מעשי השליחים 17
Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh
יז פולוס וסילא עברו במסעם דרך ערי אמפיפוליס ואפולוניה, והגיעו לתסלוניקי - עיר שהיה בה בית-כנסת יהודי. 2 פולוס הלך כמנהגו לבית-הכנסת, ובמשך שלוש שבתות רצופות הסביר לנוכחים את הכתובים. 3 הוא הסביר להם את הנבואות בדבר סבלו של המשיח ותקומתו לחיים, והוכיח להם שישוע הוא המשיח. 4 חלק מהמאזינים שוכנעו והאמינו; ביניהם היו הרבה יוונים יראי-אלוהים והרבה נשים אצילות.
5 אולם מנהיגי היהודים נמלאו קנאה, ולכן הסיתו פושעים ובטלנים מן השוק לעורר מהומה בעיר. הם פרצו לביתו של יסון, במטרה לתפוס את פולוס וסילא ולהביאם לפני מועצת העיר.
6 מאחר שלא מצאו את השניים בתוך הבית, הם גררו החוצה את יסון ומאמינים אחרים והביאו אותם לפני המועצה. "פולוס וסילא גורמים לצרות ובעיות בכל העולם, ועכשיו הם רוצים להפוך גם את עירנו!" צרחו. 7 "ויסון זה הכניס אותם אל ביתו. הם בוגדים! הם טוענים שיש להם מלך אחר, ישוע, במקום הקיסר!"
10 באותו לילה הבריחו המאמינים את פולוס וסילא לברואה, והשניים שוב הלכו לבית-הכנסת כדי להטיף. 11 אנשי ברואה היו רחבי אופקים יותר מאנשי תסלוניקי והקשיבו לבשורה בשמחה. יום-יום הם למדו בעצמם את כתבי-הקודש, כדי לראות אם דבריהם של פולוס וסילא הם דברי אמת. 12 כתוצאה מכך האמינו רבים מהם, ביניהם נשים רמות מעלה וגברים רבים.
13 אולם כששמעו היהודים בתסלוניקי שפולוס מטיף את דבר ה' בברואה, מיהרו גם הם לשם כדי להסעיר את הרוחות. 14 המאמינים פעלו ללא דיחוי ושלחו את פולוס לחוף הים, בעוד שסילא וטימותיוס נשארו בעיר. 15 מלוויו של פולוס הלכו איתו עד אתונה, ומשם חזרו לברואה. לפני שנפרדו ממנו מלוויו ביקש מהם פולוס שיודיעו לסילא ולטימותיוס למהר לבוא אליו.
16 בזמן שפולוס חיכה להם באתונה, הוא נמלא צער למראה האלילים הרבים שמילאו את העיר. 17 הוא הלך לבית-הכנסת והתווכח על כך עם היהודים ועם הגויים שהתגיירו. הוא מצא לנכון להתווכח גם עם העוברים ושבים בכיכר השוק.
18 בין האנשים הרבים שאיתם התווכח היו גם פילוסופים אפיקורסים וסטואיים. כששמעו את דבריו של פולוס על תקומתו של ישוע מן המתים, הגיבו: "הוא סתם פטפטן!" או, "הוא עושה תעמולה לדת חדשה כלשהי!"
19 הם לקחו את פולוס לגבעת המשפט (שנקראה ביוונית "אריופגוס") ואמרו לו: "ספר לנו עוד קצת על הדת החדשה הזאת. 20 אתה מספר דברים מוזרים, והיינו רוצים לדעת מה פירושם." 21 כאן עלי להסביר שאנשי אתונה, כולל הזרים שהיו שם, אהבו לבלות את זמנם בשיחה על רעיונות חדשים למיניהם.
22 פולוס עמד לפניהם בגבעת המשפט ואמר: "אנשי אתונה, אני רואה שאתם אנשים אדוקים מאוד! 23 כשעברתי היום בחוצות עירכם ראיתי מזבחות רבים, ועל אחד מהם היה כתוב: 'לאל הבלתי-נודע.' השתחוויתם לו בלי לדעת מי הוא, ועתה ברצוני לספר לכם עליו.
