1
Paul and Silas took the road through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica. There was a synagogue of the Jews there.

2
As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue. For three Sabbath days in a row he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.

3
He explained and showed them that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead, and he said, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Messiah.”

4
Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and also a large number of God-fearing Greeks, and not a few leading women.

5
But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some wicked men from among the idlers in the marketplace, they stirred up a riot and threw the city into turmoil. They rushed to Jason’s house, intending to bring Paul and Silas before the assembly of the people.

6
But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,

7
and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They all act against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8
When the crowd and the city officials heard these things, they were troubled.

9
But after they had received security from Jason and from the other brothers, they let them go.

10
That very night the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the synagogue of the Jews.

11
Now these Jews were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness, and examined the Scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.

12
Many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.

13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God had also been proclaimed by Paul in Berea, they came there too, stirring up and troubling the crowds.

14
Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

15
Those who accompanied Paul brought him as far as Athens, and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible.

16
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply troubled, because he saw that the city was full of idols.

17
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who feared God, and in the marketplace every day with those he met there.

18
And some of the philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics argued with him, and some said, “What would this babbler say?” But others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities.” For he was preaching the gospel of Jesus and of the resurrection.

19
Then they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are speaking?

20
For you are bringing strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.”

21
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time in nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

22
Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very devout toward the gods.

23
For as I was passing through your city and observing the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. What you worship without knowing, this I proclaim to you.

24
The God who made the world and all that is in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands,

25
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

26
From one man he made every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, and he determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwelling,

27
that they should seek him, and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

28
For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your poets have said:

For we also are his offspring.

29
Since then we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and skill of man.

30
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

31
Because he has set a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has appointed, having given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

32
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, and others said, “We will hear you again about this another time.”

33
Then Paul went out from among them.

34
But some men joined themselves to him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus council, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

📖 Acts 17 – The Gospel in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens: Knowing the True God

🧾 Summary of Acts 17

This chapter records Paul’s ministry journey to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. He preached the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles, facing both opposition and acceptance. In Athens, Paul delivered his well-known sermon at the Areopagus, introducing the unknown God to Greek philosophers.

✨ Explanation of the Content

1. Ministry in Thessalonica (verses 1–9)

Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica and, as was their custom, entered the Jewish synagogue for three Sabbaths.
He explained from the Scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer and rise, and declared that Jesus is the Messiah.
Some Jews, many Greeks, and several prominent women became believers.
The jealous Jews stirred up the crowd and caused an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason, who had received Paul and Silas.
Because of this uproar, Paul and Silas fled to Berea.

2. Ministry in Berea (verses 10–15)

In Berea, they also went to the synagogue, but the people there were more open and diligent in examining the Scriptures.
Many people in Berea became believers, including prominent women and Greek men.
Jews from Thessalonica came and stirred up the crowd in Berea as well.
So, Paul was sent to Athens, while Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.

3. Paul’s Sermon in Athens (verses 16–34)

In Athens, Paul saw many idols, and his spirit was deeply stirred.
He spoke in the synagogue and in the marketplace every day.
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers brought him to the Areopagus, a place for open discussion.
There, Paul preached about:
- God the Creator of heaven and earth,
- God does not dwell in temples made by human hands,
- God gives life and breath to all,
- Human beings were created to seek God,
- God is not far from us, for “In Him we live, and move, and have our being,”
- God calls for repentance, because He will judge the world through Jesus, who was raised from the dead.
When they heard about the resurrection, some mocked, some wanted to hear more, and some believed, including Dionysius and Damaris.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 17

The proclamation of the Gospel must be adapted to cultural context, without diminishing the truth.
Comparing teaching with Scripture is a sign of a healthy congregation, like the Berean church.
The truth of the Word still divides responses: accepted or rejected.
God is a Person who can be known, not merely an idea or an image.
The resurrection of Jesus is the heart of the Gospel proclamation and the basis of judgment.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 17

In the midst of a pluralistic society full of idols, Paul still proclaimed the living God.
The believers in Berea became an example of humble seeking after the truth—they did not only believe, but also examined.
At the Areopagus, we learn the importance of speaking to people’s hearts and minds, proclaiming the Gospel with wisdom and love.
God desires that every person know Him, and gives time to repent before the day of judgment comes.