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
- Acts 17:4 Or, assigned-to, attached-to. That is, by God. Related to the concept of ‘lots’ in 1 Pet 5:3.
- Acts 17:5 That is, Paul and Silas.
- Acts 17:6 Or, politarchs. This is the title for the five or six member city council in Thessalonica.
- Acts 17:7 That is, received as guests.
- 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.
- Acts 17:11 That is, more spiritually noble-minded, as seen in their willingness to examine the Scriptures.
- Acts 17:11 This refers to the Bereans.
- Acts 17:13 Or, agitating.
- Acts 17:16 Or, stimulated.
- 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.
- Acts 17:18 Or, gods, divinities, as the pagans used this term. To Jews and Christians this word meant ‘demons’.
- 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’).
- Acts 17:21 Or, finding-the-time, having leisure, spending-the-time.
- Acts 17:23 Or, examining, considering.
- Acts 17:25 Or, someone.
- Acts 17:26 That is, periods of ascendancy.
- Acts 17:26 Or, commanded, fixed, assigned.
- Acts 17:26 Or, settlements, colonies.
- Acts 17:27 Or, feel-about-for.
- Acts 17:28 Paul quotes from Aratus (270 b.c.) or Cleanthes (220 b.c.).
- Acts 17:28 Or, family, people.
- Acts 17:30 Or, disregarded, looked-beyond.
- Acts 17:31 Or, shown, presented.
- Acts 17:31 Or, a pledge, assurance [of this].
- Acts 17:34 That is, a member of the council that just heard Paul.