Acts 17
1
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to g Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
2
And Paul went in, h as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them i from the Scriptures,
3
j explaining and proving that it was necessary for k the Christ to suffer and l to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."
4
And m some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did n a great many of the devout o Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
5
p But the Jews q were jealous, and taking r some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
6
And when they could not find them, s they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
7
and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against t the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is u another king, Jesus."
8
And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
9
And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
10
v The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they w went into the Jewish synagogue.
11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, x examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
12
y Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek z women of high standing as well as men.
13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, a agitating and stirring up the crowds.
14
Then the brothers b immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and c Timothy remained there.
15
d Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as e Athens, and after receiving a command f for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
16
Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was g provoked within him as he saw that the city was h full of idols.
17
So i he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, j "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities" - because k he was preaching l Jesus and the resurrection.
19
And they took him and brought him to m the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this n new teaching is that you are presenting?
20
For you bring some o strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean."
21
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
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,
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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';
as even some of f your own poets have said,
"'For we are indeed his offspring.'
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.
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Cross References
Acts 20:4
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
Philippians 4:16
Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
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Cross References
Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
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Cross References
Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.
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Cross References
Luke 24:26
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?
Luke 24:32
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?
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Cross References
Acts 3:18
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
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Cross References
John 20:9
For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 2
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.
Acts 14:4
But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
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Cross References
Acts 17:12
Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
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Cross References
John 7:35
The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 2:14 - 16
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews.
Acts 13:50
But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
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Cross References
Acts 5:17
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy
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Cross References
Judges 9:4
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.
Judges 11:3
Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him.
2 Chronicles 13:7
And certain worthless scoundrels gathered about him and defied Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.
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Cross References
Acts 16:19 - 21
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
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Cross References
Acts 16:4
As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:1
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
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Cross References
Luke 23:2
And they began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.
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Cross References
Acts 17:14
Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
John 21:23
So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?
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Cross References
Acts 17:2
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures.
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Cross References
Isaiah 34:16
Seek and read from the book of the Lord : Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the Lord has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
John 5:39
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.
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Cross References
Acts 17:4
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
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Cross References
Acts 13:50
But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
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Cross References
Acts 17:8
And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things.
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Cross References
Acts 17:10
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.
Matthew 10:23
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
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Cross References
Acts 16:1
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
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Cross References
Acts 15:3
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
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Cross References
Acts 18:1
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
1 Thessalonians 3:1
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone.
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Cross References
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
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Cross References
2 Peter 2:8
(for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard).
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Cross References
Isaiah 2:8
Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.
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Cross References
Acts 13:5
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
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Cross References
Acts 5:42
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
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Cross References
Acts 17:31 - 32
Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
Acts 4:2
Greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:12
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
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Cross References
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.
Acts 17:34
But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
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Cross References
Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
John 7:16
So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
Hebrews 13:9
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
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Cross References
1 Peter 4:4
With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Hosea 8:12
Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Acts 17:30
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Acts 7:48
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Titus 1:12
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Mark 6:12
So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
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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...
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.