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

After 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.

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,

Paul went in as he always did. They gathered together each Day of Rest for three weeks and he taught them from the Holy 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.'

He 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.”

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.

Some 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

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,

The 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.

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,

But 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.

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

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

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

When the people and city leaders heard this, they were troubled.

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

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

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;

At 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.

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;

These 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.

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

Many of them became Christians. Some of them were respected Greek women and men.

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;

The 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.

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.

At once the Christians sent Paul away to the sea-shore. But Silas and Timothy stayed there. Paul Preaches on Mars’ Hill in Athens

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;

Those 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.

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

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

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.

He 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.

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,

Some 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.

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,

Then they took him to Mars’ Hill and said, “We want to hear of this new teaching of yours.

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

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

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.

The people of Athens and those visiting from far countries used all their time in talking or hearing some new 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;

Then Paul stood up on Mars’ Hill and said, “Men of Athens, I see how very religious you are in every way.

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.

As 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.

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,

“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.

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

No one needs to care for Him as if He needed anything. He is the One who gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

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 --

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

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,

“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.

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.

It is in Him that we live and move and keep on living. Some of your own men have written, ‘We are God’s children.’

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;

If 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.

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

“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.

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.'

He 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.”

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;'

Some 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.”

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

So Paul went away from the people.

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.

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