保羅在帖撒羅尼迦傳道

17 保羅和西拉經過暗非坡里和亞波羅尼亞,到了帖撒羅尼迦。那裡有猶太人的會堂。 保羅照以往的習慣進入會堂,一連三個安息日引用聖經與當地人討論, 解釋、證明基督必須受害,然後從死裡復活,又說:「我向你們宣講的這位耶穌就是基督。」 不少人被說服,成為保羅和西拉的同道,其中有許多是敬畏上帝的希臘人和有地位的婦女。

那些不信主的猶太人卻妒火中燒,他們召集了一群市井無賴,在城裡引發騷亂,闖進耶孫的家企圖把保羅和西拉揪出來示眾。 他們找不到保羅和西拉,就把耶孫和幾個弟兄拉到當地官員面前,高喊:「那些攪亂天下的人到我們這裡來了, 耶孫接待了他們。他們違抗凱撒的命令,說另有一個王叫耶穌。」 百姓和當地官長聽後,深感不安。 於是,官長命耶孫等人繳納保釋金,然後釋放了他們。

庇哩亞人接受福音

10 弟兄姊妹在夜間把保羅和西拉送往庇哩亞。他們二人一到,就進了猶太會堂。 11 當地的人比帖撒羅尼迦人通情達理,非常樂意接受真道,還天天查考聖經,研究這道是否正確。 12 結果有很多人信了,包括不少有名望的希臘婦女和男子。 13 可是,帖撒羅尼迦的猶太人聽到保羅在庇哩亞宣揚上帝的道,就趕來慫恿、煽動眾人。 14 庇哩亞的弟兄姊妹立刻送保羅到海邊,西拉和提摩太仍然留在庇哩亞。 15 護送保羅的人一直把他送到雅典,然後帶著保羅的口信回庇哩亞,交代西拉和提摩太儘快趕去雅典與保羅會合。

保羅在雅典傳道

16 保羅在雅典等候他們的時候,看見滿城都是偶像,心裡非常著急。 17 於是,他在會堂跟猶太人和虔誠的外族人辯論,每天在廣場上跟遇見的人辯論。 18 還有一些伊壁鳩魯和斯多亞學派的哲學家和保羅爭論,有人嘲笑他說:「這人在胡說八道些什麼呀?」還有人說:「他好像在宣揚外國的神明。」他們這樣說是因為保羅在傳講耶穌和祂復活的福音。 19 他們帶保羅到一個稱為亞略·巴古的論壇,問他:「我們可以知道你所教導的這個新道理嗎? 20 你的言論確實稀奇,我們很想知道個究竟。」

21 這些雅典人和僑居在那裡的人沒有別的嗜好,只喜歡談論和打聽一些新奇的事。

22 保羅在亞略·巴古論壇中站起來說:「各位雅典人,我看得出你們在各方面都非常虔誠。 23 我在街上走的時候,觀察了你們所敬拜的對象,發現一座祭壇上面寫著『獻給未知之神』。這位你們不認識卻在敬拜的神明,我現在介紹給你們。

24 「這位創造宇宙萬物的上帝是天地的主宰,並不住在人手建造的廟宇裡, 25 也不需要人的侍奉,因為祂一無所缺。祂將生命、氣息和萬物賜給世人。 26 祂從一人造出萬族,讓他們散居世界各地,又預先定下他們的期限和居住的疆界, 27 以便他們在其間尋求祂,或許他們可以摸索著找到祂。祂原本就離我們各人不遠, 28 我們的生活、行動和存在都靠祂,你們的詩人也說過,『我們是祂的子孫。』 29 我們既然是上帝的子孫,就不該認為上帝是人憑手藝和想象用金、銀、石頭所雕刻的樣子。

30 「上帝以往不鑒察世人的無知,現在則命令世上所有的人都要悔改。 31 因為祂已經定了日子,要藉祂所設立的人按公義審判這個世界。祂叫那人從死裡復活,給了全人類可信的憑據。」

32 聽見保羅提到死人復活的事,有些人就嘲笑他,還有些人說:「我們改天再聽你講這個。」 33 於是保羅離開了他們。 34 不過,也有人跟隨保羅,信了耶穌,其中有亞略·巴古的會員丟尼修和一位名叫戴瑪麗的婦人及其他人。

Sa Tesalonica

17 Nag-agi sila sa Amfipolis kag sa Apolonia hasta nakaabot sila sa Tesalonica. Didto sa Tesalonica may simbahan sang mga Judio. Kag suno sa kinabatasan ni Pablo, nagsulod siya sa ila simbahan, kag sa sulod sang tatlo ka Adlaw nga Inugpahuway, nagdiskusyon siya sa mga tawo didto. Ang Kasulatan amo ang iya gin-gamit agod pamatud-an sa ila nga ang Cristo kinahanglan gid nga mag-antos kag mabanhaw. Nagsiling si Pablo, “Ining Jesus nga akon ginasugid sa inyo amo ang Cristo.” Ang iban sa ila nagtuo sa ginhambal ni Pablo, kag nagsunod sila kay Pablo kag kay Silas. Madamo man nga mga Griego nga nagasimba sa Dios kag kilala nga mga babayi ang nag-upod sa ila.

