Paul preaches to the Thessalonians and Bereans. His discourse to the Athenians.

¹ Now when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they arrived at Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

² Then Paul, according to custom, entered to them. And for three Sabbaths he disputed with them about the Scriptures,

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 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.¹

1. 17:4The ‘worshipers’ here are probably the pagan worshipers among the Gentiles, and the ‘Gentiles’ are therefore those non-Jews who did not follow even a pagan religion.(Conte)

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 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,¹

1. 17:6City. Urbem: In the Greek, the world.(Challoner)

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 And they incited the people. And the rulers of the city, upon hearing these things,

⁹ and having received an explanation from Jason and the others, released them.

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 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.¹

1. 17:11More noble: The Jews of Berea are justly commended, for their eagerly embracing the truth, and searching the scriptures, to find out the texts alleged by the apostle: which was a far more generous proceeding than that of their countrymen at Thessalonica, who persecuted the preachers of the gospel, without examining the grounds they alleged for what they taught.(Challoner)

¹² And indeed, many believed among them, as well as not a few among the honorable Gentile men and women.

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 And then the brothers quickly sent Paul away, so that he might travel by sea. But Silas and Timothy remained there.

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 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred up within him, seeing the city given over to idolatry.

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 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 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 certain new ideas to our ears. And so we would like to know what these things mean.”

²¹ (Now all the Athenians, and arriving visitors, were occupying themselves with nothing other than speaking or hearing various new ideas.)

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 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 One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands.¹

1. 17:24Dwells not in temples: God is not contained in temples; so as to need them for his dwelling, or any other uses, as the heathens imagined. Yet by his omnipresence, he is both there and everywhere.(Challoner)

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 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,¹

1. 17:26The one out of whom God made every family of mankind is Adam.(Conte)

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 exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’

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 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 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 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 So Paul departed from their midst.

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.