International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Paul and Silas 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 entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them.

2And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths 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 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."

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, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and 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, 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 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 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 welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by 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 crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this,

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

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

9And when they had received a pledge 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.

10The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, 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.

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.

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

12Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and 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 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 the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.

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

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 deeply disturbed to see the city 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 which you are proclaiming?

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

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

21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than 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 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 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.

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

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 people 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,

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,

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 would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him 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 also are His children.'

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.

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.

30Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone 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 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 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 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 began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."

33And so Paul left the meeting.

33So Paul went out of 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.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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