1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to aThessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And aaccording to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three bSabbaths reasoned with them from cthe Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ ahad to suffer and brise again from the dead, and saying, "cThis Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 4 aAnd some of them were persuaded and joined bPaul and Silas, along with a large number of the cGod-fearing dGreeks and a number of the eleading women. 5 But athe Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of bJason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began adragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset bthe world have come here also; 7 and Jason ahas welcomed them, and they all act bcontrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had received a pledge from aJason and the others, they released them. 10 aThe brethren immediately sent bPaul and Silas away by night to cBerea, and when they arrived, they went into dthe synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in aThessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore amany of them believed, along with a number of bprominent Greek cwomen and men. 13 But when the Jews of aThessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in bBerea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately athe brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and bSilas and cTimothy remained there. 15 Now athose who escorted Paul brought him as far as bAthens; and receiving a command for cSilas and Timothy to dcome to him as soon as possible, they left. 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at aAthens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. 17 So he was reasoning ain the synagogue with the Jews and bthe God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. 18 And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would athis idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he was preaching bJesus and the resurrection. 19 And they atook him and brought him to the bAreopagus, saying, "May we know what cthis new teaching is which you are proclaiming? 20 "For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean." 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers avisiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) 22 So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of aAthens, I observe that you are very breligious in all respects. 23 "For while I was passing through and examining the aobjects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what byou worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 "aThe God who made the world and all things in it, since He is bLord of heaven and earth, does not cdwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, aas though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and aHe made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having bdetermined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, athough He is not far from each one of us; 28 for ain Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' 29 "Being then the children of God, we aought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. 30 "Therefore having aoverlooked bthe times of ignorance, God is cnow declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed aa day in which bHe will judge cthe world in righteousness through a Man whom He has dappointed, having furnished proof to all men by eraising Him from the dead." 32 Now when they heard of athe resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, "We shall hear you again concerning this." 33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the aAreopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.