Acts 17

Paul preached in Thessalonica where some Jews and many Greeks believed, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up a mob. The brethren sent Paul and Silas to Berea where the people searched the scriptures daily, and Paul went on to Athens where he preached on Mars' hill, declaring the unknown God and the resurrection of Christ.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:	Passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2	And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,	As was his custom, Paul went in to them and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3	Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.	explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus, whom I am proclaiming to You, is the Christ," He said.
4	And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.	Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great number of devout Greeks and a good many leading women.
5	But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.	But the unbelieving Jews were filled with jealousy. They recruited some wicked men from the marketplace, gathered a mob, and threw the city into an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason, looking for Paul and Silas to bring them before the crowd.
6	And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;	When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city rulers, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too!
7	Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.	Jason has welcomed them. They all act against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king — Jesus."
8	And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.	These things stirred up the crowd and the city rulers who heard them.
9	And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.	They made Jason and the others post bond, and then released them.
10	And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.	The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11	These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.	The people of Berea were more honorable than those in Thessalonica. They received the word with great eagerness and searched the Scriptures every day to see if these things were true.
12	Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.	Many of them believed, as did a good number of prominent Greek women and men.
13	But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.	When the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was proclaiming the word of God at Berea, they came there too and stirred up the crowds.
14	And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.	The brothers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.
15	And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.	Those escorting Paul brought him as far as Athens. They left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible.
16	Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.	While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled to see how full of idols the city was.
17	Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.	So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout people, and in the marketplace every day with those he met.
18	Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.	Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with Him. Some said, "What is this chatterbox trying to say?" Others said, "He seems to be proclaiming foreign gods" — because He was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
19	And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?	They took hold of Him and brought Him to the Areopagus. They said, "May we know what this new teaching is that You are presenting?
20	For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.	Some of the things You say sound strange to us. We want to know what they mean."
21	(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)	Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.
22	Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.	Paul stood in the middle of Mars' hill and said, "Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are too superstitious.
23	For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.	As I walked around and looked carefully at the things You worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. It is this very God — whom You worship without knowing — that I am declaring to You.
24	God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;	God, Who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples made by human hands.
25	Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;	He is not served by human hands as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.
26	And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;	From one blood He made every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth. He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
27	That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:	He did this so that people would seek God and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him — though He is not far from each one of us.
28	For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.	For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of Your own poets have said, 'We are His offspring.'
29	Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.	Since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the Godhead is like gold or silver or stone — shaped by human skill and imagination.
30	And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:	In the past God overlooked such times of ignorance. But now He commands all people everywhere to repent.
31	Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.	He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead."
32	And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.	When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. Others said, "We will hear you again about this."
33	So Paul departed from among them.	So Paul left from among them.
34	Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.	But some men joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.