Karon, nahisa ang mga lider sang mga Judio. Gani gintipon nila ang mga bugoy nga mga istambay. Kag sang madamo na ang ila natipon, nagsugod sila panggamo sa bug-os nga siyudad. Gin-gubat nila ang balay ni Jason sa pagpangita kay Pablo kag kay Silas agod madala sila sa atubangan sang mga tawo. Pero sang wala nila makita si Pablo kag si Silas, gindakop nila si Jason kag ang iban pa nga mga tumuluo. Gin-guyod nila sila pakadto sa mga opisyal sang siyudad kag nagasinggit sila, “Ining mga tawo nagadala sing gamo bisan diin sila magkadto tungod sang ila mga ginatudlo. Kag karon ari na sila sa aton siyudad. Ginpadayon pa sila ni Jason sa iya balay. Ini sila tanan nagakontra sa mga kasuguan sang Emperador tungod nga nagasiling sila nga may isa pa ka hari nga ang iya ngalan si Jesus.” Pagkabati sadto sang mga tawo kag sang mga opisyal, nagginamo sila. Sa wala pa nila mabuy-i si Jason kag ang iya mga kaupod, ginpabayad anay sila sang piansa.

Sa Berea

10 Pagkagab-i, ginpadala sang mga tumuluo si Pablo kag si Silas sa Berea. Pag-abot nila didto, nagkadto sila sa simbahan sang mga Judio. 11 Mas bukas ang hunahuna sang mga tawo sa Berea sang sa mga tawo sa Tesalonica. Dako gid ang ila luyag sa pagpamati sang ginatudlo nila ni Pablo. Kag adlaw-adlaw sige ang ila usisa sang Kasulatan agod tan-awon kon matuod gid bala ang mga ginapanghambal nila ni Pablo. 12 Madamo sa ila ang nagtuo pati ang mga lalaki kag mga kilala nga mga babayi nga Griego. 13 Pero pagkabati sang mga Judio sa Tesalonica nga nagwali man si Pablo sang pulong sang Dios didto sa Berea, nagkadto sila didto kag ginsutsot ang mga tawo sa paggamo. 14 Gani gindul-ong dayon sang mga tumuluo si Pablo sa baybay. Pero si Silas iya kag si Timoteo nagpabilin sa Berea. 15 Ang mga tawo nga nagdul-ong kay Pablo nag-upod sa iya hasta sa Atens. Dayon nagbalik sila sa Berea nga may tugon halin kay Pablo nga si Silas kag si Timoteo maapas lang dayon sa iya sa Atens.

Sa Atens

16 Samtang nagahulat si Pablo kay Silas kag kay Timoteo didto sa Atens, nakita niya nga madamo gid ang ila mga dios-dios. Natublag gid siya. 17 Gani nagsulod siya sa simbahan sang mga Judio kag nagpakigdiskusyon sa ila kag sa mga indi Judio nga nagasimba man sa Dios. Adlaw-adlaw didto siya sa plasa nga nagapakigdiskusyon sa mga tawo nga iya masugata. 18 May duha ka klase sang mga manunudlo ang nagpakigdiskusyon kay Pablo. Ang isa ginatawag mga Epicureo, kag ang isa mga Estoico.[a] Nagsiling ang iban sa ila, “Ano ayhan ang ginawakal sang tikalon nga ini?” Ang iban nagsiling, “Daw lain man nga mga dios ang iya ginawali.” Amo ini ang ila ginsiling tungod nga nagawali si Pablo parte kay Jesus kag sa iya pagkabanhaw. 19 Gani gindala nila si Pablo sa Areopagus, ang tilipunan sang mga pangulo sang banwa. Nagsiling sila sa iya, “Gusto namon nga mahibaluan ang bag-o nga pagtulun-an nga imo ginawali. 20 Kay may lain ka nga mga butang nga ginatudlo nga bag-o sa amon, gani gusto namon mahibaluan kon ano ina nga mga butang.” 21 (Amo ini ang ila ginhambal tungod nga ang mga taga-Atens kag ang mga taga-iban nga lugar nga didto na nagaestar wala sing iban nga naluyagan kundi ang magdiskusyon parte sa bag-o nga mga pagpanudlo.)

