Acts 17:11-24

English Standard Version

¹¹ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, ^(A)examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ^12 (B)Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek ^(C)women of high standing as well as men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, ^(D)agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴ Then the brothers ^(E)immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and ^(F)Timothy remained there. ^15 (G)Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as ^(H)Athens, and after receiving a command ^(I)for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was ^(J)provoked within him as he saw that the city was ^(K)full of idols. ¹⁷ So ^(L)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, ^(M)“What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because ^(N)he was preaching ^(O)Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And they took him and brought him to ^(P)the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this ^(Q)new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ For you bring some ^(R)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: ^(S)‘To the unknown god.’ ^(T)What therefore you worship ^(U)as unknown, this I proclaim to you. ^24 (V)The God who made the world and everything in it, being ^(W)Lord of heaven and earth, ^(X)does not live in temples made by man,^[a]