Paul in Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in (A)Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning (B)in the synagogue with the Jews and (C)the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were [a]conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could (D)this [b]scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching (E)Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they (F)took him and brought him [c]to the [d](G)Areopagus, saying, “May we know what (H)this new teaching is [e]which you are proclaiming? 20 For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers (I)visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

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

32 Now when they heard of (AE)the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you [k]again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the (AF)Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:18 Or disputing
  2. Acts 17:18 Lit seed gatherer; i.e., an unlearned person collecting only scraps of knowledge
  3. Acts 17:19 Or before
  4. Acts 17:19 Or Hill of Ares; Greek god of war
  5. Acts 17:19 Lit which is being spoken by you
  6. Acts 17:22 Or the Council of the Areopagus
  7. Acts 17:28 Lit are
  8. Acts 17:31 Lit the inhabited earth
  9. Acts 17:31 Lit by; or in
  10. Acts 17:31 Or when He raised
  11. Acts 17:32 Lit also again

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.

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