24 "הוא האל אשר ברא את העולם ואת כל אשר בו, והיות שהוא אדון השמים והארץ, אין הוא שוכן במקדש מעשה ידי-אדם. 25 כמו-כן אין ידי אדם יכולות לשרתו ולספק לו את צרכיו, משום שאין הוא זקוק לדבר! הוא עצמו נותן חיים ונשמה לכל דבר, וממלא כל מחסור שהוא. 26 מאדם אחד הוא ברא את כל בני-האדם בעולם, ולאחר מכן פיזר את העמים על פני כדור הארץ. הוא החליט מראש מי מהם יקום, מי ייפול ומתי, ואף קבע להם את גבולותיהם.
27 "בכל המעשים האלה הייתה לו מטרה אחת: שכל העמים יחפשו את אלוהים ויגששו אחריו עד שימצאו אותו - למרות שאין הוא רחוק מאף אחד מאיתנו! 28 אחד המשוררים שלכם ביטא זאת בשירו:
'כי בו אנחנו חיים ונעים וקיימים.
וגם אנחנו צאצאיו.'
29 ואם נכון הדבר, אזי אסור לנו לחשוב על אלוהים כאילו הוא מן פסל או אליל עשוי זהב, כסף או אבן! 30 אלוהים התעלם בעבר מבורותם של בני-האדם בנושא זה, אולם עתה הוא מצווה על כולם לחזור בתשובה ולעבוד אותו בלבד. 31 כי אלוהים קבע יום מסוים שבו ישפוט בצדק את העולם כולו על-ידי האיש שבו בחר. אלוהים אישר את הדבר לעיני כולם כשהקים איש זה מן המתים."
32 כאשר שמעו שפולוס מדבר על תחייתו של איש מת, החלו אחדים מהם לצחוק וללעוג, ואילו אחרים אמרו: "אנחנו רוצים לשמוע עוד על כך!" 33 בכך נסתיימה שיחתו של פולוס איתם, 34 אולם רק מעטים האמינו לדבריו והצטרפו אליו. ביניהם היו דיוניסיוס - חבר מועצת העיר, אישה אחת בשם דמריס ואחרים.
ﺍﻋﻤﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺮﺳﻞ 17
Arabic Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
بُولُسُ وَسِيلَا فِي تَسَالُونِيكِي
17 وَبَعْدَ أنْ سَافَرَا عَبْرَ مَدِينَتَي أمْفِيبُولِيسَ وَأبُولُونِيَّةَ، وَصَلَا إلَى مَدِينَةِ تَسَالُونِيكِي، حَيْثُ يُوجَدُ مَجمَعٌ لِليَهُودِ. 2 فَدَخَلَ بُولُسُ إلَى المَجْمَعِ كَعَادَتِهِ. وَنَاقَشَهُمْ فِي الكِتَابِ ثَلَاثَةَ سُبُوتٍ. 3 وَشَرَحَ لَهُمْ مُثبِتًا أنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ اللَّازِمِ أنْ يَتَألَّمَ المَسِيحُ وَأنْ يَقُومَ مِنَ المَوْتِ. وَقَالَ بُولُسُ: «إنَّ يَسُوعَ هَذَا الَّذِي أُنَادِي بِهِ لَكُمْ هُوَ المَسِيحُ.» 4 فَاقْتَنَعَ بَعْضُهُمْ، وَانضَمُّوا إلَى بُولُسَ وَسِيلَا. كَمَا انضَمَّ إلَيْهِمْ عَدَدٌ كَبِيرٌ مِنَ اليُونَانِيِّينَ الأتقِيَاءِ،[a] بِالإضَافَةِ إلَى عَدَدٍ لَيْسَ بِقَلِيلٍ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ البَارِزَاتِ فِي المُجْتَمَعِ.
