Acts 17:22-23
English Standard Version
Paul Addresses the Areopagus
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: (A)‘To the unknown god.’ (B)What therefore you worship (C)as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
Read full chapter
Acts 17:18-34
English Standard Version
18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, (A)“What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because (B)he was preaching (C)Jesus and the resurrection. 19 And they took him and brought him to (D)the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this (E)new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 For you bring some (F)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.
Paul Addresses the Areopagus
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: (G)‘To the unknown god.’ (H)What therefore you worship (I)as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 (J)The God who made the world and everything in it, being (K)Lord of heaven and earth, (L)does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, (M)as though he needed anything, since he himself (N)gives to all mankind (O)life and breath and everything. 26 And (P)he made from one man every nation of mankind to live (Q)on all the face of the earth, (R)having determined allotted periods and (S)the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 (T)that they should seek God, (U)and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. (V)Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
as even some of (X)your own poets have said,
“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’[c]
29 (Y)Being then God's offspring, (Z)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 (AA)The times of ignorance (AB)God overlooked, but (AC)now he (AD)commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed (AE)a day on which (AF)he will judge the world (AG)in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and (AH)of this he has given assurance to all (AI)by raising him from the dead.”
32 Now when they heard of (AJ)the resurrection of the dead, (AK)some mocked. But others said, (AL)“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 (AM)the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 17:24 Greek made by hands
- Acts 17:28 Probably from Epimenides of Crete
- Acts 17:28 From Aratus's poem “Phainomena”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Bible Gateway Recommends
![ESV Scripture Journal: New Testament Set (Artwork by Ruth Chou Simons)](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/581650.jpg)
![4.0 of 5.0 stars](/assets/images/merch/stars40.png?ff24e694)
![ESV Scripture Journal, Spiral-Bound Edition: Revelation](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/597482.jpg)
![ESV Journaling Study Bible (TruTone Imitation Leather, Brown/Chestnut, Timeless Design)](https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f108/590451.jpg)