Acts 17:1-21 ▼

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

2 And Paul, according to his custom, went in to them, and, for three sabbath-days, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 explaining and affirming that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead; and that this Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.

4 And some of them believed, and associated themselves with Paul and Silas; of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few.

5 But the unbelieving Jews, taking with them some evil men, who were loungers about the markets, and collecting a mob, set the city in an uproar; and having assaulted the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

6 But not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying out: These men, who have thrown the world into confusion, have come hither also;

7 whom Jason has received into his house: and they all act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar, saying, That there is another king, Jesus.

8 And the multitude, and the rulers of the city, were troubled when they heard these things.

9 And they took security of Jason, and of the others, and let them go.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea; and when they had come, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were of a better disposition than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

12 Therefore, many of them believed; both of influential women, who were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came thither, and excited the multitude.

14 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul away, to go as if to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens: and having received a commandment for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city full of idols.

17 Accordingly, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and devout persons, and in the market daily, with those who chanced to meet him.

18 And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers disputed with him; and some said: What can this babbler possibly wish to say? Others said: He seems to be a proclaimer of strange demons: for he preached to them Jesus and the Resurrection.

19 And they took him, and brought him to Mars hill, saying: Are we able to understand what this new teaching is, which is announced by you?

20 For you bring some strange things to our ears: we wish to understand then what these things mean.

21 For all the Athenians and resident strangers have leisure for nothing else than to tell or to hear some new thing.