5 أمَّا اليَهُودُ فَأكَلَهُمُ الحَسَدُ. فَجَمَعُوا بَعْضَ الرِّجَالِ الأشْرَارِ مِنَ السُّوقِ، وَشَكَّلُوا عِصَابَةً، وَأثَارُوا شَغَبًا فِي المَدِينَةِ وَهَاجَمُوا بَيْتَ يَاسُونَ. وَحَاوَلُوا أنْ يَجِدُوا بُولُسَ وَسِيلَا لِكَي يُخرِجُوهُمَا إلَى الشَّعْبِ. 6 فَلَمَّا لَمْ يَجِدُوهُمَا، جَرُّوا يَاسُونَ وَبَعْضَ الإخوَةِ أمَامَ سُلطَاتِ المَدِينَةِ، وَصَرَخُوا وَقَالُوا: «هَؤُلَاءِ هُمُ الَّذِينَ أثَارُوا الفِتَنَ فِي جَمِيعِ أنْحَاءِ العَالَمِ. وَقَدْ وَصَلُوا إلَى هُنَا، 7 فَاسْتَضَافَهُمْ يَاسُونُ فِي بَيْتِهِ. وَهُمْ يَفْعَلُونَ أُمُورًا تُخَالِفُ أحكَامَ القَيصَرِ، وَيَدَّعُونَ أنَّ هُنَاكَ مَلِكًا آخَرَ هُوَ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ يَسُوعُ.»
8 فَتَضَايَقَ النَّاسُ وَسُلُطَاتُ المَدِينَةِ لِسَمَاعِ هَذَا، 9 ثُمَّ أخَذُوا كَفَالَةً مِنْ يَاسُونَ وَالبَقِيَّةِ وَأخلَوْا سَبِيلَهُمْ.
بُولُسُ وَسِيلَا فِي بِيرِيَّة
10 فَقَامَ الإخْوَةُ عَلَى الفَوْرِ بِتَرْحِيلِ بُولُسَ وَسِيلَا لَيْلًا إلَى مَدِينَةِ بِيرِيَّةَ. وَعِنْدَمَا وَصَلَا إلَى هُنَاكَ، دَخَلَا إلَى المَجْمَعِ اليَهُودِيِّ. 11 وَكَانَ المَوجُودُونَ هُنَاكَ أنبَلَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ فِي مَدِينَةِ تَسَالُونِيكِي، فَتَجَاوَبُوا مَعَ الرِّسَالَةِ بَاهتِمَامٍ بَالِغٍ. وَكَانُوا يَدْرُسُونَ الكِتَابَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ لِيَرَوْا إنْ كَانَتِ الأُمُورُ الَّتِي قَالَهَا بُولُسُ صَحِيحَةً. 12 وَنَتِيجَةً لِذَلِكَ آمَنَ يَهُودٌ كَثِيرُونَ. كَمَا آمَنَ عَدَدٌ كَبِيرٌ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ اليُونَانِيَّاتِ البَارِزَاتِ، وَمِنَ الرِّجَالِ اليُونَانِيِّينَ.
13 فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ اليَهُودُ فِي مَدِينَةِ تَسَالُونِيكِي أنَّ بُولُسَ يُنَادِي بِرِسَالَةِ اللهِ أيْضًا فِي مَدِينَةِ بِيرِيَّةَ، ذَهَبُوا إلَى هُنَاكَ أيْضًا، وَبَدَأُوا يُهَيِّجُونَ النَّاسَ وَيُحَرِّضُونَهُمْ. 14 فَأرْسَلَ الإخْوَةُ بُولُسَ إلَى سَاحِلِ البَحْرِ. لَكِنَّ سِيلَا وَتِيمُوثَاوُسَ بَقِيَا هُنَاكَ. 15 أمَّا الَّذِينَ رَافَقُوا بُولُسَ فَأخَذُوهُ إلَى مَدِينَةِ أثِينَا. وَقَدْ تَلَقَّوْا تَعْلِيمَاتٍ مِنْ بُولُسَ إلَى سِيلَا وَتِيمُوثَاوُسَ لِكَي يَلْحَقُا بِهِ فِي أسرَعِ وَقْتٍ مُمْكِنٍ، ثُمَّ مَضَوْا.
بُولُسُ فِي أثِينَا
16 وَبَيْنَمَا كَانَ بُولُسُ يَنْتَظِرُهُمَا، انزَعَجَ فِي أعْمَاقِ نَفْسِهِ عِنْدَمَا لَاحَظَ إلَى أيِّ حَدٍّ تَمْتَلِئُ المَدِينَةُ بِالأصْنَامِ. 17 فَرَاحَ يُكَلِّمُ اليَهُودَ وَاليُونَانِيِّينَ الأتقِيَاءَ فِي المَجْمَعِ، وَالنَّاسَ الَّذِينَ يَجِدُهُمْ فِي السُّوقِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ.
