King James Version

1 And having traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 But according to the custom of Paul, he went in among them and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures. 3 Opening and laying out that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and that this one is the Christ, the Jesus whom I proclaim to you. 4 And some of them were persuaded and were called to Paul and Silas, and a large number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews, being jealous and gathering some wicked men from the marketplace, disturbed the city and standing at the house of Jason, sought to bring them out to the assembly. 6 But not finding them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the magistrates, shouting that these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. 7 Whom Jason has received; and all these are acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 8 And they disturbed the crowd and the city officials hearing these things. 9 And having received the sufficient amount from Jason and the others, they released them. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, upon arriving at the synagogue of the Jews, reported. 11 These were nobler than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them indeed believed, and not a few of the Greek women of high standing and men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed in Berea also by Paul, they came there also, stirring up and troubling the crowds. 14 Immediately then the brothers sent Paul away to go as far as to the sea; and both Silas and Timothy stayed there. 15 And those who were setting Paul in place brought him as far as Athens, and having received a command to Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed. 16 But while in Athens waiting for them, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 He argued in the synagogue with the Jews and those who feared God, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also joined with him, and some were saying: "What will this seed-picker want to say?" But others: "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign demons, because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection." 19 Taking hold of him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “May we know what this new teaching is that you are speaking of?” 20 For you are introducing something strange into our hearing; therefore, we wish to know what this wants to be. 21 The Athenians and all the resident foreigners were eager for nothing other than to say something or to hear something newer. 22 But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are more superstitious." 23 For as I passed by and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To an Unknown God. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who created the world and all things in it, this one existing as Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade temples. 25 Nor is he healed by human hands, needing anything, himself giving life and breath to all things. 26 He made from one every nation of people to dwell on all the face of the earth, having appointed predetermined times and the boundaries of their dwelling. 27 To seek God, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, and indeed He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and are, as some of your own poets have said: For we are indeed his offspring. 29 Therefore, as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think of the divine as being like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 Because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, having given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead. 32 But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, but others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." 33 Thus Paul went out from among them. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.