BibleStudyIt - Acts 17 | Bible Study It

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What happened in Thessalonica

17 Paul and his friends continued their journey. They went through the two towns called Amphipolis and Apollonia. ^{[ a ]} Then they arrived in the city of Thessalonica. There was a Jewish meeting place there. ² Paul went to the meeting place, as he usually did on a Jewish day of rest. On three rest days, he spoke God's message to the people there. He read from the Bible and he explained what it meant. ³ He told the people what was true about God's Messiah. He used the Bible to show them clearly that the Messiah had to suffer and die. He also showed them that the Messiah had to become alive again. Paul said to them, ‘I have been telling you about Jesus. He is the Messiah that God has sent to us.’

⁴ Some of the Jews believed Paul's message. They joined the group with Paul and Silas. A large number of Greek people who now worshipped God also joined this group. ^{[ b ]} Many important women in the city also believed and they joined the group.

⁵ Some other Jews in the city were jealous of Paul and Silas, because people believed their message. So they went to the city's market place and they found some bad men there. These men often caused trouble in the city. Now the Jews brought these men to come together with them in an angry crowd. This crowd made a lot of noise and trouble in the streets of the city. They went to Jason's house and they broke down his door. They wanted to find Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out of the house to the crowd. ⁶ But they did not find Paul and Silas there. So they took hold of Jason and some other believers. They pulled them out of the house. They made them go and stand in front of the important officers of the city. They shouted, ‘These men have caused much trouble everywhere. Now they have come to our city. ⁷ Jason has let them stay in his house. They speak against the laws that Caesar has given to us. They say that there is another king. This other king is called Jesus.’

⁸ The whole crowd of people and the important officers heard this report about Paul and Silas. They became very angry and upset. ⁹ The officers decided how much money Jason and the other believers should pay to go free. When they received it, they allowed them to go.

Many people in Berea believe Paul's message

¹⁰ As soon as it became dark, the believers in Thessalonica sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived in that town, they went to the Jewish meeting place. ¹¹ The Jewish people in Berea were better than the people in Thessalonica. They were happy to listen carefully to Paul. Every day they also studied the Bible. They wanted to know if Paul's message was true. ¹² Many of the Jewish people in Berea believed the good news about Jesus. Many Greek men and some important Greek women also believed in Jesus.

¹³ But the Jews in Thessalonica heard news about what Paul was doing in Berea. They heard that he was telling people God's message about Jesus. So some of them went to Berea. They said bad things against Paul to the people there. As a result, a large crowd became angry with Paul. ¹⁴ Immediately, the believers in Berea sent Paul away to go to the coast. But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. ¹⁵ When Paul left Berea, some men went with him. They went with him as far as the city of Athens. ^{[ c ]} Before these men returned to Berea, Paul gave them a message for Silas and Timothy. He said, ‘Please come quickly and meet me here in Athens.’

Paul visits Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he walked around. He saw that the people in the city had many idols. When Paul saw this, he became very upset. ¹⁷ So he went to the Jewish meeting place and he talked with the Jews. He also talked there with those Gentiles who now worshipped God. Every day he also went to the market place in the city and he talked with the people there. ¹⁸ There were some teachers there who liked to talk about the things that people should believe. Some of them were called Epicureans and some were called Stoics. ^{[ d ]} After they talked to Paul, some of them said to each other, ‘Who is this silly man? He knows nothing and he talks too much!’ But some of these teachers said, ‘We think that he is talking about strange gods.’ They said this because Paul was telling people the good news about Jesus. He was also talking about the time when God will cause dead people to live again.

¹⁹ So these men asked Paul to go with them to Areopagus hill. They wanted him to speak to the city's important officers who met there. ^{[ e ]} ²⁰ The officers said, ‘These strange ideas that you are teaching surprise us. Please explain to us what these ideas mean.’ ²¹ (The people of Athens liked to talk about new ideas. So did the foreign people who lived there. They all wanted to hear new things and to talk about them. They seemed to do this all the time.)

²² So Paul stood up in front of the important officers of the city. He said to them, ‘People of Athens. I see that you have many gods. ²³ I have walked in the streets of your city. I see that you have built many special places where you worship your gods. I saw one altar with a notice on it. The notice said, “To the god that we do not know.” This shows that you want to worship a god that you do not know. Now I will tell you clearly about who this God is.