18 فَبَدَأ بَعْضُ الفَلَاسِفَةِ الأبِيقُورِيِّينَ[b] وَالرِّوَاقِيِّينَ[c] يُجَادِلُونَهُ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: «مَا الَّذِي يُرِيدُ أنْ يَقُولَهُ هَذَا الثَّرْثَارُ؟» وَقَالَ آخَرُونَ: «يَبْدُو أنَّهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ عَنْ آلِهَةٍ غَرِيبَةٍ.» قَالُوا هَذَا لِأنَّهُ كَانَ يُبَشِّرُ بِيَسُوعَ وَبِالقِيَامَةِ.
19 فَأخَذُوهُ وَأحضَرُوهُ إلَى مَجلِسِ أرِيُوسَ بَاغُوسَ[d] وَقَالُوا: «هَلْ تَسْمَحُ بِأنْ تُخبِرَنَا مَا هُوَ هَذَا التَّعلِيمُ الجَدِيدُ الَّذِي تَعْرِضُهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ؟ 20 فَأنْتَ تَتَحَدَّثُ عَنْ أُمُورٍ غَرِيبَةٍ عَنَّا، وَنُرِيدُ أنْ نَفهَمَ مَا تَعْنِيهِ هَذِهِ الأُمُورُ.» 21 وَكَانَ الأثِينِيُّونَ وَالأجَانِبُ السَّاكِنُونَ هُنَاكَ يَقْضُونَ كُلَّ وَقْتِهِمْ لَا يَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا غَيْرَ الحَدِيثِ عَنْ شَيءٍ جَدِيدٍ، أوْ الاسْتِمَاعِ إلَى شَيءٍ جَدِيدٍ.
22 حينَئِذٍ، وَقَفَ بُولُسُ أمَامَ أريُوسَ بَاغُوسَ وَقَالَ: «يَا رِجَالَ أثِينَا، لَاحَظتُ أنَّكُمْ مُتَدَيِّنُونَ جِدًّا فِي كُلِّ شَيءٍ. 23 فَقَدْ تَجَوَّلْتُ فِي المَدِينَةِ وَرَأيْتُ مَعبُودَاتِكُمْ، فَوَجَدْتُ مَذْبَحًا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ: ‹هَذَا المَذْبَحُ لإلَهٍ مَجهُولٍ.› فَأنَا أُنَادِي لَكُمْ إذًا بِمَنْ تَعْبُدُونَهُ وَأنْتُمْ تَجْهَلُونَهُ.
24 «وَهُوَ الإلَهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ العَالَمَ وَكُلَّ مَا فِيهِ. وَبِمَا أنَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ، فَإنَّهُ لَا يَسْكُنُ فِي مَعَابِدَ مِنْ صُنْعِ النَّاسِ، 25 وَلَا يُخدَمُ بِأيدِي النَّاسِ كَمَا لَوْ كَانَ مُحتَاجًا إلَى شَيءٍ. وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُعْطِي الجَمِيعَ الحَيَاةَ وَالنَّفْسَ وَكُلَّ شَيءٍ آخَرَ. 26 خَلَقَ كُلَّ أجنَاسِ البَشَرِ مِنْ إنْسَانٍ وَاحِدٍ، لِكَي يَسْكُنُوا الأرْضَ كُلَّهَا. وَحَدَّدَ الأوقَاتَ وَالحُدُودَ الَّتِي سَيَعِيشُ فِيهَا كُلُّ شَعْبٍ.
27 «خَلَقَهُمْ لِكَي يَسْعَوْا إلَى اللهِ، فَلَعَلَّهُمْ يُفَتِّشُونَ عَنْهُ فَيَجِدُوهُ. غَيْرَ أنَّهُ لَيْسَ بَعيدًا عَنْ أيِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَّا.
28 «إذْ فِيهِ نَحيَا
وَنَتَحَرَّكُ
وَنُوجَدُ.
