17

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.

(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.)

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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;

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.

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.

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.

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

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

And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.