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Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 17

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Acts 17 NWT - New World TranslationActs 17 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 17 of Acts—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ They now journeyed through Am·phipʹo·lis and Ap·ol·loʹni·a and came to Thes·sa·lo·niʹca,1 where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
  2. So according to Paul’s custom2 he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,3
  3. explaining and proving by references that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer4 and to rise from the dead,5 and [saying]: “This is the Christ,6 this Jesus whom I am publishing to YOU.”
  4. As a result some of them became believers7 and associated themselves with Paul and Silas,8 and a great multitude of the Greeks who worshiped [God] and not a few of the principal women did so.
  5. ¶ But the Jews, getting jealous,9 took into their company certain wicked men of the marketplace idlers and formed a mob and proceeded to throw the city into an uproar.10 And they assaulted the house of Jaʹson11 and went seeking to have them brought forth to the rabble.
  6. When they did not find them they dragged Jaʹson and certain brothers to the city rulers,[a] crying out: “These men that have overturned12 the inhabited earth are present here also,
  7. and Jaʹson has received them with hospitality. And all these [men] act in opposition to the decrees13 of Caesar,[b] saying there is another king,14 Jesus.”
  8. They indeed agitated the crowd and the city rulers when they heard these things;
  9. and first after taking sufficient security[c] from Jaʹson and the others they let them go.
  10. ¶ Immediately by night15 the brothers sent both Paul and Silas out to Be·roeʹa, and these, upon arriving, went into the synagogue of the Jews.
  11. Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·niʹca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining16 the Scriptures17 daily as to whether these things were so.18
  12. Therefore many of them became believers, and so did not a few of the reputable19 Greek women and of the men.
  13. But when the Jews from Thes·sa·lo·niʹca learned that the word of God was published also in Be·roeʹa by Paul, they came there also to incite20 and agitate21 the masses.
  14. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off to go as far as the sea;22 but both Silas and Timothy remained behind there.
  15. However, those conducting Paul brought him as far as Athens and, after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy23 to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.
  16. ¶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit within him came to be irritated24 at beholding that the city was full of idols.
  17. Consequently he began to reason in the synagogue with the Jews25 and the other people who worshiped [God] and every day in the marketplace26 with those who happened to be on hand.
  18. But certain ones of both the Ep·i·cu·reʹan and the Stoʹic philosophers27 took to conversing with him controversially, and some would say: “What is it this chatterer[d] would like to tell?”28 Others: “He seems to be a publisher of foreign deities.”[e] This was because he was declaring the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.29
  19. So they laid hold of him and led him to the Ar·e·opʹa·gus,[f] saying: “Can we get to know what this new teaching30 is which is spoken by you?
  20. For you are introducing some things that are strange to our ears. Therefore we desire to get to know what these things purport to be.”31
  21. In fact, all Athenians and the foreigners sojourning there would spend their leisure time at nothing but telling something or listening to something new.
  22. Paul now stood in the midst of the Ar·e·opʹa·gus32 and said:
    ¶ “Men of Athens, I behold that in all things YOU seem to be more given to the fear of the deities[g]33 than others are.
  23. For instance, while passing along and carefully observing YOUR objects of veneration I also found an altar on which had been inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore what YOU are unknowingly giving godly devotion to, this I am publishing to YOU.
  24. The God that made the world and all the things in it, being, as this One is, Lord of heaven and earth,34 does not dwell in handmade temples,[h]35
  25. neither is he attended to by human hands as if he needed anything,36 because he himself gives to all [persons] life37 and breath38 and all things.
  26. And he made out of one [man]39 every nation40 of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth,41 and he decreed the appointed times42 and the set limits of the dwelling of [men],43
  27. for them to seek God,44 if they might grope for him and really find him,45 although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.
  28. For by[i] him we have life and move and exist,46 even as certain ones[j] of the poets47 among YOU have said, ‘For we are also his progeny.’
  29. ¶ “Seeing, therefore, that we are the progeny of God,48 we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being[k]49 is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man.50
  30. True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance,51 yet now he is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent.52
  31. Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge53 the inhabited earth[l] in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee[m] to all men in that he has resurrected54 him from the dead.”
  32. ¶ Well, when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some began to mock,55 while others said: “We will hear you about this even another time.”
  33. Thus Paul went out from their midst,
  34. but some men joined themselves to him and became believers, among whom also were Di·o·nysʹi·us, a judge of the court of the Ar·e·opʹa·gus,[n]56 and a woman named Damʹa·ris, and others besides them.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Lit., “politarchs.” Gr., po·li·tarʹkhas, governors of the citizens.
  2. ^ Or, “of the emperor.” Gr., Kaiʹsa·ros.
  3. ^ Or, “sufficient bail.” Lat., saʹtis, “enough.”
  4. ^ Lit., “seed picker.”
  5. ^ Lit., “demons.” Gr., dai·mo·niʹon.
  6. ^ Or, “Hill of Ares; Mars’ Hill.” Gr., Aʹrei·on Paʹgon; Lat., A·ri·oʹpa·gum.
  7. ^ “More given to the fear of the deities.” Lit., “more demon-dreading.” Gr., dei·si·dai·mo·ne·steʹrous; Lat., su·per·sti·ti·o·si·oʹres. Demons were thought by the Greeks to be deities, good or evil. Compare 25:19 ftn.
  8. ^ Or, “divine habitations (dwellings).” Gr., na·oisʹ; J17,22(Heb.), beheh·kha·lohthʹ, “in palaces (temples).”
  9. ^ Or, “in.”
  10. ^ “Certain ones,” namely, Aratus and Cleanthes. Paul’s quotation is from Phænomena, by Aratus, and from Hymn to Zeus, by Cleanthes.
  11. ^ “Divine Being.” Gr., Theiʹon, related to The·osʹ, “God”; Lat., Di·viʹnum.
  12. ^ “Inhabited earth.” Lit., “inhabited.” Gr., oi·kou·meʹnen, fem. sing., referring to the earth; Lat., orʹbem, “circle,” that is, of the earth. See Isa 13:11 ftn, “Land.”
  13. ^ Or, “faith.”
  14. ^ Or, “Dionysius, an Areopagite.”

