Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

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

2As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah."

3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.

4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

5But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason's house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.

5But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

6When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,

6And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

7and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king--Jesus."

7and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset.

8And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.

9After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

9And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

10As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

12Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.

12Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

13But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds.

13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

14Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there.

14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.

15Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols.

16Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.

17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, "What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?" Others replied, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities"--because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

19They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, "May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting?

19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

20Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean."

20For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”

21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

22Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect.

22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.

23For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed: 'To an Unknown God.' Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.

24The God who made the world and everything in it--he is Lord of heaven and earth--does not live in shrines made by hands.

24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

25Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.

25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

26From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.

26And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

27He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

27that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

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

28for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

29Since we are God's offspring then, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.

29Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

30"Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

31because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, "We'd like to hear from you again about this."

32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

33So Paul left their presence.

33So Paul went out from their midst.

34However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.