17: 2 and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three 193sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures,
193Or. weeks.
17: 3 opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, said he, I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.
17: 4 And some of them were persuaded, and some consorted with Paul and Silas; and 194of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
194So Bℵ 1175 1739 and a majority of lesser Gk. mss., copsa. p74A 81 33 vg copbo read of the devout and of Greeks
17: 5 But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.
17: 6 And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned 195 the world upside down are come hither also;
195Gk. the inhabited earth.
17: 7 whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
17: 8 And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
17: 9 And when they had received security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
17: 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
17: 11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
17: 12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of the men, not a few.
17: 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Berea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.
17: 14 And then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still.
17: 15 But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.
17: 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.
17: 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market place every day with them that met him.
17: 18 And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemed to be a setter forth of 196strange 197gods: because he 198preached Jesus and the resurrection.
196Or. foreign divinities:
197Gk. demons:
198See marginal note on ch. 5:42.
17: 19 And they took hold of him, and brought him 199unto 200the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?
199Or, before
200Or, the hill of Mars,
17: 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
17: 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there 201spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)
201Or, had leisure for nothing else,
17: 22 And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very religious.
17: 23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.
17: 24 The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in 202temples made with hands;
202Or, sanctuaries
17: 25 neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
17: 26 and he made of one203 every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
203So p74BℵA 81 1175 copbo vg. 2344 and a majority of lesser Gk. mss. add blood
17: 27 that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:
17: 28 for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as 204certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
204Aratus from Cilicia (ca. BC 270), Phenomena; and Cleanthes (ca. BC 250), Hymn to Jupiter.
17: 29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that 205the nature of God is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
205Or, that which is divine
17: 30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he 206commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:
206Bℵ almost alone read declareth to men
17: 31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge 207the world in righteousness 208by a man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
207Gk. the inhabited earth
208Or, in
17: 32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.
17: 33 Thus Paul went out from among them.
17: 34 But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom was even Dionysius the 209Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
209Or, Mars-hill judge, per Rotherham.
