| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. | 1Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. |
| 2As usual, Paul entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them. | 2As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days 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 showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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, | 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, |
| 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 as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king--Jesus!" |
| 8The crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this, | 8The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. |
| 9but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others, they let them go. | 9So taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them. |
| 10That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 12Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men. | 12Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women 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 found out that God's message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing the crowds. |
| 14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there. | 14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed on 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 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. |
| 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. | 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when 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 with those who worshiped God 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. | 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. |
| 19Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, and asked, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is? | 19They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, "May we learn about this new teaching you're speaking of? |
| 20It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means." | 20For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas 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 residing there spent their time on nothing else but 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. | 22Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. |
| 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 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. |
| 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--He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. |
| 25and he isn't served by people as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. | 25Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. |
| 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, | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also 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 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." |
| 30Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, | 30Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now 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 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." |
| 32When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, "We will hear you again about this." | 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." |
| 33And so Paul left the meeting. | 33Then Paul left their presence. |
| 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. | 34However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. |
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