Acts 17

Paul at Thessalonica

1Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to 1Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And 2according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three 3Sabbaths reasoned with them from 4the Scriptures, 35explaining and 6giving evidence that the 7Christ 8had to suffer and 9rise again from the dead, and saying, “10This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the 11Christ.” 412And some of them were persuaded and joined 13Paul and Silas, 14along with a large number of the 15God-fearing 16Greeks and 17a number of the 18leading women. 5But 19the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of 20Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6When they did not find them, they began 21dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset 2223the world have come here also; 724and Jason 25has welcomed them, and they all act 26contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9And when they had received a 27pledge from 28Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul at Berea

1029The brethren immediately sent 30Paul and Silas away by night to 31Berea, 32and when they arrived, they went into 33the synagogue of the Jews. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in 34Thessalonica, 35for they received the word with 36great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12Therefore 37many of them believed, 38along with a number of 39prominent Greek 40women and men. 13But when the Jews of 41Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in 42Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14Then immediately 43the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and 44Silas and 45Timothy remained there. 15Now 46those who escorted Paul brought him as far as 47Athens; and receiving a command for 48Silas and Timothy to 49come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul at Athens

16Now while Paul was waiting for them at 50Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17So he was reasoning 51in the synagogue with the Jews and 52the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. 18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were 53conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would 54this 55idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”--because he was preaching 56Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they 57took him and brought him 58to the 5960Areopagus, saying, “May we know what 61this new teaching is 62which you are proclaiming? 20For 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 63visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

22So Paul stood in the midst of the 64Areopagus and said, “Men of 65Athens, I observe that you are very 66religious in all respects. 23For while I was passing through and examining the 67objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what 68you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 2469The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is 70Lord of heaven and earth, does not 71dwell in temples made with hands; 25nor is He served by human hands, 72as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26and 73He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having 74determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, 75though He is not far from each one of us; 28for 76in Him we live and move and 77exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29Being then the children of God, we 78ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30Therefore having 79overlooked 80the times of ignorance, God is 81now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31because He has fixed 82a day in which 83He will judge 8485the world in righteousness 86through a Man whom He has 87appointed, having furnished proof to all men 88by 89raising Him from the dead.”

32Now when they heard of 90the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you 91again concerning this.” 33So Paul went out of their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the 92Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.