Bible, King James Version
Acts
Acts.17
[1] Now when they had 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 reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
[3] Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have
suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus,
whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
[4] And some of them believed, and consorted 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 envy, took
unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a
company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the
house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
[6] And when they found them not, they drew Jason and
certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that
have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
[7] Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to
the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one
Jesus.
[8] And they troubled the people and the rulers of the
city, when they heard these things.
[9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the
other, they let them go.
[10] And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas
by night unto Berea: who coming thither 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
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
[12] Therefore many of them believed; also of 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 of Paul at Berea, they came thither
also, and stirred up the people.
[14] And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to
go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there
still.
[15] And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens:
and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come
to him with all speed, they departed.
[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit
was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to
idolatry.
[17] Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews,
and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them
that met with him.
[18] Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of
the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this
babbler say? other some, 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 unto Areopagus,
saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou
speakest, is?
[20] For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears:
we would know therefore what these things mean.
[21] (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there
spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear
some new thing.)
[22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, 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 with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom
therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
[24] God that made the world and all things 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 nations of men for to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might
feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one
of us:
[28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as
certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
[29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we
ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver,
or stone, graven by art and man's device.
[30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but
now commandeth 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
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that
he hath raised him from the dead.
[32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,
some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this
matter.
[33] So Paul departed from among them.
[34] Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:
among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named
Damaris, and others with them.
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