The FarAboveAll translation of the Robinson-Pierpont 2005 New Testament. See details on www.FarAboveAll.com.

Version 0.94.54, 23 October 2023

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Acts Chapter 17

1And they travelled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2And in accordance with his custom, Paul went to them, and for three Sabbaths he debated with them from the scriptures, 3expounding and explaining as follows: “Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead”, and, “This is who the Christ is: Jesus, whom I declare to you.” 4And some of them were persuaded and were assigned to Paul and Silas, as were a very large number of the devout Greeks and not an insignificant number of the leading women. 5But the unbelieving Jews recruited some good-for-nothing men from those who hang around the market area, and when they had collected a crowd, they brought the city into uproar and took a stand at Jason's house and tried to bring them to the people. 6But as they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers to the city rulers, shouting, “Those who have upset the world are these present right here, 7whom Jason has received as guests. And all these are doing things contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king – Jesus.” 8And they stirred up the crowd and the rulers of the city, who heard these things. 9Then they took bail from Jason and the others, and they released them. 10And the brothers immediately during the night sent Paul and Silas away to Berea, who, when they arrived, went to the Jews' synagogue. 11Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they received the word with all readiness, closely examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12So many of them believed, as did not a few of the Greek women of high standing, and men. 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica came to know that the word of God had also been declared in Berea by Paul, they came there too and stirred up the crowds. 14And then immediately the brothers sent Paul out so that he could go in the direction of the sea. But both Silas and Timothy stayed there. 15And they conducted Paul and brought him to Athens, then having received an instruction for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed. 16And in Athens, while Paul was waiting for them, his spirit in him was exasperated when he saw how the city was given to idolatry. 17So he discussed with the Jews and devout people in the synagogue, and every day with those who happened to be around in the market place. 18And also some of the Epicurean and the Stoic philosophers engaged him in conversation, and some said, “What could this amateur be getting at?” But others said, “He seems to be a propounder of foreign deities.” This was because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took him along with them and brought him to Ares Hill and said, “May we know what this new teaching is which is being spoken by you? 20For you are bringing some strange ideas to our ears. So we wish to know what these things mean.” 21For all the Athenians and the foreigners living away from home would spend their leisure time in nothing other than talking or hearing about something new. 22So Paul, standing before the Ares Hill council said, “Men of Athens, I see, apparently, that you are very reverent to the gods in all respects. 23For as I passed through and looked at your objects of worship, I also found an altar on which had been inscribed:

‘To an unknown god.’

Now him whom you worship in ignorance, I declare to you. 24God, who made the universe and everything in it – he being Lord of heaven and earth – does not dwell in shrines made by hands, 25nor is he served by human hands as if he lacked anything, but he himself gives life and breath in all respects to all. 26And he made every nation of men from one blood, so as to dwell on all the surface of the earth, and he set appointed times and the borders of their territory, 27so that they should seek the Lord, to see if they might possibly feel their way to him and find him, and at any rate he is not far from any one of us. 28For in him we live and move and exist, as also some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his kindred.’ 29So since we are the kindred of God, we should not think the divine essence is like gold or silver or stone or a sculpture from the craftsmanship and the ponderings of man. 30And so although God turned a blind eye throughout the times of ignorance, in these times he commands all men everywhere to repent. 31For he has appointed a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, through a man whom he has appointed, having provided assurance to all by resurrecting him from the dead.” 32And when they heard “resurrection of the dead”, some scoffed, but some said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” 33And so Paul departed from their company. 34But some men stuck with him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Ares Hill council member, and a woman by the name of Damaris and others with them.
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