Acts of the Apostles 17

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.	1 When they took the road through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they reached Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with them from the scriptures,	2 Following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three sabbaths he entered into discussions with them from the scriptures,
3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."	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."
4 And some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.	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.
5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked fellows of the rabble, they gathered a crowd, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people.	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.
6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,	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,
7 and Jason has received them; and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."	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."
8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard this.	8 They stirred up the crowd and the city magistrates who, upon hearing these charges,
9 And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.	9 took a surety payment from Jason and the others before releasing them.
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea; and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.	10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas to Beroea during the night. Upon arrival they went to the synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so.	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.
12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.	12 Many of them became believers, as did not a few of the influential Greek women and men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Beroea also, they came there too, stirring up and inciting the crowds.	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.
14 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.	14 So the brothers at once sent Paul on his way to the seacoast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.
15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.	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.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.	16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he grew exasperated at the sight of the city full of idols.
17 So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market place every day with those who chanced to be there.	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.
18 Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, "What would this babbler say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"--because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.	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.'
19 And they took hold of him and brought him to the Are-opagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you present?	19 They took him and led him to the Areopagus and said, "May we learn what this new teaching is that you speak of?
20 For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish to know therefore what these things mean."	20 For you bring some strange notions to our ears; we should like to know what these things mean."
21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.	21 Now all the Athenians as well as the foreigners residing there used their time for nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Are-opagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.	22 Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious.
23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.	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.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,	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,
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.	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.
26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation,	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,
27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us,	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.
28 for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.'	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.'
29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man.	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.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,	30 God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent
31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."	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."
32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this."	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."
33 So Paul went out from among them.	33 And so Paul left them.
34 But some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Are-opagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.	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.