Paul Preaches in Thessalonica

1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews:

2And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3Opening them up and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

4And some of them believed, and joined Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

The Jews Assault Jason's House

5But the Jews who believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain wicked fellows of the rabble, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come here also;

7Whom Jason has received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

The Noble Hearers in Berea

10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women who were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

13But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also, and stirred up the people.

14And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.

15And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Paul Teaches in Athens

16Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? Others, He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof you speak, is?

20For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21(For all the Athenians and strangers who were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

22Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious.

23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands;

25Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things;

26And has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27That they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29Therefore then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Deity is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30And the times of this ignorance God overlooked; but now commands all men everywhere to repent:

31Because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; and of this he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.

32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear you again of this matter.

33So Paul departed from among them.

34But certain men joined unto him, and believed: among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.