5But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.17:5 Or the city council.

6Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers17:6 Greek brothers; also in 17:10, 14. instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too.

7And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”

8The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.

9So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.

13But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble.

14The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.

15Those escorting Paul went with him all the way to Athens; then they returned to Berea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to hurry and join him.

18He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

19Then they took him to the high council of the city.17:19 Or the most learned society of philosophers in the city. Greek reads the Areopagus. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said.

20“You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.”

21(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

22So Paul, standing before the council,17:22 Traditionally rendered standing in the middle of Mars Hill; Greek reads standing in the middle of the Areopagus. addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way,

23for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

24“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples,

25and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

26From one man17:26 Greek From one; other manuscripts read From one blood. he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

28For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your17:28 Some manuscripts read our. own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.

30“God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.

31For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

32When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”

33That ended Paul’s discussion with them,

34but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council,17:34 Greek an Areopagite. a woman named Damaris, and others with them.