“1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as
his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with
them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must
needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus,
whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and
consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great
multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which
believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of
the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an
uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out
to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and
certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have
turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath
received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying
that there is another king, [one] Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people
and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when
they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.”
“10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also
of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But
when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was
preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the
people. 14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it
were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 15 And they
that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment
unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they
departed.”
“16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred
in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore
disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons,
and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain
philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And
some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a
setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and
the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus,
saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, [is]?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know
therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and
strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either
to tell, or to hear some new thing.)”
“22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, [Ye] men of
Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For
as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this
inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,
him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in
temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as
though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath,
and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before
appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek
the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be
not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have
our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also
his offspring. 29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this
ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge
the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained;
[whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised
him from the dead.”
“32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:
and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter]. 33 So Paul
departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and
believed: among the which [was] Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman
named Damaris, and others with them.” (Acts 17:1-34 AV)
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