[1]Now as they passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a Synagogue of the Jews.
[2]And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days disputed with them by the Scriptures,
[3]Opening, and alleging that Christ must have suffered, and risen again from the dead: and this is Jesus Christ, whom, said he, I preach to you.
[4]And some of them believed, and joined in company with Paul and Silas: also of the Grecians that feared God a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
[5]But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain vagabonds and wicked fellows, and when they had assembled the multitude, they made a tumult in the city, and made assault against the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
[6]But when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the heads of the city, crying, These are they which have subverted the state of the world, and here they are,
[7]Whom Jason hath received, and these all do against the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another King, one Jesus.
[8]Then they troubled the people, and the heads of the city, when they heard these things.
[9]Notwithstanding when they had received sufficient assurance of Jason and of the other, they let them go.
[10]And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea, which when they were come thither, entered into the Synagogue of the Jews.
[11]These were also more noble men than they which were at Thessalonica, which received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
[12]Therefore many of them believed, and of honest women, which were Grecians, and men not a few.
[13]Â But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew, that the word of God was also preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and moved the people.
[14]But by and by the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
[15]And they that did conduct Paul, brought him unto Athens: and when they had received a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus that they should come to him at once, they departed.
[16]Â Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city subject to idolatry.
[17]Therefore he disputed in the Synagogue with the Jews, and with them that were religious, and in the market daily with whomsoever he met.
[18]Then certain Philosophers of the Epicures, and of the Stoics, disputed with him, and some said, What will this babbler say? Others said, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods (because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.)
[19]And they took him, and brought him into Mars' street, saying, May we not know, what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
[20]For thou bringest certain strange things unto our ears: we would know therefore, what these things mean.
[21]For all the Athenians, and strangers which dwelt there, gave themselves to nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some news.
[22]Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' street, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
[23]For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar wherein was written, UNTO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him show I unto you.
[24]God that made the world, and all things that are therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands,
[25]Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life and breath and all things,
[26]And hath made of one blood all mankind, to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath assigned the times which were ordained before, and the bounds of their habitation,
[27]That they should seek the Lord, if so be they might have groped after him, and found him though doubtless he be not far from every one of us.
[28]For in him we live, and move, and have our being, as also certain of your own Poets have said, For we are also his generation.
[29]Forasmuch then, as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone graven by art and the invention of man.
[30]And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but now he admonisheth all men every where to repent,
[31]Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath appointed, whereof he hath given an assurance to all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
[32]Now when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, some mocked, and other said, We will hear thee again of this thing.
[33]And so Paul departed from among them.
[34]Howbeit certain men clave unto Paul, and believed: among whom was also Denys Areopagita, and a woman named Damaris, and other with them.
|