Acts 17 - Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)

In Thessalonica Paul Reasons From The Scriptures That The Christ Had To Suffer

17 Now having traveled-through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And in accordance with the thing having become-a-custom with Paul, he went-in to them. And on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ opening them, and putting-before them that the Christ had-to suffer and rise-up from the dead, and that “This One is the Christ— the Jesus Whom I am proclaiming to you”. ⁴ And some of them were persuaded and were allotted-to^[a] Paul and Silas— both a large number of the worshiping Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. ⁵ But the Jews— having become-jealous, and having taking along some evil men from the marketplace, and having formed-a-crowd— were throwing the city into-a-commotion. And having suddenly-come-upon the house of Jason, they were seeking them^[b] to bring them forth to the public-assembly. ⁶ But not having found them, they were dragging Jason and some brothers before the city-authorities^[c], shouting that “The ones having upset the world— these ones are also present here, ⁷ whom Jason has received^[d]. And these ones all are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that Jesus is another king”. ⁸ And they stirred-up the crowd and the city-authorities hearing these things. ⁹ And having received the bond^[e] from Jason and the others, they released them.

In Berea, The People Examine The Scriptures With Paul And Silas

¹⁰ And the brothers immediately sent-away both Paul and Silas during the night to Berea— who, having arrived, were going into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these ones were more-noble^[f] than the ones in Thessalonica— who^[g] received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things might hold so. ¹² So indeed many of them believed— and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica came-to-know that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there also, shaking^[h] and stirring-up the crowds. ¹⁴ And at that time the brothers immediately sent Paul away, that he might go as-far-as to the sea. And both Silas and Timothy remained there.

In Athens, Paul Reasons With The Philosophers In The Marketplace

¹⁵ Now the ones conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received a command for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as they could, they were going away [to them]. ¹⁶ And while Paul was waiting-for them in Athens, his spirit was being provoked^[i] within him while observing the city being full-of-idols. ¹⁷ So indeed he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the ones worshiping, and in the marketplace every day with the ones happening-to-be-there. ¹⁸ And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. And some were saying, “What would this scavenger^[j] be intending to say?” And others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities^[k]”— because he was announcing-the-good-news as to Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And having taken-hold-of him, they brought him to the Areopagus^[l], saying, “Can we know what this new teaching being spoken by you is? ²⁰ For you are bringing-in some things being strange to our ears. So we want to know what these things mean”. ²¹ Now all Athenians and the strangers residing there were finding-an-opportunity^[m] for nothing other than to say something or to hear something newer.

Paul Proclaims To Them The Creator-God And What He Wants From Mankind

²² And Paul, having been stood in the midst of the Areopagus, said, “Men, Athenians, I see how you are very-religious in all respects. ²³ For while going-about and looking-carefully-at^[n] your objects-of-worship, I also found an altar in which it had been inscribed, ‘To a not-known god’. Therefore what you are worshiping while not-knowing, this I am proclaiming to you: ²⁴ God, the One having made the world and all the things in it— this One, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made-by-human-hands. ²⁵ Nor is He served by human hands, [as if] being-in-need of something^[o]— He Himself giving life and breath and all things to all people. ²⁶ And He made from one man every nation of mankind, that they should dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the times^[p] having been appointed^[q] for them and the boundaries of their dwelling-places^[r]; ²⁷ that they should seek God— if perhaps indeed they might grope-for^[s] Him and find Him, though indeed He being not far from each one of us. ²⁸ For in Him we live and move and exist, as also some of your poets^[t] have said— ‘For we are indeed the One’s offspring^[u]’. ²⁹ Being then offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone— a work of human craft and thought. ³⁰ So indeed, having overlooked^[v] the times of ignorance, God, as to the present things, is commanding people that everyone everywhere should repent. ³¹ Because He set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man Whom He designated, having granted^[w] a proof ^[x] to everyone— having raised Him up from the dead”.

At The Mention of a Resurrection From The Dead, Some Scoffed

³² Now having heard-of a resurrection of the dead, some were scoffing, but others said, “We will indeed again hear you concerning this”. ³³ So Paul went out of their midst. ³⁴ And some men having joined him believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite^[y]; and a woman— Damaris by name; and others with them.

Footnotes

1. Acts 17:4 Or, assigned-to, attached-to. That is, by God. Related to the concept of ‘lots’ in 1 Pet 5:3.
2. Acts 17:5 That is, Paul and Silas.
3. Acts 17:6 Or, politarchs. This is the title for the five or six member city council in Thessalonica.
4. Acts 17:7 That is, received as guests.
5. Acts 17:9 Or, the sufficient-amount-of money. The city authorities got a pledge from Jason that he would sent away Paul and Silas, and took a large enough bond to ensure he did so. Because of this quick and effective expulsion, whereby Paul was ‘orphaned’ (1 Thes 2:17) from them, we have Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians.
6. Acts 17:11 That is, more spiritually noble-minded, as seen in their willingness to examine the Scriptures.
7. Acts 17:11 This refers to the Bereans.
8. Acts 17:13 Or, agitating.
9. Acts 17:16 Or, stimulated.
10. Acts 17:18 This rendering ridicules Paul as a gatherer of random tidbits of truth, like a bird in the marketplace. Or, babbler. This rendering ridicules him as an unsophisticated proclaimer of such tidbits.
11. Acts 17:18 Or, gods, divinities, as the pagans used this term. To Jews and Christians this word meant ‘demons’.
12. Acts 17:19 That is, the city’s governing council, which met on the ‘hill of Ares’ (the Greek god of war, whom the Romans called ‘Mars’).
13. Acts 17:21 Or, finding-the-time, having leisure, spending-the-time.
14. Acts 17:23 Or, examining, considering.
15. Acts 17:25 Or, someone.
16. Acts 17:26 That is, periods of ascendancy.
17. Acts 17:26 Or, commanded, fixed, assigned.
18. Acts 17:26 Or, settlements, colonies.
19. Acts 17:27 Or, feel-about-for.
20. Acts 17:28 Paul quotes from Aratus (270 b.c.) or Cleanthes (220 b.c.).
21. Acts 17:28 Or, family, people.
22. Acts 17:30 Or, disregarded, looked-beyond.
23. Acts 17:31 Or, shown, presented.
24. Acts 17:31 Or, a pledge, assurance [of this].
25. Acts 17:34 That is, a member of the council that just heard Paul.