Acts 15

1. Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2. And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3. Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
4. On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
5. But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
6. So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
7. After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8. And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
10. Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11. On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12. The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13. When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
14. Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
15. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16. ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17. so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things
18. that have been known for ages.’
19. It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
21. For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
22. Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
23. and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24. It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25. So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26. men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
29. You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
30. So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
31. When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
32. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
33. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
34. But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
35. Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
36. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
37. But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
38. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
39. but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
40. And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 16

1. Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where he found a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman and a Greek father.
2. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4. As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
6. After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
7. And when they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit them.
8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
9. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10. As soon as Paul had seen the vision, we got ready to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11. We sailed from Troas straight to Samothrace, and the following day on to Neapolis.
12. From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river, where it was customary to find a place of prayer. After sitting down, we spoke to the women who had gathered there.
14. Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
15. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16. One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
17. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
18. She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.
19. When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
20. They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
21. by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
22. The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods.
23. And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely.
24. On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26. Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
27. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, presuming that the prisoners had escaped.
28. But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!”
29. Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
30. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31. They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32. Then Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.
33. At that hour of the night, the jailer took them and washed their wounds. And without delay, he and all his household were baptized.
34. Then he brought them into his home and set a meal before them. So he and all his household rejoiced that they had come to believe in God.
35. When daylight came, the magistrates sent their officers with the order: “Release those men.”
36. The jailer informed Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders to release you. Now you may go on your way in peace.”
37. But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”
38. So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.
39. They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.
40. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house to see the brothers and encourage them. Then they left the city.

Galatians 1

1. Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead—
2. and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4. who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5. to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
6. I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7. which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
8. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
9. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
10. Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11. For I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.
12. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
13. For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
14. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
16. to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,
17. nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
18. Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
19. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
20. I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.
21. Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22. I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
23. They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
24. And they glorified God because of me.

Galatians 2

1. Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
2. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
3. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
4. This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
5. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
6. But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism —those leaders added nothing to me.
7. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
8. For the One who was at work in Peter’s apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in my apostleship to the Gentiles.
9. And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
10. They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
11. When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
13. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14. When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15. We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners”
16. know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17. But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18. If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker.
19. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.
20. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
21. I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Galatians 3

1. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
2. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
3. Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
4. Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing?
5. Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
6. So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7. Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.
8. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10. All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
12. The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
14. He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
15. Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.
16. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
17. What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
19. Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator.
20. A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one.
21. Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.
22. But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.
23. Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
24. So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 4

1. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
2. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
3. So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
4. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5. to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
6. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7. So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
8. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9. But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10. You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11. I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
12. I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
13. You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
14. And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
15. What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17. Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
18. Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
19. My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
20. how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
21. Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
23. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
24. These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
25. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
27. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
28. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29. At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
30. But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
31. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

1. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.
2. Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
3. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
4. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.
6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. What matters is faith expressing itself through love.
7. You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?
8. Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you.
9. A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.
10. I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
11. Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
12. As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
13. For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
14. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15. But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
16. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
20. idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
26. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Galatians 6

1. Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4. Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
5. For each one should carry his own load.
6. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
7. Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
8. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9. Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
11. See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!
12. Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
13. For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
14. But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.
16. Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Acts 17

1. When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
3. explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.
4. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women.
5. The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
6. But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here,
7. and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!”
8. On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
9. And they collected bond from Jason and the others and then released them.
10. As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue.
11. Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
12. As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.
13. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
14. The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.
15. Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
16. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.
17. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace with those he met each day.
18. Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
19. So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, where they asked him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
20. For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
21. Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.
22. Then Paul stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.
23. For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
24. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands.
25. Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
26. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.
27. God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for 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 some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
29. Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
30. Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
31. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock him, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this topic.”
33. At that, Paul left the Areopagus.
34. But some joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others who were with them.

Acts 18:1-17

1. After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them,
3. and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
4. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
5. And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
6. But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7. So Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a worshiper of God.
8. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
9. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
10. For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city.”
11. So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching the word of God among the Corinthians.
12. While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
13. “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.
14. But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
15. But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”
16. And he drove them away from the judgment seat.
17. At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.

1 Thessalonians 1

1. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
2. We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
3. and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
5. because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
6. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
7. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8. For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
9. For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
10. and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

1 Thessalonians 2

1. You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
2. As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
3. For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
4. Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
5. As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
6. Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
7. On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
8. We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
9. Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
11. For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
12. encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13. And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
14. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
15. who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
16. hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
17. Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
18. For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
19. After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
20. You are indeed our glory and our joy.