Acts 17:1-20 ▼

1 And, having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews;

2 and, according to Paul's custom, he went in to them; and for three sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 opening and setting forth that it was necessary that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that "This Jesus Whom I am proclaiming to you, is the Christ."

4 And some of them were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great number; and, of the principal women, not a few.

5 But the Jews, moved with jealousy, and taking to themselves certain evil men of the rabble, and gathering a multitude, were setting the city in an uproar; and, assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking them to lead them , forth to the populace.

6 But, not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, shouting, "These who turned the inhabited earth upside down are present here also;

7 whom Jason has received; and these all are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that "There is Another King—Jesus!"

8 And they troubled the multitude and the city-rulers, hearing these things;

9 and, having taken security from Jason and the rest, they released them.

10 But the brethren straightway sent away both Paul and Silas by night to Beraea; who, indeed, having arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

12 Many, of them, therefore, believed; also, of the reputable Grecian women, and of men, not a few.

13 But, when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that also in Beraea the word of God was proclaimed by Paul, they came there also, stirring up and troubling the multitudes,

14 And then straightway the brethren sent away Paul to journey as far as to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there still.

15 But those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens; and, having received a command to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

16 And, while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him, observing that the city was full of idols.

17 So, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met him.

18 And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were encountering him. And some said, "What would this babbler wish to say?" And others said , He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods;" because he proclaimed the good tidings of Jesus and the resurrection.

19 And, laying hold of him, they led him upon Mars Hill, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, that is being spoken by you!

20 for you bring to our ears certain strange things; we wish, therefore, to know what these things mean."