Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

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

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

2And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah."

3explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

4Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great 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, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

5But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels 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, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

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,

6When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also;

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

7and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

8The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things.

8They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.

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

9And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

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

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

11The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

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

12Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

13But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that God's message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds.

13But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

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

14Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and 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.

15Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols.

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

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

17So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.

18Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, "What is this pseudo-intellectual 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.

18And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"-- 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're speaking of?

19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

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

20"For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know 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.

21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

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

22So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.

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.

23"For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

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

24"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

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 people life and breath and all things;

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 their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

27He did this so 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 would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

28For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'

28for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

29Being 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."

29"Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

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

30"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should 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 in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

32When they heard about 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 began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."

33Then Paul left their presence.

33So Paul went out of their midst.

34However, some men 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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org