Paul in Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was (A)provoked within him as he saw that the city was (B)full of idols. 17 So (C)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, (D)“What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because (E)he was preaching (F)Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to (G)the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this (H)new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some (I)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: (J)‘To the unknown god.’ (K)What therefore you worship (L)as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 (M)The God who made the world and everything in it, being (N)Lord of heaven and earth, (O)does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, (P)as though he needed anything, since he himself (Q)gives to all mankind (R)life and breath and everything.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:24 Greek made by hands

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