Acts 17

¹Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

²Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,

³interpreting and concluding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and that “this is the Jesus Christ, whom I am announcing to you.”

⁴And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women.

⁵But the Jews, being jealous, and joining with certain evildoers among the common men, caused a disturbance, and they stirred up the city. And taking up a position near the house of Jason, they sought to lead them out to the people.

⁶And when they had not found them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out: “For these are the ones who have stirred up the city. And they came here,

⁷and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

⁸And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,

⁹and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.

¹⁰Yet truly, the brothers promptly sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. And when they had arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews.

¹¹But these were more noble than those who were at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all enthusiasm, daily examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so.

¹²And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.

¹³Then, when the Jews of Thessalonica had realized that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they went there also, stirring up and disturbing the multitude.

¹⁴And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.

¹⁵Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out.

¹⁶Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.

¹⁷And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there.

¹⁸Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection.

¹⁹And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?

²⁰For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”

²¹(Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)

²²But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious.

²³For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you:

²⁴the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.

²⁵Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else.

²⁶And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation,

²⁷so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

²⁸‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’

²⁹Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine.

³⁰And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.

³¹For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”

³²And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, “We will listen to you about this again.”

³³So Paul departed from their midst.

³⁴Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Acts 17

¹And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

²And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them. And for three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:

³Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.

⁴And some of them believed and were associated to Paul and Silas: and of those that served God and of the Gentiles a great multitude: and of noble women not a few.

⁵But the Jews, moved with envy and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar: and besetting Jason's house, sought to bring them out unto the people.

⁶And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar are come hither also:

⁷Whom Jason hath received. And these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

⁸And they stirred up the people: and the rulers of the city, hearing these things,

⁹And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let them go.

¹⁰But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

¹¹Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so.

¹²And many indeed of them believed: and of honourable women that were Gentiles and of men, not a few.

¹³And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitude.

¹⁴And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there.

¹⁵And they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.

¹⁶Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.

¹⁷He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews and with them that served God: and in the market place, every day, with them that were there.

¹⁸And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him. And some said: What is it that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods. Because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

¹⁹And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?

²⁰For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean.

²¹(Now all the Athenians and strangers that were there employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.)

²²But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.

²³For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the Unknown God. What therefore you worship without knowing it, that I preach to you:

²⁴God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.

²⁵Neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any thing: seeing it is he who giveth to all life and breath and all things:

²⁶And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times and the limits of their habitation.

²⁷That they should seek God, if haply they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us.

²⁸For in him we live and move and are: as some also of your own poets said: For we are also his offspring.

²⁹Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold or silver or stone, the graving of art and device of man.

³⁰And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men that all should every where do penance.

³¹Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed: giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead.

³²And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked. But others said: We will hear thee again concerning this matter.

³³So Paul went out from among them.

³⁴But certain men, adhering to him, did believe: among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.