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Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

17 Paul and Silas[a] traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As usual, Paul entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them. He explained and showed them that the Messiah[b] had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah.”[c]

Some of them were persuaded and began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men. But the Jewish leaders[d] became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square,[e] formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason’s home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people. When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, “These fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too, and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor’s decrees by saying that there is another king—Jesus!”

The crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this, but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others, they let them go.

Paul and Silas in Berea

10 That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so. 12 Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men.

13 But when the Jewish leaders[f] in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.

Paul in Athens

15 The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left. 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. 17 So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square[g] with anyone who happened to be there. 18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, “What is this blabbermouth trying to say?” while others said, “He seems to be preaching about foreign gods.” This was because Paul[h] was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

19 Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus,[i] and asked, “May we know what this new teaching of yours is? 20 It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating them.

22 So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus[j] and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23 For as I was walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: ‘To an unknown god.’ So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in shrines made by human hands, 25 and he isn’t served by people[k] as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. 26 From one man[l] he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which they live, 27 so that they might look for God,[m] somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any one of us. 28 For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: ‘…Since we are his children, too.’[n] 29 So if we are God’s children, we shouldn’t think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill. 30 Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice[o] through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 And so Paul left the meeting.[p] 34 Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus,[q] a woman named Damaris, and some others along with them.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:1 Lit. They
  2. Acts 17:3 Or Christ
  3. Acts 17:3 Or Christ
  4. Acts 17:5 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  5. Acts 17:5 Or in the marketplace
  6. Acts 17:13 I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews
  7. Acts 17:17 Or in the marketplace
  8. Acts 17:18 Lit. because he
  9. Acts 17:19 I.e. the city council
  10. Acts 17:22 I.e. the city council
  11. Acts 17:25 Lit. hands
  12. Acts 17:26 Other mss. read From one blood
  13. Acts 17:27 Other mss. read for the Lord
  14. Acts 17:28 Phainomena (5) by Aratus, a poet of Sicilian origin (3rd century BC). Cleanthes the Stoic (3rd century BC) used almost identical language.
  15. Acts 17:31 Or in righteousness
  16. Acts 17:33 Lit. went out from the middle of them
  17. Acts 17:34 I.e. the city council

17 Having passed diodeuō through · de · ho Amphipolis Amphipolis and kai · ho Apollonia Apollōnia, Paul and Silas came erchomai to eis Thessalonica Thessalonikē, where hopou there was eimi a synagogue synagōgē of the ho Jews Ioudaios. And de according kata to · ho Paul’ s Paulos custom eiōtha, · ho he went eiserchomai to pros them autos and kai for epi three treis Sabbath sabbaton days he reasoned dialegomai with them autos from apo the ho Scriptures graphē, explaining dianoigō and kai demonstrating paratithēmi that hoti it was necessary for dei the ho Messiah Christos to suffer paschō and kai to rise anistēmi from ek the dead nekros, and kai that hoti, “ This houtos one is eimi the ho Messiah Christos, this ho Jesus Iēsous whom hos I egō am proclaiming katangellō to you hymeis.” And kai some tis of ek them autos were persuaded peithō and kai cast prosklēroō their lot with · ho Paul Paulos and kai · ho Silas Silas, · ho both te a great polys number plēthos of devout sebō Greeks Hellēn and te not ou a few oligos of the ho leading prōtos women gynē. But de the ho Jews Ioudaios, moved by envy zēloō, · kai recruited proslambanō certain tis wicked ponēros men anēr of the ho marketplace agoraios and kai, forming a mob ochlopoieō, they set the ho city polis in an uproar thorybeō. · kai They attacked ephistēmi the ho house oikia of Jason Iasōn, trying zēteō to bring proagō them autos out proagō to eis the ho people dēmos. But de when they could not find heuriskō them autos, they dragged syrō Jason Iasōn and kai some tis fellow believers adelphos before epi the ho city politarchēs authorities , shouting boaō, “ These men houtos who ho have turned the ho world oikoumenē upside anastatoō down have come pareimi here enthade too kai, and Jason Iasōn has received hypodechomai them hos as guests hypodechomai; and kai all pas these houtos men are acting prassō contrary apenanti to the ho decrees dogma of Caesar Kaisar, saying legō that there is eimi another heteros king basileus, Jesus Iēsous.” And de they stirred tarassō up the ho people ochlos and kai the ho city politarchēs authorities who heard akouō these houtos things . And kai when they had taken lambanō · ho bail hikanos from para · ho Jason Iasōn and kai the ho others loipos, they let apolyō them autos go .

10 And de the ho brothers adelphos immediately eutheōs sent ekpempō Paul Paulos and kai Silas Silas off ekpempō by dia night nyx · ho · ho to eis Berea Beroia. When they hostis got paraginomai there , they went apeimi to eis the ho synagogue synagōgē of the ho Jews Ioudaios. 11 These houtos Jews · de were eimi more open-minded eugenēs than those ho in en Thessalonica Thessalonikē, for they hostis received dechomai the ho message logos with meta all pas eagerness prothumia, examining anakrinō the ho scriptures graphē every kata day hēmera to see if ei these houtos things were echō so houtōs. 12 So oun many polys of ek them autos believed pisteuō, with kai not ou a few oligos · ho prominent euschēmōn Greek Hellēnis women gynē · ho and kai men anēr. 13 But de when hōs the ho Jews Ioudaios from apo · ho Thessalonica Thessalonikē learned ginōskō that hoti also kai in en · ho Berea Beroia the ho word logos of ho God theos was proclaimed katangellō by hypo · ho Paul Paulos, they came erchomai there kakei too , inciting saleuō and kai stirring tarassō up the ho crowds ochlos. 14 Then tote immediately eutheōs · de · ho the ho brothers adelphos sent exapostellō Paul Paulos away , to go poreuō as heōs far as to epi the ho sea thalassa, but te · ho both te Silas Silas and kai · ho Timothy Timotheos remained hypomenō there ekei. 15 Those ho · de who conducted kathistēmi · ho Paul Paulos brought agō him as heōs far as Athens, and kai receiving lambanō an order entolē for pros · ho Silas Silas and kai · ho Timothy Timotheos to hina come erchomai to pros him autos as hōs soon tacheōs as possible , they left.

