15 Now (A)those who escorted Paul brought him as far as (B)Athens; and receiving a command for (C)Silas and Timothy to (D)come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul in Athens

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them in (E)Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning (F)in the synagogue with the Jews and (G)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 (H)this [b]scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching (I)Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they (J)took him and brought him [c]to the [d](K)Areopagus, saying, “May we know what (L)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 (M)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 (N)Athens, I see that you are very (O)religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the (P)objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what (Q)you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 (R)The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is (S)Lord of heaven and earth, does not (T)dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, (U)as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and (V)He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having (W)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, (X)though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for (Y)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 (Z)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 (AA)overlooked (AB)the times of ignorance, God is (AC)now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set (AD)a day on which (AE)He will judge [h](AF)the world in righteousness [i]through a Man whom He has (AG)appointed, having furnished proof to all people [j]by (AH)raising Him from the dead.”

32 Now when they heard of (AI)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 (AJ)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

15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(A) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(B)

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue(C) with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news(D) about Jesus and the resurrection.(E) 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,(F) where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching(G) is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians(H) and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus(I) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.(J) 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship(K)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it(L) is the Lord of heaven and earth(M) and does not live in temples built by human hands.(N) 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.(O) 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.(P) 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.(Q) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a](R) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.(S) 30 In the past God overlooked(T) such ignorance,(U) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(V) 31 For he has set a day when he will judge(W) the world with justice(X) by the man he has appointed.(Y) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”(Z)

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,(AA) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,(AB) also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
  2. Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus