Paul in Thessalonica
NOW when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as was his custom, went into them: and on three sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures;
3 Explaining and proving, that Christ must have suffered and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you: is the Christ.
4 And some of them believed, and joined with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks: a great multitude; and of the chief women: not a few.
5 ¶ But the Jews which believed not: moved with jealousy, took aside certain evil men, idlers of the marketplace, and formed a mob: and set the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason: and sought to bring them out to the people gathered.
6 And when they found them not; they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying: “These that have turned the world upside down have come here also;
7 Whom Jason has received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king: Jesus.”
8 ¶ And they disturbed the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken bail money from Jason, and of the others: they let them go.
Ministering in Berea
10 ¶ Now the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night into Berea: who arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica: in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and investigated the scriptures daily, whether these things be so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of the honourable women which were Greeks; and of men: not a few.
13 ¶ But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea: they came there also, and stirred up the crowds.
14 And then immediately the brothers sent away Paul to go, as it were by the sea: but Silas and Timothy abode there still.
15 And those that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a commandment (in order to come to him with all speed): Silas and Timothy departed.
Paul in Athens
16 ¶ Now while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him: when he saw the city was full of idols.
17 Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout people; and in the market daily with those that met with him.
18 Then certain men of the Epicureans, and of the Stoic philosophers, encountered him; and some said: “What will this babbler say?” and others: “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange gods:” because he proclaimed to them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took him, and brought him to Mars’ hill (Areopagus), saying: “May we know what this new teaching is, whereof you speak?
20 For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we wish to know therefore what these things mean!”
21 For all the Athenians and foreigners which were there spent their time in nothing else: but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.
Pauls Address at Mars’ Hill
22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the middle of Mars’ hill, and said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your objects of worship; I found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ Whom you therefore, worship without knowing: Him, I will proclaim to you.”
24 ¶ “God that made the world and all things therein: He is Lord of heaven and earth; dwelling not in temples made with human hands!
25 Neither is attended by the hands of men: as though he needed anything; seeing he gave all life, and breath, and all things.
26 And He has made of one blood, all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth; and has determined beforehand their times, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord: if then, that they might search Him out, and find Him: and yet He be not far from each one of us.
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain ones of your own poets have also said: ‘For we are also His offspring.'”
29 ¶ “Therefore, as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that God’s being is likened to gold, or silver, or stone: graven by the skill and imaginations of man.
30 And the times of this ignorance God overlooked: but now commands all men every where to repent;
31 Because He has set the day, in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness; by that man whom he has determined; whereof He has given assurance to all men: in that he has raised Him from the dead.”
32 ¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; and others said: “We will hear you again concerning this matter.”
33 And so Paul departed from among them;
34 Howbeit certain men joined themselves to him, and believed: among which was Dionysius, from Mars’ hill; and a woman named Damaris; and others together with them.