Acts chapter 17 follows Paul and Silas as they continue their missionary journey through Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens, encountering both eager acceptance and fierce opposition to their message about Jesus Christ. In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures in the synagogue, demonstrating that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, leading some Jews and many Greeks to believe. However, jealous opponents incited a mob and caused an uproar, forcing Paul and Silas to flee under the cover of night to the city of Berea, where they found a more receptive audience willing to examine the Scriptures carefully.
Despite this positive reception in Berea, agitators from Thessalonica followed and stirred up trouble once again, prompting Paul to travel alone to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained behind. In Athens, Paul encountered a city deeply immersed in philosophy and idol worship, which led him to engage thoughtfully with the intellectual culture of the city. He was invited to speak before the Areopagus, where he delivered a masterful address, connecting the Athenians’s altar to an unknown god with the one true God who created the world and everything in it.
Paul’s sermon at the Areopagus emphasized that God does not dwell in temples made by human hands and that all people are called to repentance in light of the coming judgment through Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead. While some listeners mocked the idea of resurrection, others expressed interest and desired to hear more, and a few, including Dionysius and a woman named Damaris, believed the message and joined Paul. The chapter illustrates the varied responses to the gospel across different cultural and intellectual contexts, showcasing Paul’s adaptability in communicating the truth of Christ to diverse audiences.
Chapter 17 (BBE)
1 Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as he generally did, went in to them, and on three Sabbath days had discussions with them from the holy Writings,
3 Saying to them clearly and openly that Christ had to be put to death and come back to life again; and that this Jesus, whom, he said, I am preaching to you, is the Christ.
4 And some of them had faith, and were joined to Paul and Silas; and a number of the God-fearing Greeks, and some of the chief women.
5 But the Jews, being moved with envy, took with them certain low persons from among the common people, and getting together a great number of people, made an outcry in the town, attacking the house of Jason with the purpose of taking them out to the people.
6 And when they were not able to get them, they took Jason and some of the brothers by force before the rulers of the town, crying, These men, who have made trouble all over the world have now come here;
7 Whom Jason has taken into his house: and they are acting against the orders of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
8 And hearing these things the people and the rulers of the town were troubled.
9 And having made Jason and the others give an undertaking to keep the peace, they let them go.
10 And the brothers straight away sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea: and they, when they came there, went to the Synagogue of the Jews.
11 Now these were more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica, for they gave serious attention to the word, searching in the holy Writings every day, to see if these things were so.
12 And a number of them had faith, and no small number of the Greek women of high position and of the men.
13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had news that Paul was preaching the word at Beroea, they came there, troubling the people and working them up.
14 So the brothers sent Paul straight away to the sea: but Silas and Timothy kept there still.
15 But those who went with Paul took him as far as Athens, and then went away, with orders from him to Silas and Timothy to come to him quickly.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was troubled, for he saw all the town full of images of the gods.
17 So he had discussions in the Synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and every day in the market-place with those who were there.
18 And some of those who were supporters of the theories of the Epicureans and the Stoics, had a meeting with him. And some said, What is this talker of foolish words saying? And others, He seems to be a preacher of strange gods: because he was preaching of Jesus and his coming back from the dead.
19 And they took him to Mars’ Hill, saying, Will you make clear to us what is this new teaching of yours?
20 For you seem to us to say strange things, and we have a desire to get the sense of them.
21 (Now all the Athenians and the men from other lands who come there were giving all their time to talking or hearing of anything new.)
22 And Paul got to his feet on Mars’ Hill and said, O men of Athens, I see that you are overmuch given to fear of the gods.
23 For when I came by, I was looking at the things to which you give worship, and I saw an altar with this writing on it, TO THE GOD OF WHOM THERE IS NO KNOWLEDGE. Now, what you, without knowledge, give worship to, I make clear to you.
24 The God who made the earth and everything in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, is not housed in buildings made with hands;
25 And he is not dependent on the work of men’s hands, as if he had need of anything, for he himself gives to all life and breath and all things;
26 And he has made of one blood all the nations of men living on all the face of the earth, ordering their times and the limits of their lands,
27 So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we have life and motion and existence; as certain of your verse writers have said, For we are his offspring.
29 If then we are the offspring of God, it is not right for us to have the idea that God is like gold or silver or stone, formed by the art or design of man.
30 Those times when men had no knowledge were overlooked by God; but now he gives orders to all men in every place to undergo a change of heart:
31 Because a day has been fixed in which all the world will be judged in righteousness by the man who has been marked out by him for this work; of which he has given a sign to all men by giving him back from the dead.
32 Now on hearing about the coming back from death, some of them made sport of it, but others said, Let us go more fully into this another time.
34 But some men gave him their support: among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Important Verses
Acts 17:2 and 3 These verses highlight Paul’s method of reasoning from the Scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised Messiah who suffered and rose from the dead.
Acts 17:11 The Berean believers’s eagerness to examine the Scriptures carefully exemplifies the importance of diligent study and discernment in receiving the gospel message.
Acts 17:24 and 25 Paul’s declaration that God does not dwell in temples made by human hands emphasizes the transcendence and sovereignty of God over all creation.
Acts 17:30 and 31 Paul’s call to repentance in light of coming judgment through Jesus Christ underscores the urgency and universality of the gospel message.
Acts 17:32 and 34 The varied responses to Paul’s message, ranging from mockery to genuine belief, illustrate the diverse ways in which people receive the truth of the resurrection.
