Attacked by a Mob in Thessalonica

¹ Now after they¹ traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

1. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“traveled through”) which is understood as temporal

² ⌞And as was his custom⌟,¹ Paul went in to them and on three Sabbath days he discussed with them from the scriptures,

1. Literally “and in accordance with what he was accustomed to”

³ explaining and demonstrating that it was necessary for the Christ¹ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”²

1. Or “Messiah”
2. Or “Messiah”

⁴ And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and also a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.

⁵ But the Jews were filled with jealousy and, taking along some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace and forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar. And attacking Jason’s house, they were looking for them to bring them¹ out to the popular assembly.

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁶ And when they¹ did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world² have come here also,

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal
2. Or “empire”

⁷ whom Jason has entertained as guests! And these people are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus!”

⁸ And they threw the crowd into confusion, and the city officials who heard these things.

⁹ And after¹ taking money as security from Jason and the rest, they released them.

1. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as temporal

Paul and Silas in Berea

¹⁰ Now the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas at once, during the night, to Berea. ⌞They⌟¹ went into the synagogue of the Jews when they² arrived.

1. Literally “who” (referring to Paul and Silas)
2. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal

¹¹ Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. ⌞They⌟¹ accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so.

1. Literally “who”

¹² Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.

¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the message of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and stirring up the crowds.

¹⁴ So then the brothers sent Paul away at once to go to the sea, and both Silas and Timothy remained there.

¹⁵ And those who conducted Paul brought him¹ as far as Athens, and after² receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
2. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“receiving”) which is understood as temporal

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he¹ observed the city was full of idols.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“observed”) which is understood as temporal

¹⁷ So he was discussing in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles,¹ and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

1. *Here the word “Gentiles” is not in the Greek text but is implied

¹⁸ And even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What does this babbler want to say?” But others said,¹ “He appears to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

1. *The words “others said” are not in the Greek text but are implied

¹⁹ And they took hold of him and¹ brought him² to the Areopagus, saying, “May we learn what is this new teaching being proclaimed by you?

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took hold of”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁰ For you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what ⌞these things mean⌟.”¹

1. Literally “these things want to be”

²¹ (Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)

Paul Speaks to the Areopagus

²² So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus and¹ said, “Men of Athens, I see you are very religious ⌞in every respect⌟.²

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood there”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. Literally “with respect to all things”

²³ For as I¹ was passing through and observing carefully your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an unknown God.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it,² this I proclaim to you—

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was passing through”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁴ the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,

²⁵ nor is he served by human hands as if he¹ needed anything, because² he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything.

1. *Here “as if” is supplied as a component of the conditional adverbial participle (“needed”)
2. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“gives”) which is understood as causal

²⁶ And he made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation,

²⁷ to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him.¹ And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁸ for in him we live and move and exist,¹ as even some of ⌞your own⌟² poets have said: ‘For we also are ⌞his⌟³ offspring.’⁴

1. Some interpreters hold that the phrase “in him we live and move and exist” is a quotation from Epimenides of Crete, but more likely it is a traditional Greek formula
2. Literally “with respect to you”
3. Literally “of him”
4. A quotation from Aratus, Phaenomena 5

²⁹ Therefore, because we¹ are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as causal

³⁰ Therefore although¹ God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

1. *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has overlooked”) which is understood as concessive

³¹ because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by¹ raising him from the dead.”

1. *Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“raising”) which is understood as means

³² Now when they¹ heard about the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, “We will hear you about this again also.”

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal

³³ So Paul went out from the midst of them.

³⁴ But some people¹ joined him and² believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman ⌞named⌟³ Damaris and others with them.

1. *Here the Greek term “men” is used as a generic for “people”; note the presence of of a woman (Damaris) in the group
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“joined”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. Literally “by name”