Chapter 17

¹And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ²And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them; and for three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures: ³Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you. ⁴And some of them believed, and were associated to Paul and Silas; and of those that served God, and of the Gentiles a great multitude, and of noble women not a few. ⁵But the Jews, moved with envy, and taking unto them some wicked men of the vulgar sort, and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar; and besetting Jason's house, sought to bring them out unto the people. ⁶And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar, are come hither also; ⁷Whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. ⁸And they stirred up the people, and the rulers of the city hearing these things, ⁹And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let them go. ¹⁰But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures, whether these things were so. ¹²And many indeed of them believed, and of honourable women that were Gentiles, and of men not a few. ¹³And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, stirring up and troubling the multitude. ¹⁴And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. ¹⁵And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him with all speed, they departed. ¹⁶Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry. ¹⁷He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews, and with them that served God, and in the marketplace, every day with them that were there. ¹⁸And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics disputed with him; and some said: What is it, that this word sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods; because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of? ²⁰For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean. ²¹(Now all the Athenians, and strangers that were there, employed themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some new thing.) ²²But Paul standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious. ²³For passing by, and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the unknown God. What therefore you worship, without knowing it, that I preach to you: ²⁴God, who made the world, and all things therein; he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ²⁵Neither is he served with men's hands, as though he needed any thing; seeing it is he who giveth to all life, and breath, and all things: ²⁶And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, determining appointed times, and the limits of their habitation. ²⁷That they should seek God, if happily they may feel after him or find him, although he be not far from every one of us: ²⁸For in him we live, and move, and are; as some also of your own poets said: For we are also his offspring. ²⁹Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the divinity to be like unto gold, or silver, or stone, the graving of art, and device of man. ³⁰And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now declareth unto men, that all should every where do penance. ³¹Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed; giving faith to all, by raising him up from the dead. ³²And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked, but others said: We will hear thee again concerning this matter. ³³So Paul went out from among them. ³⁴But certain men adhering to him, did believe; among whom was also Dionysius, the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.