1 A nd having passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews,

2 a nd according to the custom of Paul, he went in unto them, and for three sabbaths he was reasoning with them from the Writings,

3 o pening and alleging, `That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you.'

4 A nd certain of them did believe, and attached themselves to Paul and to Silas, also of the worshipping Greeks a great multitude, of the principal women also not a few.

5 A nd the unbelieving Jews, having been moved with envy, and having taken to them of the loungers certain evil men, and having made a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; having assailed also the house of Jason, they were seeking them to bring to the populace,

6 a nd not having found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the city rulers, calling aloud -- `These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present,

7 w hom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying another to be king -- Jesus.'

8 A nd they troubled the multitude and the city rulers, hearing these things,

9 a nd having taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

10 A nd the brethren immediately, through the night, sent forth both Paul and Silas to Berea, who having come, went to the synagogue of the Jews;

11 a nd these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;

12 m any, indeed, therefore, of them did believe, and of the honourable Greek women and men not a few.

13 A nd when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that also in Berea was the word of God declared by Paul, they came thither also, agitating the multitudes;

14 a nd then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul, to go on as it were to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy were remaining there.

15 A nd those conducting Paul, brought him unto Athens, and having received a command unto Silas and Timotheus that with all speed they may come unto him, they departed;

16 a nd Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry,

17 t herefore, indeed, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the worshipping persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met with him.

18 A nd certain of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers, were meeting together to see him, and some were saying, `What would this seed picker wish to say?' and others, `Of strange demons he doth seem to be an announcer;' because Jesus and the rising again he did proclaim to them as good news,

19 h aving also taken him, unto the Areopagus they brought, saying, `Are we able to know what this new teaching that is spoken by thee,

20 f or certain strange things thou dost bring to our ears? we wish, then, to know what these things would wish to be;'

21 a nd all Athenians, and the strangers sojourning, for nothing else were at leisure but to say something, and to hear some newer thing.

22 A nd Paul, having stood in the midst of the Areopagus, said, `Men, Athenians, in all things I perceive you as over-religious;

23 f or passing through and contemplating your objects of worship, I found also an erection on which had been inscribed: To God -- unknown; whom, therefore -- not knowing -- ye do worship, this One I announce to you.

24 ` God, who did make the world, and all things in it, this One, of heaven and of earth being Lord, in temples made with hands doth not dwell,

25 n either by the hands of men is He served -- needing anything, He giving to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 H e made also of one blood every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth -- having ordained times before appointed, and the bounds of their dwellings --

27 t o seek the Lord, if perhaps they did feel after Him and find, -- though, indeed, He is not far from each one of us,

28 f or in Him we live, and move, and are; as also certain of your poets have said: For of Him also we are offspring.

29 ` Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man;

30 t he times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform,

31 b ecause He did set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom He did ordain, having given assurance to all, having raised him out of the dead.'

32 A nd having heard of a rising again of the dead, some, indeed, were mocking, but others said, `We will hear thee again concerning this;'

33 a nd so Paul went forth from the midst of them,

34 a nd certain men having cleaved to him, did believe, among whom also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman, by name Damaris, and others with them.