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

W𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕝𝕪 B𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕠𝕗 A𝕔𝕥𝕤 17 15-34

        𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚍                             

15 - Those who accompanied Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after Paul said to tell Silas and Timothy to travel to him as soon as possible, they departed. 16 And while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was troubled when he saw how full the city was of idols. (That at best do no one any good.) 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace, each day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers conversed with him. And some were saying, “What does this babbler wish to say?” And some others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was talking about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they brought him along to the Areopagus, (Mar’s Hill) saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21 Now the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in the hearing and telling of something new. 22 So Paul said, “Persons of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your devotion, I found also an altar with this inscription - ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this is what I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t live in temples made by men, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needs anything, since he himself gives to all life, and breath, and all things for life. 26 And he made *from one man* every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed season and age, and boundary, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us. 28 For it’s  ‘In him we live and move and have our being’ as some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are his offspring’. 29 And being his offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold, silver or stone, or is an image formed by the art and imaginations of man. 30 God has overlooked all this, but now he instructs all to change their mind, 31 because he has fixed a day” [which meaning includes - is used of time in general] “on which he will judge the world justly, by the one whom he has appointed. And he has given assurance to all, by raising him from the dead.” 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some ridiculed, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33 So Paul went on his way. 34 But some joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius a frequenter of the Areopagus and a woman named Damaris and some others with them.

                         ~*~

     Very Brief Outline of Acts:

Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).

The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.

The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).

     Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.

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