Acts 17Acts17

King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. The Uproar in Thessalonica

2. 1KJVNow when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:BSBBSB: When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
3. 2KJVAnd Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,BSBBSB: As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
4. 3KJVOpening 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.BSBBSB: explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
5. 4KJVAnd 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.BSBBSB: Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
6. 5KJVBut 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.BSBBSB: The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
7. 6KJVAnd 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;BSBBSB: But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
8. 7KJVWhom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.BSBBSB: and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”
9. 8KJVAnd they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.BSBBSB: On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
10. 9KJVAnd when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.BSBBSB: And they collected bond from Jason and the others and then released them.

11. The Character of the Bereans

12. 10KJVAnd the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.BSBBSB: As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
13. 11KJVThese 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.BSBBSB: Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
14. 12KJVTherefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.BSBBSB: As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
15. 13KJVBut 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.BSBBSB: But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
16. 14KJVAnd then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.BSBBSB: The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
17. 15KJVAnd 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.BSBBSB: Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

18. Paul in Athens

19. 16KJVNow while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.BSBBSB: While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
20. 17KJVTherefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.BSBBSB: So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
21. 18KJVThen 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.BSBBSB: Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
22. 19KJVAnd they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?BSBBSB: So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
23. 20KJVFor thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.BSBBSB: For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
24. 21KJV(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.)BSBBSB: Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.

25. Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

26. 22KJVThen Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.BSBBSB: Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
27. 23KJVFor 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.BSBBSB: For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
28. 24KJVGod that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;BSBBSB: The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
29. 25KJVNeither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;BSBBSB: Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
30. 26KJVAnd 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;BSBBSB: From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
31. 27KJVThat 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:BSBBSB: God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.
32. 28KJVFor 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.BSBBSB: ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
33. 29KJVForasmuch 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.BSBBSB: Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
34. 30KJVAnd the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:BSBBSB: Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
35. 31KJVBecause 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.BSBBSB: For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
36. 32KJVAnd when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.BSBBSB: When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”
37. 33KJVSo Paul departed from among them.BSBBSB: At that, Paul left the Areopagus.
38. 34KJVHowbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.BSBBSB: But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.