Acts — Chapter 17

📖 Acts — Chapter 17 (KJV)

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Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to ^RThessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, ^Rwent in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Acts 17:3 ^ROpening 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.

Acts 17:4 And ^Rsome 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.

Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, ^Rmoved 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.

Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, ^Rthey drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: ^Rand these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

Acts 17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

Acts 17:9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

Acts 17:10 And ^Rthe brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Acts 17:11 These were ^Rmore 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.

Acts 17:12 Therefore ^Rmany of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

Acts 17:13 But when ^Rthe 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.

Acts 17:14 And ^Rthen immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

Acts 17:15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto ^RAthens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, ^Rhis spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Acts 17:17 Therefore ^Rdisputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Acts 17:18 Then certain ^Rphilosophers 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.

Acts 17:19 And they took him, and brought him unto ^RAreopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

Acts 17:20 For thou bringest certain ^Rstrange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there ^Rspent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, ^RI perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your ^Rdevotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Acts 17:24 God ^Rthat made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, ^Rseeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Acts 17:26 And ^Rhath 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;

Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though ^Rhe be not far from every one of us:

Acts 17:28 For ^Rin him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, ^Rwe ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Acts 17:30 And ^Rthe times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Acts 17:31 Because ^Rhe 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.

Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, ^Rsome mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

Acts 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.

Acts 17:34 Howbeit ^Rcertain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 17:1–15 — Scripture witness meets differing responses in Thessalonica and Berea

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Paul reasons from Scripture concerning the Christ’s suffering and resurrection. Opposition troubles Thessalonica; at Berea people search the Scriptures daily, but imported hostility leads the brethren to send Paul onward.

Key Truth: Examine teaching through Scripture rather than rumor or hostility.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 17:16–21 — Athens’s idols prompt witness and conversation

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Paul is stirred by the city’s idolatry and reasons in synagogue and marketplace. Philosophers bring him to the Areopagus, curious about his proclamation of Jesus and resurrection.

Key Truth: Meet curiosity with clear witness rather than contempt.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Acts 17:22–34 — The Creator and coming judgment are proclaimed

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Paul connects an altar inscription with the Creator who gives life and calls all people to repent. He announces judgment through the risen appointed man, producing mockery, further interest, and belief among some hearers.

Key Truth: Respond to the Creator’s call with repentance rather than detached curiosity.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Isaiah 42:5 — The Creator who gives breath and spirit connects with Paul’s proclamation.

Isaiah 42:5 (KJV) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

How can you examine a message carefully and answer honest curiosity with truth?

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