Paul Addresses the Areopagus

Acts 17

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, {Mars’ Hill}, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by and beheld your sanctuaries, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you. 24 The God that made the world and all the things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life and breath and all things 26 and has made of one blood all the lineage of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and has determined the seasons (which he has limited) and the bounds of their habitation; 27 that they should seek the Lord, if in any manner they might reach out to touch 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 certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also of his lineage.

29 Being therefore of the lineage of God, we ought not to think that which is Divine is like unto gold or silver or stone, bearing the mark of art and man’s imagination. 30 For the times of this ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men everywhere to repent 31 because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; of whom he has given assurance unto all men in that he has raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 But certain men believed and joined themselves with him, among whom was Dionysius of the Areopagus and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

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