11
Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh every day to see if the things Sha'ul was saying were true.
12
Many of them came to trust, as did a number of prominent Greek women and not a few Greek men.
13
But when the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Sha'ul in Berea as well, they went there too to make trouble and agitate the crowds.
14
The brothers sent Sha'ul away at once to go down to the seacoast, while Sila and Timothy stayed behind.
15
Sha'ul's escort went with him as far as Athens, then left with instructions for Sila and Timothy to come as quickly as they could.
16
While Sha'ul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him was disturbed at the sight of the city full of idols.
17
So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the "God-fearers," and in the market square every day with the people who happened to be there.
18
Also a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers started meeting with him. Some asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others, because he proclaimed the Good News about Yeshua and the resurrection, said, "He sounds like a propagandist for foreign gods."
19
They took and brought him before the High Council, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
20
Some of the things we are hearing from you strike us as strange, and we would like to know what they mean."
21
(All the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their spare time talking or hearing about the latest intellectual fads.)