²⁴ The true God made the earth and everything that is in it. He rules everything in the earth and in heaven. He does not live in any buildings that people have made for him. ²⁵ People make things to give to God. But God does not need anything like that. It is God himself who causes everyone to live. He gives them everything that they need. ²⁶ God first made one man. From that one man he made all the different groups of people. He caused them to live in different places all over the world. He decided where each group of people should live. He also decided how long they should live in each place. ²⁷ God did all this so that people would want to know him. They would look carefully for him and perhaps they would find him. Really, God is near to each of us. ²⁸ Someone said this: “Because God gives us life, we are alive. Because of him, we can move about. Because of him we can be who we are.” One of your writers has also said, “We too are God's children.”

²⁹ So, because we are God's children, we should not think that he is a thing like an idol. Clever people use gold or silver or stone to make images of gods. But God is not like these things that people choose to make for themselves. ³⁰ In past times people did not know the true things about God. Because of this, God did not punish them. But now God tells people everywhere, “Stop doing bad things and turn to me!” ³¹ God has already chosen one special day. On that day he will judge everyone in the world in a completely right way. He has chosen a man who will do this for him. He has shown clearly to everyone who that man is. He showed it like this: People killed that man. But God caused him to live again.’

³² Paul had said, ‘God caused that man to live again.’ When the people heard this, some of them laughed at him. But other people said to Paul, ‘We want you to tell us more about this on another day.’ ³³ So then Paul left the meeting of the important officers of the city. ³⁴ Some of the people who had heard Paul's message joined his group. They believed the good news about Jesus. One of these believers was a man called Dionysius. He belonged to the group of important officers. A woman called Damaris also became a believer. Several other people also believed Paul's message about Jesus.

Footnotes

17:1 Amphipolis and Apollonia were in the country called Greece.
17:4 Most of the people that lived in Thessalonica were Greek. They were not born as Jews. But some of them had heard about the God of the Jews and they believed in him.
17:15 Athens is a city that was in the country called Achaia. Today, Athens is the capital city of Greece.
17:18 The Epicureans were disciples of Epicurus. He taught that there were no gods. Or that the gods were not near to the people. The Stoics were disciples of Zeno. Zeno taught that everyone should be good to themselves. They should also do the right things for other people. He taught that God was the soul of the world.
17:19 These important men were the rulers of Athens and they met together on the Areopagus hill. They decided what should happen in the city.

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

17 Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia. They came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² Paul went into the synagogue to see the Jews as he always did. The next three weeks, on each Sabbath day, he discussed the Scriptures with them. ³ He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, “This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah.” ⁴ Some of the Jews there believed Paul and Silas and decided to join them. Also, a large number of Greeks who were worshipers of the true God and many important women joined them.

⁵ But the Jews who did not believe became jealous, so they got some bad men from around the city center to make trouble. They formed a mob and caused a riot in the city. They went to Jason’s house, looking for Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out before the people. ⁶ When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the other believers to the city leaders. The people shouted, “These men have made trouble everywhere in the world, and now they have come here too! ⁷ Jason is keeping them in his house. They all do things against the laws of Caesar. They say there is another king called Jesus.”

⁸ When the city leaders and the other people heard this, they became very upset. ⁹ They made Jason and the other believers deposit money to guarantee that there would be no more trouble. Then they let them go.

Paul and Silas Go to Berea

¹⁰ That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to another city named Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ The people in Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They were so glad to hear the message Paul told them. They studied the Scriptures every day to make sure that what they heard was really true. ¹² The result was that many of them believed, including many important Greek women and men.

¹³ But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was telling people God’s message in Berea, they came there too. They upset the people and made trouble. ¹⁴ So the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. ¹⁵ Those who went with Paul took him to the city of Athens. They returned with a message for Silas and Timothy to come and join him as soon as they could.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was upset because he saw that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ In the synagogue he talked with the Jews and with the Greeks who were worshipers of the true God. He also went to the public square every day and talked with everyone who came by. ¹⁸ Some of the Epicurean and some of the Stoic philosophers argued with him.

Some of them said, “This man doesn’t really know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?” Paul was telling them the Good News about Jesus and the resurrection. So they said, “He seems to be telling us about some other gods.”

¹⁹ They took Paul to a meeting of the Areopagus council. They said, “Please explain to us this new idea that you have been teaching. ²⁰ The things you are saying are new to us. We have never heard this teaching before, and we want to know what it means.” ²¹ (The people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent all their time either telling or listening to all the latest ideas.)

²² Then Paul stood up before the meeting of the Areopagus council and said, “Men of Athens, everything I see here tells me you are very religious. ²³ I was going through your city and I saw the things you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: ‘ to an unknown god .’ You worship a god that you don’t know. This is the God I want to tell you about.

