1Now when they had traveledthroughAmphipolis and Apollonia, they came to 1Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
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And 2according to Paul'scustom, he went to them, and for three3Sabbathsreasoned with them from 4the Scriptures,
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explaining and givingevidence that the Christ5had to suffer and 6riseagain from the dead, and saying, "7ThisJesuswhom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."
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8And some of them were persuaded and joined9Paul and Silas, along with a largenumber of the 10God-fearing11Greeks and a number* of the 12leadingwomen.
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But 13the Jews, becomingjealous and takingalongsomewickedmen from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of 14Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.
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When they did not find them, they began 15draggingJason and somebrethrenbefore the cityauthorities, shouting, "Thesemen who have upset16the world have comeherealso;
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and Jason17has welcomed them, and they allact18contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is anotherking, Jesus."
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They stirred up the crowd and the cityauthorities who heardthesethings.
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And when they had received a pledge from 19Jason and the others, they released them.
Paul at Berea
1020The brethrenimmediatelysent21Paul and Silasaway by night to 22Berea, and when they arrived, they went into 23the synagogue of the Jews.
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Nowthese were morenoble-minded than those in 24Thessalonica, for they received the word with greateagerness, examining the Scripturesdaily* to see whetherthesethings were so.
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Therefore25many of them believed, along with a number* of 26prominentGreek27women and men.
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But when the Jews of 28Thessalonicafound out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in 29Bereaalso, they camethere as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
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Thenimmediately30the brethrensentPaul out to go as far as the sea; and 31Silas and 32Timothyremainedthere.
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Now33those who escortedPaulbrought him as far as 34Athens; and receiving a command for 35Silas and Timothy to 36come to him as soon as possible, they left.
Paul at Athens
16Now while Paul was waiting for them at 37Athens, his spirit was being provokedwithin him as he was observing the cityfull of idols.
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So he was reasoning38in the synagogue with the Jews and 39the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplaceeveryday with those who happened to be present.
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And alsosome of the Epicurean and Stoicphilosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would 40thisidlebabblerwish to say?" Others*, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strangedeities,"-because he was preaching41Jesus and the resurrection.
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And they 42took him and brought him to the 43Areopagus, saying, "May we knowwhat44thisnewteaching is which you are proclaiming?
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"For you are bringingsomestrangethings to our ears; so we want to knowwhatthesethingsmean*."
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(Nowall the Athenians and the strangers45visiting there used to spend their time in nothingotherthantellingorhearingsomethingnew.)
Sermon on Mars Hill
22SoPaulstood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of 46Athens, I observe that you are very47religious in allrespects.
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"For while I was passingthrough and examining the 48objects of your worship, I alsofound an altar with thisinscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWNGOD.' Thereforewhat49you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
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"50The God who made the world and allthings in it, since He is 51Lord of heaven and earth, does not 52dwell in templesmade with hands;
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nor is He served by humanhands, 53as though He neededanything, since He Himselfgives to all people life and breath and allthings;
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and 54He made from one man everynation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having 55determined their appointedtimes and the boundaries of their habitation,
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that they would seekGod, ifperhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, 56though* He is not far from eachone of us;
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for 57in Him we live and move and exist, as evensome of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'
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"Beingthen the children of God, we 58ought not to think that the DivineNature is likegoldorsilverorstone, an imageformed by the art and thought of man.
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"Therefore having 59overlooked60the times of ignorance, God is 61nowdeclaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
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because He has fixed62a day in which63He willjudge64the world in righteousnessthrough a Manwhom He has 65appointed, having furnishedproof to allmen by 66raising Him from the dead."
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Now when they heard of 67the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but otherssaid, "We shall hear you again*concerningthis."