Acts 17

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

After journeying through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they finally arrived in Thessalonica, home to a Jewish synagogue.

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Paul, as was his usual practice, joined them, and for three Sabbaths in a row he passionately discussed and explained the scriptures to them.

Opening 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.

Expressing with deep conviction, that it was necessary for Christ to endure suffering, to die and then miraculously rise from the dead. And this Jesus, whom I passionately share with you, is indeed the Christ.

And 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.

Some of them were moved to faith, choosing to join Paul and Silas. A large number of devout Greeks and several influential women also joined them.

But 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.

Non-believing Jews, driven by jealousy, rallied a group of lowly, ill-mannered men. They stirred up the city into chaos, attacked Jason's house, and tried to expose them to the public.

And 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;

When they couldn't find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city leaders. In distress, they exclaimed, "Those who have caused chaos worldwide are here too!"

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Jason has welcomed those who defy Caesar's rules, claiming that there's a different king - Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

The city's people and leaders were deeply disturbed upon hearing these revelations.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

After making Jason and the others post bond, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

In the quiet cover of night, Paul and Silas were swiftly sent by their brothers to Berea. Upon their arrival, they sought solace in the Jewish synagogue.

These 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.

These people were more open-minded and honorable than those in Thessalonica. They eagerly accepted the message and diligently studied the scriptures every day to confirm its truth.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

As a result, many found faith, including respected Greek women and a significant number of men.

But 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.

When the Thessalonian Jews learned that Paul was spreading God's word in Berea, they rushed there too, causing a commotion among the locals.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

In an instant, the brothers urgently sent Paul off towards the sea, while Silas and Timothy chose to stay behind, their hearts heavy with concern.

And 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.

The guides led Paul to Athens. They quickly sent a message to Silas and Timotheus, urging them to join Paul as soon as possible, and then they left.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

As Paul patiently waited in Athens, he felt a deep unrest within his soul, witnessing the city entirely consumed by the worship of false gods.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

So, he passionately debated with the Jews and the devout in the synagogue, and every day in the marketplace with those who crossed his path.

Then 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.

Some philosophers, both Epicureans and Stoics, confronted him. Some mocked, "What's this chatterbox trying to say?" Others suspected him of promoting foreign deities because he was preaching about Jesus and the resurrection.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

They led him to Areopagus, curiously asking, "Can you explain this new teaching you're sharing?"

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

You're sharing some unusual ideas that we've never heard before; we're curious to understand what they truly mean.

(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.)

The Athenians and visitors alike were obsessed with sharing and discovering new ideas.

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Paul, standing at the heart of Mars' hill, addressed the Athenians, "I see, my friends, that in every way you are very religious."

For 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.

As I walked by, looking at the things you worship, I noticed an altar with the words "To an unknown God." You worship this God without knowing Him, and I'm here to reveal Him to you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

The God who created the universe and everything in it, being the master of both heaven and earth, doesn't reside in man-made temples.

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

God doesn't need human praise or offerings, for He is the one who generously gives life, breath, and everything else to everyone.

And 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;

God created all humanity from the same essence, allowing us to live everywhere on earth. He pre-planned our eras and set the limits of our homes.

That 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:

God did this so that people would seek Him, and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him. Yet He is not far from each one of us.

For 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.

In Him, we exist, we act, we thrive; as even some of your own poets agree, we are His children.

Forasmuch 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.

Since we are God's children, we shouldn't believe that He can be compared to gold, silver, or any man-made object.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

In the past, God overlooked our ignorance, but now He commands everyone, everywhere, to repent and turn away from their sins.

Because 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.

God has set a day when He will fairly judge the world through the man He chose, and He has proven this to everyone by raising this man from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Upon hearing about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in disbelief, while others, intrigued, promised to revisit the topic.

So Paul departed from among them.

With a heavy heart, Paul took his leave from their midst.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and several others.