Acts 17:1-23

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Yehudim.

2 Sha'ul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Shabbat days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

3 explaining and demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Yeshua, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah."

4 Some of them were persuaded, and joined Sha'ul and Sila, of the devout Yevanim a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.

5 But the disobedient Yehudim gathered some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.

6 When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

7 whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Yeshua!"

8 The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.

9 When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

10 The brothers immediately sent Sha'ul and Sila away by night to Beroea. When they arrived, they went into the Yehudi synagogue.

11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

12 Many of them therefore believed; also of the Yevanit women of honorable estate, and not a few men.

13 But when the Yehudim of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed by Sha'ul at Beroea also, they came there likewise, agitating the multitudes.

14 Then the brothers immediately sent out Sha'ul to go as far as to the sea, and Sila and Timothy still stayed there.

15 But those who escorted Sha'ul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a mitzvah to Sila and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.

16 Now while Sha'ul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.

17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with Yehudim and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign demons," because he preached Yeshua and the resurrection.

19 They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?

20 For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean."

21 Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

22 Sha'ul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.

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 you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.