Acts 17

A Riot Breaks Out in Thessalonica

1After passing through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas arrived at Thessalonica. # 17:1 Known today as Salonica or Thessaloniki, it was the ancient capital of Macedonia. 2As they customarily did, they went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews from the Torah scrolls. For three weeks 3Paul challenged them by explaining the truth and proving to them the reality of the gospel—that the Messiah had to suffer and die, then rise again from among the dead. He made it clear to them, saying, “I come to announce to you that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah!”

4Some of the Jews were convinced that their message was true, so they joined Paul and Silas, along with quite a few prominent women and a large number of Greeks who worshiped God. # 17:4 It is probable that this is when Timothy arrived in Thessalonica with gifts of money and food from the church of Philippi. See Phil. 4:16; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1. 5But many of the Jews were motivated by bitter jealousy and formed a large mob out of the troublemakers, unsavory characters, and street gangs to incite a riot. They set out to attack Jason’s house, for he had welcomed the apostles into his home. # 17:5 This information is borrowed from v. 7 and inserted here for the sake of English narrative. The mob was after Paul and Silas and sought to take them by force and bring them out to the people. 6When they couldn’t find them, they took Jason instead, along with some of the brothers in his house church, # 17:6 Although not much about Jason is given here, he is known in church history as Jason of Tarsus, who was one of the seventy apostles Jesus sent out and is named as one of Paul’s ministry companions. See Luke 10:1–11; Rom. 16:21. and dragged them before the city council. Along the way they screamed out, “Those troublemakers who have turned the world upside down have come here to our city. 7And now Jason and these men have welcomed them as guests. They’re traitors to Caesar, teaching that there is another king named Jesus.”

8Their angry shouts stirred up the crowds and troubled the city and all its officials. 9So when Paul and Silas came before the leaders of the city, they refused to let them go until Jason and his men posted bail.

The Gospel Received in Berea

10That night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to the city of Berea, # 17:10 Berea (modern-day Veria) was a city in Macedonia about forty-five miles (seventy-five kilometers) from Thessalonica. where they once again went into the synagogue. 11They found that the Jews of Berea were of more noble character and much more open minded than those of Thessalonica. They were hungry to learn and eagerly received the word. Every day they opened the scrolls of Scripture to search and examine them, to verify that what Paul taught them was true. 12A large number of Jews became believers in Jesus, along with quite a few influential # 17:12 The Greek word euschemon also implies “women of high standing,” “wealthy,” “honorable,” “elegant,” and “respected.” (See Strong’s Concordance, Gr. 2158.) Greek women and men.

13When the news reached the Jews in Thessalonica that Paul was now in Berea, preaching the word of God, the troublemakers went there too and they agitated and stirred up the crowds against him. 14The fellow believers helped Paul slip away to the coast of the Aegean Sea, # 17:14 The Greek text is simply “the sea.” while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

15Those who accompanied Paul sailed with him as far as Athens. Then Paul sent them back to Berea with instructions # 17:15 The Aramaic makes it clear that this message was written as a letter. for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

The Apostle Paul in Athens

16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply troubled # 17:16 Or “deeply pained” or “irritated.” when he realized that the entire city was full of idols. 17He argued the claims of the gospel with the Jews in their synagogue, and with those who were worshipers of God, and every day he preached in the public square to whomever would listen.

18Philosophers of the teachings of Epicurus, # 17:18 Epicurus was a Greek philosopher (341–270 BC) who espoused a radical materialism that claimed people should live for pleasure and materialistic gain. He denied an afterlife and asserted that the gods had little interest in or concern for humanity. and others called Stoics, # 17:18 Stoicism, in contrast to Epicureanism, is a passive determinism of emotional indifference that elevates the virtue of self-control. By mastering human passions and emotions, one could realize peace within himself. The Greek Stoics believed that humans can only reach their full potential when they live by sheer reason and divine principle, or the spark of divinity, which they called logos. debated # 17:18 The Aramaic is “word wrestled.” with Paul. When they heard him speak about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What strange ideas is this babbler trying to present?” Others said, “He’s peddling some kind of foreign religion.” 19So they brought him for a public dialogue before the leadership council of Athens, # 17:19 The Areopagus was a governing body of intellectuals who were the overseers of Athens. It was equivalent to the board of education, the city council, the ethics committee, the council of foreign relations, and leaders of the religious and philosophical community all rolled into one. The Areopagus, also known as Mars Hill (Mars, or Ares, was the Greek god of war), was not simply a location but a gathering of a council of people overseeing the spiritual atmosphere of Athens. It could best be described as the Greek temple of human thought. The Aramaic here uses the phrase “house of religion.” known as the Areopagus.

“Tell us,” they said, “about this new teaching that you’re bringing to our city. 20You’re presenting strange and astonishing things to our ears, and we want to know what it all means.” 21Now, it was the favorite pastime of the Athenians and visitors to Athens to discuss the newest ideas and philosophies.

Paul Speaks to the Leaders of Athens

22So Paul stood in the middle of the leadership council and said, “Respected leaders of Athens, # 17:22 Or simply, “Athenians.” it is clear to me how extravagant you are in your worship of idols. # 17:22 As translated from the Aramaic, which can also be translated “You excel in the worship of demons” (or “idols”). The Greek is “How very superstitious you are (i.e., extraordinarily religious).” 23For as I walked through your city, I was captivated by the many shrines and objects of your worship. I even found an inscription on one altar that read, ‘To the Unknown God.’ # 17:23 The Aramaic can be translated “To the Hidden God.” I have come to introduce to you this God whom you worship without even knowing anything about him.

