1  And having journeyed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica[1], where was the synagogue of the Jews.

2  And according to Paul’s custom he went in among them, and on three sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures,

3  opening and laying down that the Christ must have suffered and risen up from among the dead, and that this is the Christ, Jesus whom *I* announce to you.[2]

4  And some of them believed, and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and of the Greeks who worshipped, a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.[3]

5  But the Jews having been stirred up to jealousy, and taken to themselves certain wicked men of the lowest rabble, and having got a crowd together, set the city in confusion; and having beset the house of Jason[4] sought to bring them out to the people;

6  and not having found them, dragged Jason and certain brethren before the politarchs, crying out, These men that have set the world in tumult, are come here also,

7  whom Jason has received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying, that there is another king[5], Jesus.

8  And they troubled the crowd and the politarchs when they heard these things.

9  And having taken security of Jason and the rest, they let them go.

10  But the brethren immediately sent away, in the night, Paul and Silas to Berea[6]; who, being arrived, went away into the synagogue of the Jews.

11  And these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, receiving the word with all readiness of mind, daily searching the scriptures if these things were so.

12  Therefore many from among them believed, and of Grecian women of the upper classes and men not a few.

13  But when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that the word of God was announced in Berea also by Paul, they came there also, stirring up the crowds.

14  And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as to the sea; but Silas and Timotheus abode there.

15  But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and, having received a commandment to Silas and Timotheus, that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.[7]

16  But in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit was painfully excited in him seeing the city given up to idolatry.

17  He reasoned therefore in the synagogue with the Jews, and those who worshipped, and in the market-place every day with those he met with.

18  But some also of the Epicurean[8] and Stoic philosophers[9] attacked him. And some said, What would this chatterer say? and some, He seems to be an announcer of foreign demons, because he announced the glad tidings of Jesus and the resurrection to them .

19  And having taken hold on him they brought him to Areopagus[10], saying, Might we know what this new doctrine which is spoken by thee is ?

20  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears. We wish therefore to know what these things may mean.

21  Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else than to tell and to hear the news.

22  And Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus said, Athenians, in every way I see you given up to demon worship;

23  for, passing through and beholding your shrines, I found also an altar on which was inscribed, To the unknown God. Whom therefore ye reverence, not knowing him , him I announce to you.[11]

24  The God who has made the world and all things which are in it, *he*, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,

25  nor is served by men’s hands as needing something, himself giving to all life and breath and all things;

26  and has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon the whole face of the earth, having determined ordained times and the boundaries of their dwelling,

27  that they may seek God; if indeed they might feel after him and find him, although he is not far from each one of us:

28  for in him we live and move and exist; as also some of the poets amongst you have said, For we are also his offspring.

29  Being therefore the offspring of God, we ought not to think that which is divine to be like gold or silver or stone, the graven form of man’s art and imagination.

30  God therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, now enjoins men that they shall all everywhere repent,

31  because he has set a day in which he is going to judge the habitable earth in righteousness by the man whom he has appointed, giving the proof of it to all in having raised him from among the dead.

32  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, and some said, We will hear thee again also concerning this.

33  Thus Paul went out of their midst.

34  But some men joining themselves to him believed; among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite[12], and a woman by name Damaris[13], and others with them.

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[1] (17:1). Thessalonica. About 100 miles west from Philippi. A major city in the Roman province of Macedonia. The city was a port used by Rome.

[2] (17:3). The argument made by Paul is twofold. Firstly, according to the Scriptures Christ had to suffer and rise again. Secondly, Jesus is the Messiah.

[3] (17:4). These would have been God-fearing Greeks who worshipped the true God.

[4] (17:5). Jason. The proprietor of a home in Thessalonica which was searched by individuals angered by the proclamation from Paul and Silas that Jesus was the Messiah. When Paul and Silas were not located, the mob seized Jason and other followers, bringing them before the city authorities and alleging that they were protecting troublemakers.

[5] (17:7). another king. By proclaiming Jesus as King the opponents of Paul saw him as a threat to Caesar.

[6] (17:10). Berea. Berea. About 45 miles west of Thessalonica and another major city in the Roman world.

[7] (17:15). Paul now heads south to Athens, the home of Greek culture and society.

[8] (17:18). Epicurean. Disciples of Epicurus (341-270 B.C.). Their philosophy in life was that happiness is the chief end of life. They saw no connection between humanity and the divine. Epicurus contended that the universe was composed of atoms and was entirely material in nature. His followers, the Epicureans, aimed to liberate individuals from the beliefs in deities, an afterlife, and the dread of death. The only enduring value was the physical existence of the person, allowing them to be unburdened by fear and to seek what genuinely brought pleasure. Epicurus emphasized that true happiness and virtue led to the most fulfilling and enjoyable life.

[9] (17:18). Stoic philosophers. Also known as Stoicks. The Stoics were disciples of Zeno (336-264 B.C.). Their outlook on life was one of rational over emotions. Stoicism, established by Zeno in the third century BC, argued that the universe is driven by a rational force called logos, linking the divine and material. Ethically, stoics sought to live in harmony with the natural laws they recognized and organized.

[10] (17:19). Areopagus. Meaning, “hill of Aries”. Aries was the god of war in Greek mythology, called Mars in Latin. The High Court of Athens who met on Mars Hill west of Acropolis.

[11] (17:23). This alter to the unknown God meant that the people of the city believed that there could be a deity that they did not know. Paul is about to tell them about the God they know not, the One true God.

[12] (17:34). Dionysius the Areopagite. He was a member of the Areopagus in Athens and was converted under the ministry of Paul.

[13] (17:34). Damaris. A woman converted under the ministry of Paul in Athens.