D)a humble mind. ^9 (E)Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, ^(F)bless, for ^(G)to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. ¹⁰ For

¹³ Now ^(I)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (J)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(K)Have no fear of them, ^(L)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(M)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(N)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(O)respect, ^16 (P)having a good conscience, so that, ^(Q)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(R)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(S)suffered^{[a] (T)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(U)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(V)in the flesh but made alive ^(W)in the spirit,

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the ^(A)true vine, and my Father is ^(B)the vinedresser. ^2 (C)Every branch in me that does not bear fruit ^(D)he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, ^(E)that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already ^(F)you are clean ^(G)because of the word that I have spoken to you. ^4 (H)Abide ^(I)in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; ^(J)you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that ^(K)bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me ^(L)he is thrown away like a branch and withers; ^(M)and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If ^(N)you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ^(O)ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ^8 (P)By this my Father is glorified, that you ^(Q)bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ^9 (R)As the Father has loved me, ^(S)so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ^10 (T)If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as ^(U)I have kept ^(V)my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, ^(W)that my joy may be in you, and that ^(X)your joy may be full.