Book of Common Prayer

In Thessalonica Paul Reasons From The Scriptures That The Christ Had To Suffer

17 Now having traveled-through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And in accordance with the thing having become-a-custom with Paul, he went-in to them. And on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ opening them, and putting-before them that the Christ had-to suffer and rise-up from the dead, and that “This One is the Christ— the Jesus Whom I am proclaiming to you”. ⁴ And some of them were persuaded and were allotted-to^[a] Paul and Silas— both a large number of the worshiping Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. ⁵ But the Jews— having become-jealous, and having taking along some evil men from the marketplace, and having formed-a-crowd— were throwing the city into-a-commotion. And having suddenly-come-upon the house of Jason, they were seeking them^[b] to bring them forth to the public-assembly. ⁶ But not having found them, they were dragging Jason and some brothers before the city-authorities^[c], shouting that “The ones having upset the world— these ones are also present here, ⁷ whom Jason has received^[d]. And these ones all are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that Jesus is another king”. ⁸ And they stirred-up the crowd and the city-authorities hearing these things. ⁹ And having received the bond^[e] from Jason and the others, they released them.

In Berea, The People Examine The Scriptures With Paul And Silas

¹⁰ And the brothers immediately sent-away both Paul and Silas during the night to Berea— who, having arrived, were going into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these ones were more-noble^[f] than the ones in Thessalonica— who^[g] received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things might hold so. ¹² So indeed many of them believed— and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica came-to-know that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there also, shaking^[h] and stirring-up the crowds. ¹⁴ And at that time the brothers immediately sent Paul away, that he might go as-far-as to the sea. And both Silas and Timothy remained there.

In Athens, Paul Reasons With The Philosophers In The Marketplace

¹⁵ Now the ones conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received a command for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as they could, they were going away [to them].

³⁶ While you have the Light, be believing in the Light, in order that you may become sons of Light”. Jesus spoke these things, and having gone away, was hidden from them.

Isaiah Is Fulfilled: God Blinded Their Eyes And Hardened Their Hearts

³⁷ Now He having done so-many^[a] signs in front of them^[b]— they were not believing in Him, ³⁸ in order that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which he spoke [in Isa 53:1]: “Lord, who believed our report? And to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed?” ³⁹ For this reason^[c] they were not able to believe: because again Isaiah said [in Isa 6:10] ⁴⁰ “He has blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart, in order that they might not see with their eyes, and comprehend in their heart, and be turned, and I shall heal them”. ⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him. ⁴² Yet indeed, even many of the rulers believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees, they were not confessing it in order that they might not become put-out-of-the-synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved the glory of people more^[d] than the glory of God.