1 N ow when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

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

2 P aul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 e xplaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “ This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

4 S ome of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

5 B ut the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

But the 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 Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

6 W hen they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;

7 w hom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”

and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8 T he multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.

They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.

9 W hen they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. Paul at Berea

10 T he brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue.

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 N ow these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

12 M any of them therefore believed; also of the prominent Greek women, and not a few men.

Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

13 B ut when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

14 T hen the brothers immediately sent out Paul to go as far as to the sea, and Silas and Timothy still stayed there.

Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 B ut those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.

Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. Paul at Athens

16 N ow while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

17 S o he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.

So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.

18 S ome of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

19 T hey took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

20 F or you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”

For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.”

21 N ow all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) Sermon on Mars Hill

22 P aul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.

23 F or as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.

For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

24 T he God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

25 n either is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.

nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

26 H e made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

27 t hat they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

28 ‘ For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’

for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

29 B eing then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.

Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

30 T he times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

31 b ecause he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

32 N ow when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”

Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.”

33 T hus Paul went out from among them.

So Paul went out of their midst.

34 B ut certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.