(KJV) Acts 17¹

<< Acts 16

Acts 18 >>

⥃The Uproar in Thessalonica

[1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica², where³ was a synagogue of the Jews: [2] And Paul, as⁴ his manner was, went⁵ in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned⁶ with them out of the scriptures, [3] Opening⁷ and alleging, that Christ⁸ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this⁹ Jesus, whom I preach¹⁰ unto you, is Christ. [4] And some¹¹ of them believed, and consorted¹² with Paul and Silas¹³; and of the devout¹⁴ Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief¹⁵ women not a few.

[5] But the Jews which believed not, moved¹⁶ with envy, took¹⁷ unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set¹⁸ all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason¹⁹, and sought to bring them out to the people. [6] And when they found them not, they drew²⁰ Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These²¹ that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; [7] Whom Jason hath received: and these²² all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, 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.²³ [9] And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

⥃The Character of the Bereans

[10] And the brethren²⁴ immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea²⁵: who coming [thither] went²⁶ into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These were more²⁷ noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received²⁸ the word with all readiness of mind, and searched²⁹ the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. [12] Therefore many³⁰ of them believed; also of honourable³¹ women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. [13] But when the Jews³² of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred³³ up the people. [14] And then³⁴ immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it³⁵ were to the sea: but³⁶ Silas and Timotheus abode there still. [15] And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens³⁷: and receiving³⁸ a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

⥃Paul in Athens

[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit³⁹ was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry⁴⁰.⁴¹ [17] Therefore disputed⁴² he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout⁴³ persons, and in the market daily⁴⁴ with them that met with him. [18] Then certain philosophers⁴⁵ of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered⁴⁶ him. And some said, What will this babbler⁴⁷ say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus⁴⁸, and the resurrection. [19] And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus⁴⁹, saying, May⁵⁰ we know what this new⁵¹ doctrine, whereof thou speakest, [is]? [20] For thou bringest certain strange⁵² things to our ears: we would know therefore what⁵³ these things mean. [21] (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent⁵⁴ their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

⥃Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

[22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill⁵⁵, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive⁵⁶ that in all things ye are too superstitious. [23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions⁵⁷, I found an altar with this inscription, TO⁵⁸ THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly⁵⁹ worship, him declare I unto you. [24] God that made⁶⁰ the world and all things therein, seeing⁶¹ that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth⁶² not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither is⁶³ worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing⁶⁴ he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; [26] And hath made⁶⁵ of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined⁶⁶ the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [27] That they⁶⁷ should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be⁶⁸ not far from every one of us: [28] For in him⁶⁹ we live, and move, and have our being; as⁷⁰ certain also of your own poets have said, For we are⁷¹ also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought⁷² not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven⁷³ by art and man’s device. [30] And the times⁷⁴ of this ignorance God winked at; but⁷⁵ now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed⁷⁶ a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance⁷⁷ unto all [men], in that⁷⁸ he hath raised him from the dead.

[32] And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some⁷⁹ mocked: and others said, We will⁸⁰ hear thee again of this [matter]. [33] So Paul departed from among them. [34] Howbeit certain⁸¹ men clave unto him, and believed: among the which [was] Dionysius the Areopagite⁸², and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

<< Acts 16

Acts 18 >>