保罗在帖撒罗尼迦传道

17 保罗和西拉经过暗非坡里和亚波罗尼亚,到了帖撒罗尼迦。那里有犹太人的会堂。 保罗照以往的习惯进入会堂,一连三个安息日引用圣经与当地人讨论, 解释、证明基督必须受害,然后从死里复活,又说:“我向你们宣讲的这位耶稣就是基督。” 不少人被说服,成为保罗和西拉的同道,其中有许多是敬畏上帝的希腊人和有地位的妇女。

那些不信主的犹太人却妒火中烧,他们召集了一群市井无赖,在城里引发骚乱,闯进耶孙的家企图把保罗和西拉揪出来示众。 他们找不到保罗和西拉,就把耶孙和几个弟兄拉到当地官员面前,高喊:“那些搅乱天下的人到我们这里来了, 耶孙接待了他们。他们违抗凯撒的命令,说另有一个王叫耶稣。” 百姓和当地官长听后,深感不安。 于是,官长命耶孙等人缴纳保释金,然后释放了他们。

庇哩亚人接受福音

10 弟兄姊妹在夜间把保罗和西拉送往庇哩亚。他们二人一到,就进了犹太会堂。 11 当地的人比帖撒罗尼迦人通情达理,非常乐意接受真道,还天天查考圣经,研究这道是否正确。 12 结果有很多人信了,包括不少有名望的希腊妇女和男子。 13 可是,帖撒罗尼迦的犹太人听到保罗在庇哩亚宣扬上帝的道,就赶来怂恿、煽动众人。 14 庇哩亚的弟兄姊妹立刻送保罗到海边,西拉和提摩太仍然留在庇哩亚。 15 护送保罗的人一直把他送到雅典,然后带着保罗的口信回庇哩亚,交代西拉和提摩太尽快赶去雅典与保罗会合。

保罗在雅典传道

16 保罗在雅典等候他们的时候,看见满城都是偶像,心里非常着急。 17 于是,他在会堂跟犹太人和虔诚的外族人辩论,每天在广场上跟遇见的人辩论。 18 还有一些伊壁鸠鲁和斯多亚学派的哲学家和保罗争论,有人嘲笑他说:“这人在胡说八道些什么呀?”还有人说:“他好像在宣扬外国的神明。”他们这样说是因为保罗在传讲耶稣和祂复活的福音。 19 他们带保罗到一个称为亚略·巴古的论坛,问他:“我们可以知道你所教导的这个新道理吗? 20 你的言论确实稀奇,我们很想知道个究竟。”

21 这些雅典人和侨居在那里的人没有别的嗜好,只喜欢谈论和打听一些新奇的事。

22 保罗在亚略·巴古论坛中站起来说:“各位雅典人,我看得出你们在各方面都非常虔诚。 23 我在街上走的时候,观察了你们所敬拜的对象,发现一座祭坛上面写着‘献给未知之神’。这位你们不认识却在敬拜的神明,我现在介绍给你们。

24 “这位创造宇宙万物的上帝是天地的主宰,并不住在人手建造的庙宇里, 25 也不需要人的侍奉,因为祂一无所缺。祂将生命、气息和万物赐给世人。 26 祂从一人造出万族,让他们散居世界各地,又预先定下他们的期限和居住的疆界, 27 以便他们在其间寻求祂,或许他们可以摸索着找到祂。祂原本就离我们各人不远, 28 我们的生活、行动和存在都靠祂,你们的诗人也说过,‘我们是祂的子孙。’ 29 我们既然是上帝的子孙,就不该认为上帝是人凭手艺和想象用金、银、石头所雕刻的样子。

30 “上帝以往不鉴察世人的无知,现在则命令世上所有的人都要悔改。 31 因为祂已经定了日子,要借祂所设立的人按公义审判这个世界。祂叫那人从死里复活,给了全人类可信的凭据。”

32 听见保罗提到死人复活的事,有些人就嘲笑他,还有些人说:“我们改天再听你讲这个。” 33 于是保罗离开了他们。 34 不过,也有人跟随保罗,信了耶稣,其中有亚略·巴古的会员丢尼修和一位名叫戴玛丽的妇人及其他人。

17 And when they had passed by Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of Jews.

And by custom Paul entered to them [Soothly after custom, Paul entered into them], and by three sabbaths he declared to them of the scriptures,

and opened, and showed that it behooved Christ to suffer, and rise again from death[a], and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I tell to you.