24“The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, and he doesn’t live in man-made temples. 25He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being. He doesn’t lack a thing that we mortals could supply for him, for he has all things and everything he needs. 26From one man, Adam, he made every man and woman and every race of humanity, and he spread us over all the earth. He sets the boundaries of people and nations, determining their appointed times in history. # 17:26 The Aramaic adds an interesting nuance: “He commands the separation of the seasons and sets the lifespan of every person.” 27He has done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, # 17:27 The Aramaic is “investigating him in his creation.” and find him—for he is the God who is easy to discover! # 17:27 Or “the God who is not far from each one of us.” 28It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, # 17:28 Paul is quoting two classical Greek writers (ca. 270 BC): Aratus (Phaenomena, 5) and Cleanthes (Hymn to Zeus, 5). ‘Our lineage comes from him.’ # 17:28 Or “Our nature comes from him,” as translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “We are his offspring.” The Greek word is genos, which means “kindred” or “family” (taken from his genes).

29“Since our lineage can be traced back to God, how could we even think that the divine image could be compared to something made of gold, silver, or stone, sculpted by man’s artwork and clever imagination?

30“In the past God tolerated # 17:30 Or “deliberately paid no attention to.” our ignorance of these things, but now the time of deception has passed away. # 17:30 As translated from the Aramaic. He commands us all to repent and turn to God. # 17:30 That is, to turn away from idolatry and worship the true God. 31For the appointed day has risen, in which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has designated. And the proof given to the world that God has chosen this man is this: he resurrected him from among the dead!” # 17:31 The Aramaic is “God turns the hearts of men to faith in him [Jesus] and raises them from among the dead.”

32The moment they heard Paul bring up the topic of resurrection, some of them ridiculed him, then got up and left. But others said, “We want to hear you again later about these things.” 33So Paul left the meeting. 34But there were some who believed the message and joined him from that day forward. Among them were Dionysius, a judge on the leadership council, # 17:34 As translated from the Aramaic. According to the church historian Eusebius, Dionysius later became the Bishop of Athens (Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiae III: iv). and a woman named Damaris. # 17:34 The Greek word can also mean “wife,” indicating she was possibly the wife of Dionysius. Regardless, she must have been a woman of high social standing to be included in the meeting of the leadership council.

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Acts 17

Paul and Silas in Thessalonica

1Paul and Silas traveled through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia. They came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2Paul went into the synagogue to see the Jews as he always did. The next three weeks, on each Sabbath day, he discussed the Scriptures with them. 3He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, “This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah.” 4Some of the Jews there believed Paul and Silas and decided to join them. Also, a large number of Greeks who were worshipers of the true God and many important women joined them.

5But the Jews who did not believe became jealous, so they got some bad men from around the city center to make trouble. They formed a mob and caused a riot in the city. They went to Jason’s house, looking for Paul and Silas. They wanted to bring them out before the people. 6When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the other believers to the city leaders. The people shouted, “These men have made trouble everywhere in the world, and now they have come here too! 7Jason is keeping them in his house. They all do things against the laws of Caesar. They say there is another king called Jesus.”

8When the city leaders and the other people heard this, they became very upset. 9They made Jason and the other believers deposit money to guarantee that there would be no more trouble. Then they let them go.

Paul and Silas Go to Berea

10That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to another city named Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11The people in Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They were so glad to hear the message Paul told them. They studied the Scriptures every day to make sure that what they heard was really true. 12The result was that many of them believed, including many important Greek women and men.

13But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was telling people God’s message in Berea, they came there too. They upset the people and made trouble. 14So the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. 15Those who went with Paul took him to the city of Athens. They returned with a message for Silas and Timothy to come and join him as soon as they could.

Paul in Athens

16While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was upset because he saw that the city was full of idols. 17In the synagogue he talked with the Jews and with the Greeks who were worshipers of the true God. He also went to the public square every day and talked with everyone who came by. 18Some of the Epicurean and some of the Stoic philosophers argued with him.

Some of them said, “This man doesn’t really know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?” Paul was telling them the Good News about Jesus and the resurrection. So they said, “He seems to be telling us about some other gods.”

19They took Paul to a meeting of the Areopagus council. They said, “Please explain to us this new idea that you have been teaching. 20The things you are saying are new to us. We have never heard this teaching before, and we want to know what it means.” 21(The people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent all their time either telling or listening to all the latest ideas.)

22Then Paul stood up before the meeting of the Areopagus council and said, “Men of Athens, everything I see here tells me you are very religious. 23I was going through your city and I saw the things you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: ‘to an unknown god.’ You worship a god that you don’t know. This is the God I want to tell you about.

24“He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. 25He is the one who gives people life, breath, and everything else they need. He does not need any help from them. He has everything he needs. 26God began by making one man, and from him he made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they would live.

27“God wanted people to look for him, and perhaps in searching all around for him, they would find him. But he is not far from any of us. 28It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are. As your own poets have said, ‘We all come from him.’

29“That’s right. We all come from God. So we must not think that he is like something people imagine or make. He is not made of gold, silver, or stone. 30In the past people did not understand God, and he overlooked this. But now he is telling everyone in the world to change and turn to him. 31He has decided on a day when he will judge all the people in the world in a way that is fair. To do this he will use a man he chose long ago. And he has proved to everyone that this is the man to do it. He proved it by raising him from death!”

32When the people heard about Jesus being raised from death, some of them laughed. But others said, “We will hear more about this from you later.” 33So Paul left the council meeting. 34But some of the people joined with Paul and became believers. Among these were Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus council, a woman named Damaris, and some others.

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