Paul preaches to the Thessalonians and Bereans. His discourse to the
Athenians.
17:1. And when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they
came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
17:2. And Paul, according to his custom, went in unto them. And for
three sabbath days he reasoned with them out of the scriptures:
17:3. Declaring and insinuating that the Christ was to suffer and to
rise again from the dead; and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach
to you.
17:4. And some of them believed and were associated to Paul and Silas:
and of those that served God and of the Gentiles a great multitude: and
of noble women not a few.
17:5. But the Jews, moved with envy and taking unto them some wicked
men of the vulgar sort and making a tumult, set the city in an uproar:
and besetting Jason’s house, sought to bring them out unto the people.
17:6. And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the
rulers of the city, crying: They that set the city in an uproar are
come hither also:
City. Urbem.... In the Greek, the world.
17:7. Whom Jason hath received. And these all do contrary to the
decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
17:8. And they stirred up the people: and the rulers of the city,
hearing these things,
17:9. And having taken satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they let
them go.
17:10. But the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night
unto Berea. Who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue
of the Jews.
17:11. Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, who
received the word with all eagerness, daily searching the scriptures,
whether these things were so.
More 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.
17:12. And many indeed of them believed: and of honourable women that
were Gentiles and of men, not a few.
17:13. And when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of
God was also preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also,
stirring up and troubling the multitude.
17:14. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the
sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there.
17:15. And they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and
receiving a commandment from him to Silas and Timothy, that they should
come to him with all speed, they departed.
17:16. Now whilst Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was
stirred within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
17:17. He disputed, therefore, in the synagogue with the Jews and with
them that served God: and in the market place, every day, with them
that were there.
17:18. And certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics
disputed with him. And some said: What is it that this word sower would
say? But others: He seemeth to be a setter forth of new gods. Because
he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
17:19. And taking him, they brought him to the Areopagus, saying: May
we know what this new doctrine is, which thou speakest of?
17:20. For thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We would
know therefore what these things mean.
17:21. (Now all the Athenians and strangers that were there employed
themselves in nothing else, but either in telling or in hearing some
new thing.)
17:22. But Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: Ye men
of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.
17:23. For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on
which was written: To the Unknown God. What therefore you worship
without knowing it, that I preach to you:
17:24. God, who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.
Dwelleth 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.
17:25. Neither is he served with men’s hands, as though he needed any
thing: seeing it is he who giveth to all life and breath and all
things:
17:26. And hath made of one, all mankind, to dwell upon the whole face
of the earth, determining appointed times and the limits of their
habitation.
17:27. That they should seek God, if haply they may feel after him or
find him, although he be not far from every one of us.
17:28. For in him we live and move and are: as some also of your own
poets said: For we are also his offspring.
17:29. Being therefore the offspring of God, we must not suppose the
divinity to be like unto gold or silver or stone, the graving of art
and device of man.
17:30. And God indeed having winked at the times of this ignorance, now
declareth unto men that all should every where do penance.
17:31. Because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world
in equity, by the man whom he hath appointed: giving faith to all, by
raising him up from the dead.
17:32. And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead, some
indeed mocked. But others said: We will hear thee again concerning this
matter.
17:33. So Paul went out from among them.
17:34. But certain men, adhering to him, did believe: among whom was
also Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with
them.