Chapter 17

How in other parts of Macedonia he planted the Church, and namely at Thessalonica, ℣.5 where the obstinate Jews are so malicious, that they pursue him also into Beroea. ℣.14 From whence being conducted into Greece, he preacheth at Athens both to the Jews and Gentiles, disputing with the Philosophers, ℣.19 and in Areopagus, persuading them from their Idols unto one God and JESUS CHRIST raised from the dead.

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   And when they had walked through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Synagogue of the Jews.

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   And Paul according to his custom entered in unto them, & three Sabboths he discoursed to them out of the Scriptures,

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   declaring and insinuating that it behoved Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead: & that this is Jesus Christ, whom I preach to you.

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   And certain of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas, and of the Gentiles that served God a great multitude, and noble women not a few.

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   But the Jews envying, & taking unto them of the rascal sort, certain naughty men, and making a tumult, stirred the city: and besetting Jason's house, sought to bring them forth unto the people.

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   And not finding them, they drew Jason and certain brethren to the princes of the city, crying, That these are they that stir up the world, and are come hither,

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   whom Jason hath received, and all these do against the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another King, Jesus.

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   And they moved the people, and the princes of the city hearing these things.

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   And taking a satisfaction of Jason and of the rest, they dismissed them.

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    But the brethren forthwith by night sent away Paul and Silas unto Beroea. Who when they were come, entered into the Synagogue of the Jews.

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    (And these were more noble than they that are at Thessalonica, who received the word with all greediness, daily searching the scriptures, if these things were so.

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    And many surely of them believed, and of honest women Gentiles, and men not a few.)

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    And when the Jews in Thessalonica understood, that at Beroea also the word of God was preached by Paul, they came thither also, moving and troubling the multitude.

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    And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul, to go unto the sea: but Silas and Timothee remained there.

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    And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens, and receiving commandment of him to Silas and Timothee, that they should come to him very speedily, they departed.

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    And when Paul expected them at Athens, his spirit was incensed within him, seeing the city given to idolatry.

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    He disputed therefore in the Synagogue with the Jews, & them that served God, and in the market-place, every day with them that were there.

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    And certain Philosophers of the Epicures and the Stoics disputed with him, and certain said, what is it that this word- sower would say? But others: He seemeth to be a preacher of new gods: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

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    And apprehending him, they led him to Areopagus, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is that thou speakest of?

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    for thou bringest in certain new things to our ears. We will know therefore what these things may mean.

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    (And all the Athenians, and the strangers sojourning there, employed them selves to nothing else but either to speak, or to hear some news.)

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    But Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus, said: Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive you as it were superstitious.

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    For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also where upon was written: To the unknown God. That therefore which you worship, not knowing it, the same do I preach to you.

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    The God that made the world and all things that are in it, he being Lord of Heaven & earth dwelleth not in temples made with hand,

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    neither is he served with men's hands, needing any thing, whereas himself giveth life unto all, and breathing, and all things:

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    and he made of one, all mankind, to inhabit upon the whole face of the earth, assigning set times, and the limits of their habitation,

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    for to seek God, if happily they may feel or find him; although he be not far from every one of us:

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    For in him we live and move and be, as certain also of your own poets said, For of his kind also we are.

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    Being therefore of God's kind, we may not suppose, the Divinity to be like unto gold or silver, or stone, the graving of art and devise of man.

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    And the times truly of this ignorance whereas God despised, now he denounceth unto men that all every where do penance,

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    for that he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in equity, by a man whom he hath appointed, giving all men faith, raising him up from the dead.

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    And when they had heard the resurrection of the dead, certain indeed mocked, but certain said: We will hear thee again concerning this point.

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    So Paul went forth out of the midst of them.

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    But certain men joining unto him, did believe: among whom was also Dionysius Areopagita, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.