²⁴ “He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ He is the one who gives people life, breath, and everything else they need. He does not need any help from them. He has everything he needs. ²⁶ God began by making one man, and from him he made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they would live.

²⁷ “God wanted people to look for him, and perhaps in searching all around for him, they would find him. But he is not far from any of us. ²⁸ It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are. As your own poets have said, ‘We all come from him.’

²⁹ “That’s right. We all come from God. So you must not think that he is like something people imagine or make. He is not made of gold, silver, or stone. ³⁰ In the past people did not understand God, and he overlooked this. But now he is telling everyone in the world to change and turn to him. ³¹ He has decided on a day when he will judge all the people in the world in a way that is fair. To do this he will use a man he chose long ago. And he has proved to everyone that this is the man to do it. He proved it by raising him from death!”

³² When the people heard about Jesus being raised from death, some of them laughed. But others said, “We will hear more about this from you later.” ³³ So Paul left the council meeting. ³⁴ But some of the people joined with Paul and became believers. Among these were Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus council, a woman named Damaris, and some others.

17 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

³ Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

⁴ And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

⁵ But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

⁶ And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

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

⁸ And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

⁹ And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

¹⁰ And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

¹² Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

¹³ But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

¹⁴ And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

¹⁵ And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

¹⁶ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

¹⁷ Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

¹⁸ Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

¹⁹ And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

²⁰ For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

²¹ (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

²² Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

²³ For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God . Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

²⁴ God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

²⁵ Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

²⁶ And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

²⁷ That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

²⁸ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

²⁹ Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

³⁰ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

³¹ Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

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

³³ So Paul departed from among them.

³⁴ Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul in Thessalonica

17 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to ^{( A )} Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And ^{( B )} according to Paul’s custom, he ^{[ a ]} visited them, and for three ^{( C )} Sabbaths reasoned with them from ^{( D )} the Scriptures, ³ ^{[ b ]} explaining and ^{[ c ]} giving evidence that the ^{[ d ]} Christ ^{( E )} had to suffer and ^{( F )} rise from the dead, and saying , “ ^{( G )} This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the ^{[ e ]} Christ.” ⁴ ^{( H )} And some of them were persuaded and joined ^{( I )} Paul and Silas, ^{[ f ]} along with a large number of the ^{( J )} God-fearing ^{( K )} Greeks and ^{[ g ]} a significant number of the ^{( L )} leading women. ⁵ But ^{( M )} the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of ^{( N )} Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people. ⁶ When they did not find them, they began ^{( O )} dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset ^{[ h ]} ^{( P )} the world have come here also; ⁷ ^{[ i ]} and Jason ^{( Q )} has welcomed them, and they all act ^{( R )} contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” ⁸ They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. ⁹ And when they had received a ^{[ j ]} pledge from ^{( S )} Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul in Berea

¹⁰ ^{( T )} The brothers immediately sent ^{( U )} Paul and Silas away by night to ^{( V )} Berea, ^{[ k ]} and when they arrived, they went into ^{( W )} the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these people were more noble-minded than those in ^{( X )} Thessalonica, ^{[ l ]} for they received the word with ^{[ m ]} great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. ¹² Therefore, ^{( Y )} many of them believed, ^{[ n ]} along with a significant number of ^{( Z )} prominent Greek ^{( AA )} women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews of ^{( AB )} Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in ^{( AC )} Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴ Then immediately ^{( AD )} the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and ^{( AE )} Silas and ^{( AF )} Timothy remained there. ¹⁵ Now ^{( AG )} those who escorted Paul brought him as far as ^{( AH )} Athens; and receiving a command for ^{( AI )} Silas and Timothy to ^{( AJ )} come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in ^{( AK )} Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he was reasoning ^{( AL )} in the synagogue with the Jews and ^{( AM )} 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 ^{[ o ]} conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could ^{( AN )} this ^{[ p ]} scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching ^{( AO )} Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And they ^{( AP )} took him and brought him ^{[ q ]} to the ^{[ r ]} ^{( AQ )} Areopagus, saying, “May we know what ^{( AR )} this new teaching is ^{[ s ]} 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 ^{( AS )} 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 ^{[ t ]} Areopagus and said, “Men of ^{( AT )} Athens, I see that you are very ^{( AU )} religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the ^{( AV )} objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what ^{( AW )} you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ²⁴ ^{( AX )} The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is ^{( AY )} Lord of heaven and earth, does not ^{( AZ )} dwell in temples made by hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, ^{( BA )} as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and ^{( BB )} He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having ^{( BC )} 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 , ^{( BD )} though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for ^{( BE )} in Him we live and move and ^{[ u ]} 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 ^{( BF )} 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 ^{( BG )} overlooked ^{( BH )} the times of ignorance, God is ^{( BI )} now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, ³¹ because He has set ^{( BJ )} a day on which ^{( BK )} He will judge ^{[ v ]} ^{( BL )} the world in righteousness ^{[ w ]} through a Man whom He has ^{( BM )} appointed, having furnished proof to all people ^{[ x ]} by ^{( BN )} raising Him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard of ^{( BO )} the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you ^{[ y ]} 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 ^{( BP )} Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Footnotes

