1 After having passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came into Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue {synagoge: assembly place} of the Jews {Ioudaion: people of Judea}.
2 As was his custom {eiothos: regular practice}, Paul went in to them, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures {graphai: sacred writings}.
3 Explaining thoroughly and setting forth that the Christ {Christos, Suffering Messiah} had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and that this Jesus {Iesous, Risen Savior} whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.
4 And some of them were persuaded and were joined {proseklerothesan: formally associated} to Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the worshipping Greeks and not a few of the leading {proton: high-status citizens} women.
5 But the Jews {Ioudaioi: hostile group}, having become jealous, and having taken along some wicked men from among the market-dwellers, formed a mob and were throwing the city into an uproar. And having come upon the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the assembly {demos: civic gathering}.
6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason {Iasona: accused host} and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world {oikoumene: inhabited region} upside down have come here also.”
7 Whom Jason has received, and these all are acting against the decrees of Caesar {Kaisar: imperial authority}, saying there is another king, Jesus {Iesous, Messiah King}.
8 But they disturbed the crowd {ochlos: gathered populace} and the city officials {politarchas: civic magistrates} when they heard these things.
9 And having taken what was sufficient {hikanon: adequate bond} from Jason and the rest {loipon: remaining associates}, they released them.
10 But the brothers immediately sent both Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue {synagoge: assembly place} of the Jews {Ioudaiōn: local Jewish community}.
11 But these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness {prothumia: zealous readiness}, examining {anakrino: careful investigation} the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed {episteusan: committed in faith}, and also not a few of the prominent Greek women {Hellenides: non-Jewish Greeks} and men.
13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God {Theos, Divine Revealer} had also been proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came there as well, agitating and troubling the crowds {ochlous: stirred multitudes}.
14 Then immediately the brothers {adelphoi: believing community} sent Paul to go as far as the sea {thalassa: coastal waters}, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
15 But those who were conducting Paul {Paulos: Traveling Apostle} brought him as far as Athens, and having received a command {entole: authoritative instruction} for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.
16 But while Paul {Paulos: missionary in Athens} was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit {pneuma: inner being} was provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols.
17 So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and with the devout {sebomenois: reverent worshipers} persons, and in the marketplace each day with those who happened to be present {paratynchánontas: present by chance}.
18 But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What might this babbler wish to say?” but others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities {xenon daimonion: unfamiliar spirits},” because he was proclaiming Jesus {Iesous, Crucified Savior} and the resurrection.
19 And having taken hold of him, they brought him to the Areopagus {Areion Pagon: Athenian council hill}, saying, “Are we able to know what this new teaching {didache: authoritative instruction} is that is being spoken by you?”
20 For you are bringing certain strange things to our ears {akoe: faculty of hearing}; therefore we wish to know what these things mean {thelei: intended sense}.
21 But all the Athenians {Athenaioi: citizens of Athens} and the foreigners residing {epidemountes: staying temporarily} there were spending their time on nothing else except to tell something or to hear something newer.
22 Then Paul {Paulos: Missionary Apostle} stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, in every respect I perceive that you are very religious {deisidaimonesterous: deeply devout}.”
23 For as I was passing through and carefully observing the objects of your worship, I also found an altar on which had been inscribed: “To an Unknown God {Theos, unknown to you}.” Therefore, what you worship without knowing {agnoountes: lacking knowledge}, this I proclaim to you.
24 The God {Theos, Sovereign Creator} who made the world and all things in it, this One, being Lord {Kyrios, Ruler of All} of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 Nor is He {Theos, Self-Sufficient Giver} served by human hands as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life {zoen: vital existence} and breath and all things.
26 And He {Theos, Sovereign Creator of Nations} made from one every nation of mankind to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined appointed times {kairous: specific periods} and the boundaries of their habitation.
27 To seek God {Theos, Near Creator}, if then indeed they might feel after Him and might find Him, and indeed He is not far from each {hekastou: every individual} one of us.
28 For in Him {Theos, Life Source} we live and move and exist, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we also are His offspring {genos: familial lineage}.”
29 Therefore, being offspring of God {Theos, Creator Of All}, we ought not to think that the divine is like gold or silver or stone, an image {charagma: carved idol} formed by the skill and imagination of man.
30 So then, God {Theos, Forbearing Judge}, having overlooked the times of ignorance {agnoia: spiritual unawareness}, now commands all people everywhere to repent.
31 Because He {Theos, Universal Judge} has appointed a day on which He is about to judge the inhabited world in righteousness by a man whom He has determined, having given assurance {pistin: trustworthy confidence} to all by raising Him from the dead.
32 But when they heard about the resurrection {anastasis: rising after death} of the dead, some indeed mocked {echleuazon: deriding contempt}, but others said, “We will hear you again concerning this.”
33 So Paul {Paulos, Apostle and Messenger} went out from their midst {mesos: inner circle}.
34 But some men joined {kollēthentes: united in close association} themselves to him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius {Dionysios: prominent citizen of Athens} the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.