New American Standard Bible 1995

NET Bible

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

1After they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

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

2Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed 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 demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, "This Jesus I am proclaiming 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.

4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent 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 became jealous, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, trying to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly.

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;

6When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, screaming, "These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here too,

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 welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar's decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!"

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

8They caused confusion among the crowd and the city officials who heard these things.

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

9After the city officials had received bail from Jason and the others, they released them.

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 sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to 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.

11These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.

12Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

12Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and 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 heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God in Berea, they came there too, inciting and disturbing 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 sent Paul away to the coast at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

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 accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

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.

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw 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 was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day 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.

18Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, "What does this foolish babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods." (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about 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?

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

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

20For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they 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.)

21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to 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 stood before the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects.

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 went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: 'To an unknown god.' Therefore what you worship without knowing it, 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, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,

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 if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.

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,

26From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,

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;

27so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is 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 about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are 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.

29So since we are God's offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination.

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

30Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now 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 set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone 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 about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We will hear you again about this."

33So Paul went out of their midst.

33So Paul left the Areopagus.

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 people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

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