1 A fter Paul and Silas had gone through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica. The Jews had a place of worship there.

Después de pasar por Anfípolis y Apolonia, llegaron a Tesalónica, donde había una sinagoga judía.

2 P aul went in as he always did. They gathered together each Day of Rest for three weeks and he taught them from the Holy Writings.

Pablo fue entonces a la sinagoga, como era su costumbre, y durante tres días de reposo debatió con ellos. Con base en las Escrituras,

3 H e showed them that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. He said, “I preach this Jesus to you. He is the Christ.”

les aclaró y explicó que era necesario que Cristo padeciera y resucitara de los muertos. Les decía: «Jesús, a quien yo les anuncio, es el Cristo.»

4 S ome of them put their trust in Christ and followed Paul and Silas. There were many Greek people and some leading women who honored God among those who had become Christians. The Jews Make It Hard for Paul and Silas

Algunos de ellos creyeron y se unieron a Pablo y a Silas, lo mismo que muchos griegos piadosos y numerosas mujeres nobles.

5 T he Jews who did not put their trust in Christ became jealous. They took along some sinful men from the center of town where people gather and brought them out on the street. These angry men started all the people in the city to cry out with loud voices. They went to the house of Jason hoping to find Paul and Silas there and bring them out to the people.

Pero los judíos que no creyeron se llenaron de envidia, así que lograron reunir a una turba de vagos y maleantes, y comenzaron a alborotar la ciudad, y en su búsqueda de Pablo Y Silas irrumpieron en la casa de Jasón, pues querían expulsarlos del pueblo.

6 B ut they did not find them there. Then they dragged Jason and some other Christians out in front of the leaders and cried out, “These men who have been making trouble over all the world have come here also.

Como no los hallaron, llevaron a Jasón y a algunos hermanos ante las autoridades de la ciudad, mientras gritaban: «¡Esos que están trastornando el mundo entero, ya han llegado acá!

7 A nd Jason has taken them in. They say there is another King called Jesus. They are working against the laws made by Caesar.”

Jasón los ha recibido, y todos sus seguidores desobedecen los decretos de César. Dicen que hay otro rey, y que se llama Jesús.»

8 W hen the people and city leaders heard this, they were troubled.

Al oír esto, el pueblo y las autoridades de la ciudad se alborotaron:

9 T hen they made Jason and the others pay some money and let them go. Paul and Silas Go to Berea

pero Jasón respondió por ellos, y los dejaron en libertad. Pablo y Silas en Berea

10 A t once the Christians sent Paul and Silas away at night to the city of Berea. When they got there, they went to the Jewish place of worship.

Esa misma noche, los hermanos enviaron a Pablo y Silas hasta Berea. Y cuando éstos llegaron allá, entraron en la sinagoga de los judíos.

11 T hese Jews were more willing to understand than those in the city of Thessalonica. They were very glad to hear the Word of God, and they looked into the Holy Writings to see if those things were true.

Éstos eran más nobles que los de Tesalónica, pues recibieron la palabra con mucha atención, y todos los días examinaban las Escrituras para ver si era cierto lo que se les anunciaba.

12 M any of them became Christians. Some of them were respected Greek women and men.

Entre los que creyeron, había distinguidas mujeres griegas y un buen número de hombres.

13 T he Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching the Word of God in Berea. They went there and worked against the missionaries by talking to the people.

Cuando los judíos de Tesalónica supieron que también en Berea Pablo anunciaba la palabra de Dios, fueron allá para alborotar a las multitudes.

14 A t once the Christians sent Paul away to the sea-shore. But Silas and Timothy stayed there. Paul Preaches on Mars’ Hill in Athens

Pero de inmediato los hermanos enviaron a Pablo al mar, mientras Silas y Timoteo se quedaban allí.

15 T hose who took Paul brought him to the city of Athens. Paul sent word with them that Silas and Timothy should come to him as soon as they could. Then they left.

Los encargados de trasladar a Pablo lo llevaron a Atenas; y a Silas y a Timoteo les ordenaron que se reunieran con él tan pronto como pudieran, y así lo hicieron. Pablo en Atenas

16 W hile Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was troubled as he saw the whole city worshiping false gods.

Mientras Pablo los esperaba en Atenas, su espíritu se enardeció al ver que la ciudad estaba entregada a la idolatría.

17 H e talked to the Jews and other people who were worshiping in the Jewish place of worship. Every day he talked with people who gathered in the center of town.

Por eso en la sinagoga discutía con los judíos y con hombres piadosos, y también con todos los que a diario acudían a la plaza.

