International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and 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 entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them.

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

3He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: "This very Jesus whom I proclaim 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 began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men.

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 Jewish leaders became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason's home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people.

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 didn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, "These fellows 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 as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by 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 the city officials were upset when they heard this,

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

9but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others, they let them go.

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

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

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

11These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those 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.

12Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men.

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

13But when the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite 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 immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.

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

15The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left.

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, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city 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 began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square with anyone 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 Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, "What is this blabbermouth trying to say?" while others said, "He seems to be preaching about foreign gods." This was because Paul 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.

19Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, and asked, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is?

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

20It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means."

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 living there used to spend their time doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating them.

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

22So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way.

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 walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: 'To an unknown god.' So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship.

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 is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human 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,

25and he isn't served by people as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else.

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 made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which 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,

27so that they might look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any 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 we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: '…Since we are his children, too.'

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.’

29So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill.

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.

30Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone 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 with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given 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 a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, "We will hear 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.”

33And so Paul left the meeting.

33So Paul went out from their midst.

34Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and some others along 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.

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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.