16 Now de · ho while Paul Paulos was waiting ekdechomai for them autos · ho at en Athens, his autos spirit pneuma was stirred paroxynō up · ho within en him autos on seeing theōreō the ho city polis full kateidōlos of idols . 17 So oun he reasoned dialegomai in en the ho synagogue synagōgē with the ho Jews Ioudaios and kai the ho worshippers sebō, and kai in en the ho marketplace agora every kata pas day hēmera with pros those ho who happened to be paratynchanō there . 18 Also kai some tis · de of the ho Epicurean Epikoureios and kai Stoic Stoikos philosophers philosophos were conversing symballō with him autos, and kai some tis were asking legō, “ What tis does this houtos babbler spermologos want thelō · ho to say legō?” Others ho said, · de He seems dokeō to be eimi a proclaimer katangeleus of strange xenos gods daimonion,” for hoti he was announcing the good news euangelizō about · ho Jesus Iēsous and kai the ho resurrection anastasis. 19 And te they took hold epilambanomai of him autos and brought agō him to epi the ho Areopagus pagos, saying legō, “ May dynamai we know ginōskō what tis is · ho this houtos new kainos · ho teaching didachē being presented laleō by hypo you sy? 20 For gar you bring eispherō some tis strange xenizō things to eis · ho our hēmeis ears akoē, so oun we want boulomai to know ginōskō what tis these houtos things mean eimi.” 21 ( Now de all pas the Athenians Athēnaios and kai the ho foreigners xenos living epidēmeō there used to spend their time eukaireō in eis nothing oudeis else heteros than ē to tell legō or ē to hear akouō something tis new kainos.)

22 So de Paul Paulos, standing histēmi · ho in en the midst mesos of the ho Areopagus pagos, said phēmi: “ Men anēr of Athens Athēnaios, I perceive theōreō that hōs in kata every pas way you hymeis are a very devout deisidaimōn people . 23 For gar as I went dierchomai around and kai observed anatheōreō · ho your hymeis objects sebasma of worship , I found heuriskō also kai an altar bōmos on en which hos was inscribed epigraphō, ‘ To an unknown agnōstos god theos.’ So oun what hos you worship eusebeō without agnoeō knowing , this houtos I egō proclaim katangellō to you hymeis. 24 The ho God theos who ho made poieō the ho world kosmos and kai everything pas · ho in en it autos, being hyparchō Lord kyrios of heaven ouranos and kai earth , does katoikeō not ou live katoikeō in en shrines naos made cheiropoiētos by human hands , 25 nor oude is he served therapeuō by hypo human anthrōpinos hands cheir, as though he needed prosdeomai anything tis, since he himself autos gives didōmi to all pas life zōē and kai breath pnoē and kai · ho everything pas. 26 And te he made poieō from ek one heis man every pas race ethnos of men anthrōpos to live katoikeō on epi all pas the face prosōpon of the ho earth , having determined horizō allotted prostassō epochs kairos and kai the ho fixed horothesia boundaries of the ho places katoikia where they autos would live , 27 that they should seek zēteō · ho God theos, if ei perhaps ara ge that they might grope psēlaphaō for him autos and kai find heuriskō him, though kai indeed ge he is hyparchō not ou far makran from apo each hekastos one heis of us hēmeis. 28  For gar in en him autos we live zaō and kai move kineō about and kai exist eimi,’ as hōs even kai some tis of ho your own kata poets poiētēs have said legō, ‘ For gar we eimi too kai are eimi his ho offspring genos.’ 29 So oun since we are hyparchō the offspring genos of ho God theos, we ought opheilō not ou to think nomizō that the ho divine being theios is eimi like homoios an image carved charagma in gold chrysos or ē silver argyros or ē stone lithos by human anthrōpos skill technē and kai imagination enthumēsis. 30 So then oun, God theos overlooked hyperoraō the ho times chronos of ho ignorance agnoia, · ho · ho but now nyn he orders parangellō · ho men anthrōpos to repent metanoeō, all pas of them in all pantachou places , 31 because kathoti he has appointed histēmi a day hēmera on en which hos he will mellō judge krinō the ho world oikoumenē in en righteousness dikaiosynē by en the man anēr whom hos he has appointed horizō, having provided parechō proof pistis to all pas by raising anistēmi him autos from ek the dead nekros.”

32 Now de when they heard akouō of the resurrection anastasis of the dead nekros, some ho mocked chleuazō, but de others ho said legō, “ We will hear akouō you sy again palin about peri this houtos.” · kai 33 So houtōs · ho Paul Paulos departed exerchomai from ek their autos midst mesos. 34 But de some tis men anēr joined kollaō him autos and believed pisteuō; among en whom hos also kai were Dionysius Dionysios the ho Areopagite Areopagitēs and kai a woman gynē named onoma Damaris Damaris and kai others heteros with syn them autos.