18 S ome men from two different groups were arguing with Paul. The one group thought that men might as well get all the fun out of life that they can. The other group thought that wisdom alone makes men happy. Some of them said, “This man has lots of little things to talk about. They are not important. What is he trying to say?” Others said, “He preaches about strange gods.” It was because he preached of Jesus and of His being raised from the dead.

Algunos filósofos de los epicúreos y de los estoicos discutían con él. Unos preguntaban: «¿De qué habla este parlanchín?» Y otros decían: «Es alguien que habla de dioses extranjeros.» Y es que les hablaba del evangelio de Jesús, y de la resurrección.

19 T hen they took him to Mars’ Hill and said, “We want to hear of this new teaching of yours.

Entonces lo tomaron, lo llevaron al Areópago y le dijeron: «¿Nos puedes explicar qué es esta nueva enseñanza de la que hablas?

20 S ome of the things you are telling us are strange to our ears. We want to know what these things mean.”

Porque esto suena extraño en nuestros oídos. Nos gustaría saber qué significa todo esto.»

21 T he people of Athens and those visiting from far countries used all their time in talking or hearing some new thing.

(Y es que a todos los atenienses y extranjeros que allí vivían, no les interesaba nada que no fuera decir o escuchar cosas novedosas.)

22 T hen Paul stood up on Mars’ Hill and said, “Men of Athens, I see how very religious you are in every way.

Pablo se puso entonces en medio del Areópago, y dijo: «Varones atenienses, he observado que ustedes son muy religiosos.

23 A s I was walking around and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar where you worship with the words written on it, TO THE GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You are worshiping Him without knowing Him. He is the One I will tell you about.

Porque al pasar y observar sus santuarios, hallé un altar con esta inscripción: «Al Dios no conocido». Pues al Dios que ustedes adoran sin conocerlo, es el Dios que yo les anuncio.

24 “ The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in buildings made by hands.

El Dios que hizo el mundo y todo lo que en él hay, es el Señor del cielo y de la tierra. No vive en templos hechos por manos humanas,

25 N o one needs to care for Him as if He needed anything. He is the One who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

ni necesita que nadie le sirva, porque a él no le hace falta nada, pues él es quien da vida y aliento a todos y a todo.

26 H e made from one blood all nations who live on the earth. He set the times and places where they should live.

De un solo hombre hizo a todo el género humano, para que habiten sobre la faz de la tierra, y les ha prefijado sus tiempos precisos y sus límites para vivir,

27 “ They were to look for God. Then they might feel after Him and find Him because He is not far from each one of us.

a fin de que busquen a Dios, y puedan encontrarlo, aunque sea a tientas. Pero lo cierto es que él no está lejos de cada uno de nosotros,

28 I t is in Him that we live and move and keep on living. Some of your own men have written, ‘We are God’s children.’

porque en él vivimos, y nos movemos, y somos. Ya algunos poetas entre ustedes lo han dicho: “Porque somos linaje suyo.”

29 I f we are God’s children, we should not think of Him as being like gold or silver or stone. Such gods made of gold or silver or stone are planned by men and are made by them.

Puesto que somos linaje de Dios, no podemos pensar que la Divinidad se asemeje al oro o a la plata, o a la piedra o a esculturas artísticas, ni que proceda de la imaginación humana.

30 “ God did not remember these times when people did not know better. But now He tells all men everywhere to be sorry for their sins and to turn from them.

Dios, que ha pasado por alto esos tiempos de ignorancia, ahora quiere que todos, en todas partes, se arrepientan.

31 H e has set a day when He will say in the right way if the people of the world are guilty. This will be done by Jesus Christ, the One He has chosen. God has proven this to all men by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Porque él ha establecido un día en que, por medio de aquel varón que escogió y que resucitó de los muertos, juzgará al mundo con justicia.»

32 S ome people laughed and made fun when they heard Paul speak of Christ being raised from the dead. Others said, “We want to listen to you again about this.”

Cuando los allí presentes oyeron hablar de la resurrección de los muertos, unos se burlaban, y otros decían: «Ya te oiremos hablar de esto en otra ocasión.»

33 S o Paul went away from the people.

Entonces Pablo se retiró de en medio de ellos;

34 S ome people followed him and became Christians. One was Dionysius, a leader in the city. A woman named Damaris believed. And there were others also.

pero algunos le creyeron y se unieron a él. Entre ellos estaba Dionisio, que era miembro del areópago, una mujer llamada Dámaris, y otros más.