New American Standard Bible 1995

English Standard Version

1Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

1Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

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

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."

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.”

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.

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 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.

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 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;

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, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, 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.”

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

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

9And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

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

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

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

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.

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.

12Therefore many of them believed, along with a 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 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.

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 immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?

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

20"For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean."

20For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”

21(Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

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 in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.

22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.

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.

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.

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;

24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,

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;

25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

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,

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,

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;

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 in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

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.’

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.

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.

30"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

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."

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.”

32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this."

32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

33So Paul went out of their midst.

33So Paul went out from their midst.

34But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others 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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