22 Gani nagtindog si Pablo sa atubangan sang mga tawo nga nagatipon didto sa Areopagus kag nagsiling, “Mga taga-Atens! Nakita ko nga kamo relihiyuso gid nga mga tawo. 23 Kay sa akon paglibot diri sa inyo siyudad nakita ko ang inyo mga ginasimba. May nakita pa ako nga halaran nga may nasulat nga nagasiling, ‘Sa wala pa makilala nga Dios.’ Ining Dios nga inyo ginasimba nga wala pa ninyo makilala amo ang Dios nga akon ginawali sa inyo. 24 Amo ini ang Dios nga nagtuga sang kalibutan kag sang tanan nga ara sa kalibutan. Siya ang Ginoo nga tag-iya sang langit kag duta, gani wala siya nagapuyo sa mga templo nga ginhimo sang mga tawo. 25 Wala man siya nagakinahanglan sang bulig nga halin sa mga tawo tungod nga siya mismo ang nagahatag sang kabuhi sa aton, pati sang tanan ta nga mga kinahanglanon. 26 Halin sa isa lang ka tawo, ginhimo niya ang tanan nga lahi sang mga tawo kag ginpalapta sa bug-os nga kalibutan. Ginplano man niya sang una pa ang mga dulunan kon diin maestar ang mga tawo pati ang tion nga sila magakabuhi diri. 27 Ini tanan ginhimo sang Dios agod kita nga mga tawo magpangita sa iya, kag basi pa lang nga makita ta man siya. Pero ang matuod, ang Dios indi malayo sa aton, 28 kay

‘tungod sa iya gahom nagakabuhi kita kag nagahulag.’

Pareho man sang ginsiling sang iban ninyo nga mga manugbinalaybay,

‘Kita matuod mga anak niya.’

29 Gani, tungod nga kita mga anak sang Dios, indi kita maghunahuna nga ang Dios pareho sang dios-dios nga bulawan, ukon pilak, ukon bato, nga puro imbinto sang hunahuna kag kamot sang tawo. 30 Sang una, sang wala pa makakilala ang mga tawo sa Dios, wala niya pagsapaka ang ila mga sala. Pero subong ginasugo sang Dios ang tanan nga tawo sa tanan nga lugar nga maghinulsol na kag bayaan ang ila malain nga mga ginahimo. 31 Kay may adlaw nga ginpili ang Dios nga hukman niya sing matarong ang tanan nga tawo diri sa kalibutan paagi sa tawo nga iya ginpili. Ginpamatud-an niya ini sa tanan paagi sa iya pagbanhaw sang amo nga tawo.”

32 Pagkabati nila nga nagahambal si Pablo parte sa pagkabanhaw, ang iban sa ila nagyaguta sa iya. Pero ang iban nagsiling, “Balik ka diri tungod nga gusto namon nga magpamati pa gid sa imo parte sa sini nga mga butang.” 33 Pagkatapos naghalin si Pablo sa ila ginatipunan. 34 Ang iban nga mga lalaki nagdampig sa iya kag nagtuo kay Jesus. Ang isa sa ila amo si Dionisius nga miyembro sang Areopagus; kag may babayi man nga si Damaris, kag may iban pa gid.

Footnotes

  1. 17:18 Epicureo… Estoico: Tan-awa ang Lista sang mga Pulong sa likod.

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

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.

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.

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.

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;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

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.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,(A) where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(B) and on three Sabbath(C) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(D) explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(E) and rise from the dead.(F) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(G) he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(H) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(I) They rushed to Jason’s(J) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[a] But when they did not find them, they dragged(K) Jason and some other believers(L) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(M) have now come here,(N) and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(O) When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason(P) and the others post bond and let them go.

In Berea

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas(Q) away to Berea.(R) On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.(S) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,(T) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures(U) every day to see if what Paul said was true.(V) 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.(W)

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,(X) some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers(Y) immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas(Z) and Timothy(AA) stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(AB) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(AC)

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue(AD) with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news(AE) about Jesus and the resurrection.(AF) 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,(AG) where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching(AH) is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians(AI) and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus(AJ) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.(AK) 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship(AL)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it(AM) is the Lord of heaven and earth(AN) and does not live in temples built by human hands.(AO) 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.(AP) 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.(AQ) 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.(AR) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[b](AS) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[c]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.(AT) 30 In the past God overlooked(AU) such ignorance,(AV) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(AW) 31 For he has set a day when he will judge(AX) the world with justice(AY) by the man he has appointed.(AZ) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”(BA)

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,(BB) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,(BC) also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
  2. Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
  3. Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus