Acts 17
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1Paul and Silas traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 1When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2As usual, Paul entered there and on three Sabbaths discussed the Scriptures with them. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: "This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah." 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah," he said.
4Some of them were persuaded and began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5But the Jewish leaders became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason's home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people. 5But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
6When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, "These fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too, 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
7and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by saying that there is another king—Jesus!"7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus."
8The crowd and the city officials were upset when they heard this, 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.
9but after they had gotten a bond from Jason and the others, they let them go.9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
10That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
11These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so. 11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
12Many of them believed, including a large number of prominent Greek women and men.12As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13But when the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite the crowds. 13But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up.
14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed there.14The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea.
15The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left. 15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. 16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
17So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square with anyone who happened to be there. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
18Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, "What is this blabbermouth trying to say?" while others said, "He seems to be preaching about foreign gods." This was because Paul was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, and asked, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is? 19Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
20It sounds rather strange to our ears, and we would like to know what it means." 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean."
21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating them.21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
22So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23For as I was walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: 'To an unknown god.' So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship--and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human hands, 24"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.
25and he isn't served by people as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
26From one man he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which they live, 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
27so that they might look for God, somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any one of us. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
28For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: '…Since we are his children, too.'28For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
29So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill. 29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by human design and skill.
30Though God has overlooked those times of ignorance, he now commands everyone everywhere to repent, 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
31because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."
32When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, "We will hear you again about this." 32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."
33And so Paul left the meeting.33At that, Paul left the Council.
34Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and some others along with them.34Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.
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Acts 16
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