|
17:13-34 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that
they (Paul and Silas) were also in Beroea and the word of God was announced by
Paul, they came here also, stirring
up and troubling the crowds. So
the brothers immediately sent Paul away as far as the sea. But Silas and Timothy stayed on
there. The people conducting Paul
brought him as far as Athens. Then he directed them that Silas and
Timothy should come as soon as possible.
And so those who had brought him here departed.
In
Athens,
while Paul was waiting for them (Silas and Timothy) he was provoked within
his spirit on seeing the city to be full of images (of gods). He therefore addressed the Jews in the
synagogue and those who worshipped (c/f non-Jews outside the city) and also
people in the market place who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic
philosophers fell into discussion with him.
Some said "What does this ignorant plagiarist want to
say?" Others said "He
seems to be an announcer of foreign demons because he is preaching about
Jesus and the resurrrection. And so taking hold of him they led him to the
Areopagus saying "Can you help us to know about this new teaching you
are talking about. For you are
bringing startling things to our ears.
We therefore want to know what these things may be." Now all
Athenians and the foreigners who lived there, use
their leisure to either talk about nothing that is different or they want
to hear something new. So standing
up in the midst of the Areopagus Paul said.
"Athenian people I notice you are very religious in
everything. Passing along and
looking up at the objects of your
|
worship
I found also an altar on which had been inscribed "To an unknown
God." You (even) reverence what
you are ignorant about. (So) I
announce this to you. The God who made
the world and all things in it, this one who is Lord of heaven and earth
does not dwell in hand-made shrines.
Nor is he served by human hands as he is not in need of
anything. He gives life and breath
and everything. He made every nation
of people to live on the face of the earth out of one (man, Adam). He has appointed the seasons (for every
nation) and the boundaries of their habitation. (He has made all people so that they)
might sense God and may find him.
Yet He is he is not far from every one of us. In him we live and move and have our
being. Some of you who are poets
have indeed said "We are his offspring." As offspring therefore of God, we should
not supposed him to be made of gold or silver or stone or an engraved work
of art. Nor is the divine nature
like what man may consider. In
times of ignorance God may have
overlooked this. But God now declares to all people everywhere to repent. He set a day in which he is about the
judge the inhabited earth according to righteousness. This is by a man whom he designated. He has offered a guarantee (of a just
hearing) to all, by raising him out of the dead.
Now
on hearing about a resurrection of someone from the dead some (Greeks)
scoffed. Others said "We will hear you about this
another time."
So
Paul went out from amongst them. But
some people kept with him and believed.
Amongst these were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman whose name
was Damaria and others with them.
|