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22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said,

Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are [a]very religious. 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, To an Unknown God. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you. 24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in [b]temples made with hands; 25 neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: 28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said,

For we are also his offspring. 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that [c]the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he [d]commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: 31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge [e]the world in righteousness [f]by [g]the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:22 Or, somewhat superstitious
  2. Acts 17:24 Or, sanctuaries
  3. Acts 17:29 Or, that which is divine
  4. Acts 17:30 Some ancient authorities read declareth to men.
  5. Acts 17:31 Greek the inhabited earth.
  6. Acts 17:31 Greek in.
  7. Acts 17:31 Or, a man

Sermon on Mars Hill

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the [a]Areopagus and said, “Men of (A)Athens, I observe that you are very (B)religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the (C)objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what (D)you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 (E)The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is (F)Lord of heaven and earth, does not (G)dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, (H)as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and (I)He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having (J)determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, (K)though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for (L)in Him we live and move and [b]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 Being then the children of God, we (M)ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30 Therefore having (N)overlooked (O)the times of ignorance, God is (P)now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed (Q)a day in which (R)He will judge [c](S)the world in righteousness [d]through a Man whom He has (T)appointed, having furnished proof to all men [e]by (U)raising Him from the dead.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:22 Or the Council of the Areopagus
  2. Acts 17:28 Lit are
  3. Acts 17:31 Lit the inhabited earth
  4. Acts 17:31 Lit by or in
  5. Acts 17:31 Or when He raised