ACTS 17 15-34

Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

15 -  Those who accompanied Paul on his way, went as far as Athens with him, then after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come as soon as possible, they returned to Berea.

     16 And while Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, his spirit was stirred, as he saw how the city was full of idols.

     17 As his custom, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jewish and devoted persons, and also, daily in the marketplace, with whoever happened to be there.

     18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. But some said, “What is this babbler saying?” And others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was speaking of Jesus and the resurrection.

     19 So they brought him to the Areopagus [a court on Mar’s Hill and a meeting place for philosophical discussions] saying, “May we know what this new teaching is? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. And we wish to know what it means.”

     21 Now many Athenians and foreigners who lived there would spend their days in nothing but telling and hearing some new idea. 22 So Paul said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you’re very devoted. 23 For as I passed along and saw the objects of your devotion, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ Now, what you’ve included, as unknown, this is what I’m proclaiming.

     24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being LORD of heaven and earth, doesn’t live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and all things. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind that lives on all the face of earth, having determined allotted times and boundaries, 27 in hopes they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. 28 For as your own poets have said, ‘in him we live and move and have our being, for we are indeed his offspring’.

     29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, an image formed by the imagination and art of man. 30 Those times of not understanding, God has overlooked, but now he calls all everywhere to turn to him, 31 for he has fixed a day for the world’s judgment in righteousness, by a man appointed, and has provided to all, a guarantee, by raising him from death. {Jn.5:28,29}

    32 Now when they heard of a “resurrection from death” some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 At that, Paul went on from there. 34 But some joined him and believed, among whom were Dionysius the Areopagite (member of the court, I read the members had to be over sixty in age) and a woman named Damaris and some others.

Next - 18:1-16