Paul in Athens

¹⁶Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens. Paul was troubled because he saw that the city was full of idols.* ¹⁷In the synagogue,* Paul talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped the true God. Paul also talked with some people in the business area of the city. Paul did this every day. ¹⁸Some of the Epicurean and some of the Stoic philosophers* argued with him. Some of them said, "This man doesn't really know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?" Paul was telling them the Good News about Jesus' rising from death. So they said, "He seems to be telling us about some other gods." ¹⁹They got Paul and took him to a meeting of the Areopagus council.* They said, "Please explain to us this new idea that you have been teaching. ²⁰The things that you are saying are new to us. We have never heard these things before. We want to know what this teaching means." ²¹(All the people of Athens and the people from other countries who lived there always used their time talking about all the newest ideas.) ²²Then Paul stood before the meeting of the Areopagus council.* Paul said, "Men of Athens, I can see that you are very religious in all things. ²³I was going through your city and I saw the things you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: 'TO THE GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN.' You worship a god that you don't know. This is the God I am telling you about! ²⁴He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord (Ruler) of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples* that men build! ²⁵This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from people. God has everything he needs. ²⁶God began by making one man (Adam). From him God made all the different people. God made them to live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. ²⁷God wanted the people to look for him. Maybe they could search all around for him and find him. But he is not far from any of us: ²⁸'We live with him. We walk with him. We are with him.' Some of your own writers have said: 'For we are his children.' ²⁹That's right. We are God's children. So, you must not think that God is like something that people imagine or make. He is not like gold, silver, or rock. ³⁰In the past, people did not understand God, but God ignored this. But now, God tells every person in the world to change his heart and life. ³¹God has decided a day when he will judge all the people in the world. He will be fair. He will use a man (Jesus) to do this. God chose this man long ago. And God has proved this to every person; God proved it by raising that man from death!" ³²When the people heard about [Jesus] being raised from death, some of them laughed. The people said, "We will hear more about this from you later." ³³Paul went away from them. ³⁴But some of the people believed Paul and joined him. One of the people that believed was Dionysius. He was a member of the Areopagus council.* Another person who believed was a woman named Damaris. There were also some other people that believed.

idols The false gods that the non-Jewish people worshiped. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. philosophers People who study and talk about their own ideas and the ideas and teachings of other people. Areopagus council A group of important leaders in Athens. They were like judges. temples Buildings where people go to worship.