Acts 17:2 Lit entered to them
Acts 17:3 Lit opening
Acts 17:3 Lit placing before
Acts 17:3 I.e., Messiah
Acts 17:3 I.e., Messiah
Acts 17:4 Lit and a large
Acts 17:4 Lit not a few
Acts 17:6 Lit the inhabited earth
Acts 17:7 Lit whom Jason has welcomed
Acts 17:9 Or bond
Acts 17:10 Lit who when...arrived went
Acts 17:11 Lit who received
Acts 17:11 Lit all
Acts 17:12 Lit and not a few
Acts 17:18 Or disputing
Acts 17:18 Lit seed gatherer ; i.e., an unlearned person collecting only scraps of knowledge
Acts 17:19 Or before
Acts 17:19 Or Hill of Ares ; Greek god of war
Acts 17:19 Lit which is being spoken by you
Acts 17:22 Or the Council of the Areopagus
Acts 17:28 Lit are
Acts 17:31 Lit the inhabited earth
Acts 17:31 Lit by ; or in
Acts 17:31 Or when He raised
Acts 17:32 Lit also again

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, ^{( A )} where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, ^{( B )} and on three Sabbath ^{( C )} days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ^{( D )} ³ explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer ^{( E )} and rise from the dead. ^{( F )} “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” ^{( G )} he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, ^{( H )} as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. ^{( I )} They rushed to Jason’s ^{( J )} house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. ^{[ a ]} ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged ^{( K )} Jason and some other believers ^{( L )} before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world ^{( M )} have now come here, ^{( N )} ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” ^{( O )} ⁸ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹ Then they made Jason ^{( P )} and the others post bond and let them go.

In Berea

¹⁰ As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas ^{( Q )} away to Berea. ^{( R )} On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ^{( S )} ¹¹ Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, ^{( T )} for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures ^{( U )} every day to see if what Paul said was true. ^{( V )} ¹² As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. ^{( W )}

¹³ But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, ^{( X )} some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. ¹⁴ The believers ^{( Y )} immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas ^{( Z )} and Timothy ^{( AA )} stayed at Berea. ¹⁵ Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens ^{( AB )} and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. ^{( AC )}

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 ^{( AD )} 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 ^{( AE )} about Jesus and the resurrection. ^{( AF )} ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, ^{( AG )} where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching ^{( AH )} 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 ^{( AI )} 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 ^{( AJ )} and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ^{( AK )} 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 ^{( AL )} —and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it ^{( AM )} is the Lord of heaven and earth ^{( AN )} and does not live in temples built by human hands. ^{( AO )} 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. ^{( AP )} 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. ^{( AQ )} 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. ^{( AR )} ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ ^{[ b ]} ^{( AS )} As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ^{[ c ]}

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. ^{( AT )} ³⁰ In the past God overlooked ^{( AU )} such ignorance, ^{( AV )} but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ^{( AW )} ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge ^{( AX )} the world with justice ^{( AY )} by the man he has appointed. ^{( AZ )} He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” ^{( BA )}

³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, ^{( BB )} 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, ^{( BC )} also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Footnotes

Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus

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Table of Contents

What happened in Thessalonica

Many people in Berea believe Paul's message

Paul visits Athens

Footnotes

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Paul and Silas Go to Berea

Paul in Athens

Paul in Thessalonica

Paul in Berea

Paul in Athens

Sermon on Mars Hill

Footnotes

Cross references

In Thessalonica

In Berea

In Athens

Footnotes

Cross references

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BibleStudyIt Acts 17

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What happened in Thessalonica

Many people in Berea believe Paul's message

Paul visits Athens

Footnotes

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

Paul and Silas Go to Berea

Paul in Athens

Paul in Thessalonica

Paul in Berea

Paul in Athens

Sermon on Mars Hill

Footnotes

Cross references

In Thessalonica

In Berea

In Athens

Footnotes

Cross references

Share this page

Acts 17's Chapter Tabs
Scroll past these tabs to continue or click on one of them to navigate out of this webpage.