«وَكَمَا قَالَ أيْضًا بَعْضُ شُعَرَائِكُمْ:
«إنَّنَا أبنَاؤُهُ.
29 «فَبِمَا أنَّنَا أبْنَاءُ اللهِ، لَا يَنْبَغِي عَلينَا أنْ نَظُنَّ أنَّ جَوهَرَ اللهِ كَالذَّهَبِ أوِ الفِضَّةِ أوِ الحَجَرِ، أوْ أيِّ شَيءٍ يُشَكِّلُهُ الإنْسَانُ بِمَهَارَتِهِ وَخَيَالِهِ. 30 لَقَدْ تَغَاضَى اللهُ فِيمَا مَضَى عَنْ أوقَاتِ الجَهْلِ، أمَّا الآنَ فَإنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ النَّاسَ فِي كُلِّ مَكَانٍ بِأنْ يَتُوبُوا. 31 فَقَدْ حَدَّدَ يَومًا سَيَدِينُ فِيهِ العَالَمَ بِالعَدْلِ بِوَاسِطَةِ إنْسَانٍ اخْتَارَهُ. وَقَدَّمَ بُرهَانًا عَلَى هَذَا لِلجَمِيعِ إذ أقَامَهُ مِنَ المَوْتِ.»
32 فَلَمَّا سَمِعُوا عَنِ القِيَامَةِ مِنَ المَوْتِ، سَخِرَ بَعْضُهُمْ، لَكِنَّ آخَرِينَ قَالُوا: «حَدِّثْنَا بِالمَزِيدِ عَنْ هَذَا فِيمَا بَعْدُ!» 33 فَتَرَكَهُمْ بُولُسُ. 34 لَكِنَّ بَعْضًا مِنهُمُ انضَمَّ إلَيْهِ وَآمَنَ. وَمِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ دِيُونِيسْيُوسُ، وَهُوَ أحَدُ أعضَاءِ مَجلِسِ أرِيُوسَ بَاغُوسَ، وَامْرَأةٌ اسْمُهَا دَامَرِسَ، وَآخَرُونَ مَعَهُمَا.
Acts 17
New King James Version
Preaching Christ at Thessalonica
17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to (A)Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, (B)went in to them, and for three Sabbaths (C)reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating (D)that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” 4 (E)And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and (F)Silas.
Assault on Jason’s House
5 But the Jews [a]who were not persuaded, [b]becoming (G)envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of (H)Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, (I)“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has [c]harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, (J)saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
Ministering at Berea
10 Then (K)the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more [d]fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and (L)searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds. 14 (M)Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea; but both Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and (N)receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.
The Philosophers at Athens
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, (O)his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was [e]given over to idols. 17 Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. 18 [f]Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this [g]babbler want to say?”
Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them (P)Jesus and the resurrection.
19 And they took him and brought him to the [h]Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” 21 For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.
Addressing the Areopagus
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the [i]Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; 23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 (Q)God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is (R)Lord of heaven and earth, (S)does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He (T)gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one [j]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and (U)the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 (V)so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, (W)though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for (X)in Him we live and move and have our being, (Y)as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, (Z)we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, (AA)these times of ignorance God overlooked, but (AB)now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which (AC)He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by (AD)raising Him from the dead.”
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Footnotes
- Acts 17:5 NU omits who were not persuaded
- Acts 17:5 M omits becoming envious
- Acts 17:7 welcomed
- Acts 17:11 Lit. noble
- Acts 17:16 full of idols
- Acts 17:18 NU, M add also
- Acts 17:18 Lit. seed picker, an idler who makes a living picking up scraps
- Acts 17:19 Lit. Hill of Ares, or Mars’ Hill
- Acts 17:22 Lit. Hill of Ares, or Mars’ Hill
- Acts 17:26 NU omits blood
Acts 17
King James Version
17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of 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.
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.
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.
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;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, 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.
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.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
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.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
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.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
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.
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.
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things 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.)
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.
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.
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;
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;
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;
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:
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.
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.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where 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.
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul departed from among 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.
Habrit Hakhadasha/Haderekh “The Way” (Hebrew Living New Testament)
Copyright © 1979, 2009 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2009, 2016 by Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
