Paul Addresses the Areopagus

Acts 17

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, p 'To the unknown god.' p What therefore you worship q as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 r The God who made the world and everything in it, being s Lord of heaven and earth, t does not live in temples made by man, 1 25 nor is he served by human hands, u as though he needed anything, since he himself v gives to all mankind w life and breath and everything. 26 And x he made from one man every nation of mankind to live y on all the face of the earth, z having determined allotted periods and a the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 b that they should seek God, in the hope that c they might feel their way toward him and find him. d Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

28 for
e "'In him we live and move and have our being'; 2
as even some of f your own poets have said,
"'For we are indeed his offspring.' 3

29 g Being then God's offspring, h we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 i The times of ignorance j God overlooked, but k now he l commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed m a day on which n he will judge the world o in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and p of this he has given assurance to all q by raising him from the dead."

32 Now when they heard of r the resurrection of the dead, s some mocked. But others said, t "We will hear you again about this." 33 So Paul went out from their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius u the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

  1. Cross References
    John 4:22
    You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
    1 Corinthians 15:34
    Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
  2. Cross References
    John 4:22
    You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
    1 Corinthians 15:34
    Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 17:30
    The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 42:5
    Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
    Acts 14:15
    Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
  5. Cross References
    Matthew 11:25
    At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.
    Deuteronomy 10:14
    Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
    Psalms 115:16
    The heavens are the Lord 's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
  6. Cross References
    Acts 7:48
    Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 50:8 - 12
    Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
    1 Chronicles 29:14
    But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
    1 Chronicles 29:16
    O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.
    Job 22:2
    Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
  8. Cross References
    1 Timothy 6:17
    As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
    James 1:5
    If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
    James 1:17
    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 2:7
    Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from t...
    Genesis 7:22
    Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils wa...
    Job 33:4
    The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath o...
    Job 27:3
    As long as my breath is in me, and the spirit o...
    Ecclesiastes 12:7
    And the dust returns to the earth as it was, an...
    Zechariah 12:1
    The burden of the word of the Lord concerning I...
    Acts 17:28
    For "'In him we live and move and have our bein...
  10. Cross References
    Genesis 3:20
    The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
    Malachi 2:10
    Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 11:8
    So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
    Luke 21:35
    For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
  12. Cross References
    Job 12:23
    He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
    Job 14:5
    Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:8
    When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
    Psalms 74:17
    You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 15:17
    That the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
  15. Cross References
    Job 23:3
    Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
    Job 23:8 - 9
    Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him.
  16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:7
    For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?
    Psalms 145:18
    The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
    Jeremiah 23:23 - 24
    Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?
    Acts 14:17
    Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.
  17. Cross References
    Job 12:10
    In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
    Daniel 5:23
    But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.
    Hebrews 2:11
    For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.
  18. Cross References
    Titus 1:12
    One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
  19. Cross References
    Luke 3:38
    The son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
    Hebrews 12:9
    Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 40:18 - 19
    To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
    Isaiah 40:25
    To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
    Isaiah 46:5
    To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
    Romans 1:23
    And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
  21. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:18
    They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
    1 Peter 1:14
    As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.
    Acts 17:23
    For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
  22. Cross References
    Romans 3:25
    Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
    Acts 14:16
    In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
  23. Cross References
    Mark 1:15
    And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
    Titus 2:11 - 12
    For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.
    1 Peter 4:3
    For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
  24. Cross References
    Mark 6:12
    So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
  25. Cross References
    Matthew 12:36
    I tell you, on the day of judgment people will ...
    Romans 2:16
    On that day when, according to my gospel, God j...
    1 Corinthians 3:13
    Each one's work will become manifest, for the D...
    2 Peter 2:9
    Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly fro...
    1 John 4:17
    By this is love perfected with us, so that we m...
    Isaiah 2:12
    For the Lord of hosts has a day against all tha...
  26. Cross References
    2 Timothy 4:8
    Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
    Acts 10:42
    And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
  27. Cross References
    Psalms 9:8
    And he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.
    Psalms 96:13
    Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
    Psalms 98:9
    Before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
    1 Peter 2:23
    When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
    Romans 3:6
    By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
  28. Cross References
    John 16:10 - 11
    Concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer.
    Romans 1:4
    And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
  29. Cross References
    Acts 2:24
    God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
  30. Cross References
    Hebrews 6:2
    And of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
    Acts 17:18
    Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
  31. Cross References
    Acts 2:13
    But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine.
    Acts 26:8
    Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
  32. Cross References
    Acts 24:25
    And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, "Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.
  33. Cross References
    Acts 17:19
    And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
    Acts 17:22
    So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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