Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

As they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and his companions came to Thessalonica. They arrived at the city's Jewish synagogue, where Paul customarily went to reason with them from Scripture.

For three consecutive Sabbath days, he explained that it was essential for the Messiah to suffer and rise again from the dead. He proclaimed, "This Jesus, whom I preach to you, is the Christ." Some of them believed his message, associating themselves with Paul and Silas, along with a large number of devout Greeks and prominent women.

However, the Jews who refused to believe grew jealous and conspired against Paul and his companions. They found some ruffians from the lower class and incited a mob, causing chaos in the city. The crowd assaulted Jason's house, attempting to drag them out into the streets. When they couldn't find Paul and Silas, Jason and other brothers were brought before the city authorities.

The officials learned that these men had turned the world upside down with their message and had come to their city. They accused Jason of receiving them, saying they defied Caesar's decrees by proclaiming another king, Jesus. The people and leaders grew agitated upon hearing this, and the authorities took security from Jason and his companions before releasing them.

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away at night to Berea, where they went into the local synagogue of the Jews. These people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, as they received the message with eagerness and searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul was saying was true. Many believed his words, including some prominent Greek women and influential men.

When the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching God's word in Berea, they came to stir up the crowds. The brothers immediately sent Paul away as far as the sea while Silas and Timothy remained behind.

Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens, receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him with all haste. While waiting in Athens, Paul was deeply disturbed by the city's complete devotion to idolatry.

He began disputing with the Jews and devout men at the synagogue daily, as well as engaging the philosophers and other people he met in the marketplace. Some Epicureans and Stoics ridiculed him, saying he was a mere babbler or proclaiming strange gods because he preached about Jesus and his resurrection.

They took him to the Areopagus, asking him to explain this new teaching he had brought with him. "What's this novel doctrine you're sharing?" they asked. "We'd love to know what these unusual ideas mean." The Athenians were known for spending their time listening to or telling something new.

Paul stood in the middle of Mars' Hill and addressed the men of Athens, saying, "I notice that you are extremely devoted to various forms of worship. As I walked through your city, I came across an altar with this inscription: 'To the unknown God.' What you unknowingly venerate, I am announcing to you.

The God who created the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not dwell within temples made by human hands, for he gives life and breath to all people and everything else. He has ordained that all nations should live on the face of the earth, determining the times and boundaries of their habitation.

He wants them to seek him out, so they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live, move, and have our existence. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

For this reason, since we are God's children, we should not think that the divine nature can be compared to gold or silver or stone carved by human skill. And God, who has overlooked people's ignorance in times past, now commands all humanity everywhere to repent.

Because he has appointed a day when he will judge the world with fairness through the man he has ordained, of whom he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some mocked and others said, "We'll hear you on this topic again." Paul left them behind.

Some faithful individuals remained true to Paul, becoming believers along with Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris. Others joined their ranks as well.