Acts of the Apostles 17

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 When they took the road through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they reached Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.	1 Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 Following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three sabbaths he entered into discussions with them from the scriptures,	2 Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,
3 expounding and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and that "This is the Messiah, Jesus, whom I proclaim to you."	3 interpreting and concluding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and that “this is the Jesus Christ, whom I am announcing to you.”
4 Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas; so, too, a great number of Greeks who were worshipers, and not a few of the prominent women.	4 And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women.
5 But the Jews became jealous and recruited some worthless men loitering in the public square, formed a mob, and set the city in turmoil. They marched on the house of Jason, intending to bring them before the people's assembly.	5 But the Jews, being jealous, and joining with certain evildoers among the common men, caused a disturbance, and they stirred up the city. And taking up a position near the house of Jason, they sought to lead them out to the people.
6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city magistrates, shouting, "These people who have been creating a disturbance all over the world have now come here,	6 And when they had not found them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying out: “For these are the ones who have stirred up the city. And they came here,
7 and Jason has welcomed them. They all act in opposition to the decrees of Caesar and claim instead that there is another king, Jesus."	7 and Jason has received them. And all these men act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
8 They stirred up the crowd and the city magistrates who, upon hearing these charges,	8 And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,
9 took a surety payment from Jason and the others before releasing them.	9 and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas to Beroea during the night. Upon arrival they went to the synagogue of the Jews.	10 Yet truly, the brothers promptly sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea. And when they had arrived, they entered the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These Jews were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all willingness and examined the scriptures daily to determine whether these things were so.	11 But these were more noble than those who were at Thessalonica. They received the Word with all enthusiasm, daily examining the Scriptures to see if these things were so.
12 Many of them became believers, as did not a few of the influential Greek women and men.	12 And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had now been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea also, they came there too to cause a commotion and stir up the crowds.	13 Then, when the Jews of Thessalonica had realized that the Word of God was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they went there also, stirring up and disturbing the multitude.
14 So the brothers at once sent Paul on his way to the seacoast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.	14 And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.	15 Then those who were leading Paul brought him as far as Athens. And having received an order from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they set out.
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he grew exasperated at the sight of the city full of idols.	16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.
17 So he debated in the synagogue with the Jews and with the worshipers, and daily in the public square with whoever happened to be there.	17 And so, he was disputing with the Jews in the synagogue, and with the worshipers, and in public places, throughout each day, with whomever was there.
18 Even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers engaged him in discussion. Some asked, "What is this scavenger trying to say?" Others said, "He sounds like a promoter of foreign deities," because he was preaching about 'Jesus' and 'Resurrection.'	18 Now certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were arguing with him. And some were saying, “What does this sower of the Word want to say?” Yet others were saying, “He seems to be an announcer for new demons.” For he was announcing to them Jesus and the Resurrection.
19 They took him and led him to the Areopagus and said, "May we learn what this new teaching is that you speak of?	19 And apprehending him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: “Are we able to know what this new doctrine is, about which you speak?
20 For you bring some strange notions to our ears; we should like to know what these things mean."	20 For you bring certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”
21 Now all the Athenians as well as the foreigners residing there used their time for nothing else but telling or hearing something new.	21 (Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)
22 Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious.	22 But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious.
23 For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.	23 For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you:
24 The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,	24 the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.
25 nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.	25 Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else.
26 He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,	26 And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation,
27 so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.	27 so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28 For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'	28 ‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’
29 Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.	29 Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine.
30 God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent	30 And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance.
31 because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead."	31 For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We should like to hear you on this some other time."	32 And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, “We will listen to you about this again.”
33 And so Paul left them.	33 So Paul departed from their midst.
34 But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.	34 Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.