And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and to Silas; and a great multitude of heathen men worshipped God, and noble women not a few. [And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas; and of heathen men worshipping a great multitude, and noble women not few.]

But the Jews had envy, and took of the common people some evil men, and when they had made a company [and a company made], they moved the city. And they came to Jason's house, and sought to bring them forth among the people [to the people].

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and some brethren to the princes of the city, and cried [crying], That these it be, that moved the world, and hither they came,

whom Jason received. And these all do against the commandments of the emperor, and say [And these all do against the commandments of Caesar, saying], that Jesus is another king.

And they moved the people, and the princes of the city, hearing these things.

And when satisfaction was taken of Jason, and of others, they let Paul and Silas go [they left them].

10 And at once by night brethren let [Paul and] Silas go into Berea. And when they came thither, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews. [Forsooth anon by night brethren sent Paul and Silas into Berea. The which when they came, entered into the synagogue of Jews.]

11 But these were the worthier of them [Soothly these were the nobler of them] that be at Thessalonica, which received the word with all desire, each day seeking [the] scriptures, if these things had them so.

12 And many of them believed and of heathen women honest [and of honest heathen women] and men not a few.

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica had known, that also at Berea the word of God was preached of Paul, they came thither, moving and disturbing the multitude [they came also thither, moving and distroubling the multitude].

14 And then at once brethren delivered Paul [And anon brethren dismissed Paul then], that he should go to the sea; but Silas and Timothy dwelt there.

15 And they that led forth Paul, led him to Athens [led him unto Athens]. And when they had taken a commandment of him to Silas and Timothy, that full hieingly they should come to him, they went forth.

16 And while Paul abode them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him, for he saw the city given to idolatry.

17 Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with men that worshipped God, and in the doom place [Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with Jews, and men worshipping, in the market, or doom place], by all days to them that heard.

18 And some Epicureans, and Stoics, and philosophers disputed with him [disputed, or treated, with him]. And some said, What will this sower of words say? And others said, He seemeth to be a teller of new fiends; for he told to them Jesus, and the again-rising.

19 And they took, and led him to Areopagus, and said, May we know [And they took and led him to Areopagus, that is, a common school, saying, Be we able to know], what is this new doctrine, that is said of thee?

20 For thou bringest in some new things to our ears; therefore we will know, what these things will be.

21 For all men of Athens and comelings harboured gave attention to none other thing, but either to say, either to hear [or to hear], some new thing.

22 And Paul stood in the middle of Areopagus, and said, Men of Athens, by all things I see you as vain worshippers.

23 For I passed, and saw your maumets [and saw your simulacra], and found an altar, in which was written, To the unknown God. Therefore which thing ye unknowing worship, this thing I show to you.

24 God that made the world and all things that be in it, this, for he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hand [made by hand],

25 neither is worshipped by man's hands, neither hath need of any thing [having need of any thing], for he giveth life to all men, and breathing, and all things;

26 and made of one all the kind of men [for] to inhabit on all the face of the earth, determining times ordained, and terms of the dwelling of them [and terms of habitation, or dwelling, of them],

27 to seek God, if peradventure they feel him, either find, though he be not far from each of you.

28 For in him we live, and move, and be. As also some of your poets said, And we be also the kind of him [Soothly we be also the kin of him].

29 Therefore since we be the kind of God, we shall not deem, that godly thing is like gold, and silver, either stone, either to graving of craft and thought of man.[b]

30 For God despiseth the times of this unknowing, and now showeth to men, that all every where do penance;

31 for that he hath ordained a day, in which he shall deem the world in equity, in a man in which he ordained, and gave faith to all men, and raised him from death [raising him from dead].

32 And when they had heard the again-rising of dead men[c], some scorned, and some said, We shall hear thee again of this thing.

33 So Paul went out of the middle of them.

34 But some men drew to him [Forsooth some men cleaved to him], and believed. Among which Dionysius Areopagite was, and a woman, by name Damaris, and other men with them [and others with them].

Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:3 opening and showing for it behooved Christ to suffer, and rise again from dead
  2. Acts 17:29 Therefore since we be the kin of God, we shall not deem, or guess, that godly thing is like to gold, or silver, or stone, to graving of craft and thought of man.
  3. Acts 17:32 Soothly when they heard the again-rising of dead