REFERENCES

  1. ^ 1Th 2:1
  2. ^ Ac 9:20; 13:14; 14:1; 18:4
  3. ^ Ac 18:19
  4. ^ Ps 22:7, 16; 34:20; 69:21; 118:22; Is 50:6; 53:3, 5
  5. ^ Ps 16:10; Lu 24:46
  6. ^ Ac 18:28; Ga 3:1
  7. ^ Ac 28:24
  8. ^ Ac 15:22, 40
  9. ^ Ac 13:45
  10. ^ Ac 16:20
  11. ^ Ro 16:21
  12. ^ 1Ki 18:17; Ac 16:20
  13. ^ Ezr 4:12
  14. ^ Lu 23:2; Jn 19:12
  15. ^ Ac 9:25
  16. ^ Lu 16:29
  17. ^ Jn 5:39
  18. ^ Pr 14:15
  19. ^ Ac 13:50
  20. ^ Ac 14:19; 1Th 2:15
  21. ^ Ac 14:2
  22. ^ Mt 10:23
  23. ^ Ac 16:1; 1Th 3:2
  24. ^ 2Pe 2:8
  25. ^ Ac 13:5; 18:19
  26. ^ Pr 1:20
  27. ^ 1Co 1:22; Col 2:8
  28. ^ 1Co 4:13
  29. ^ Jn 5:29; 11:25; 1Co 15:12; Re 20:6
  30. ^ Mr 1:27
  31. ^ Ac 2:12
  32. ^ Ac 17:34
  33. ^ Ac 17:16
  34. ^ Ps 146:6; Is 42:5; Ac 4:24; 14:15
  35. ^ 1Ki 8:27; Is 66:1; Ac 7:48
  36. ^ Ps 50:12
  37. ^ Ge 2:7
  38. ^ Is 42:5
  39. ^ Ge 5:2
  40. ^ Ge 1:28
  41. ^ De 32:8
  42. ^ Ps 74:17
  43. ^ De 2:5, 19; 32:8; Is 34:17
  44. ^ De 4:29; Is 55:6
  45. ^ Ps 145:18; Je 23:23; Ro 1:20
  46. ^ Is 42:5
  47. ^ Ti 1:12
  48. ^ Ge 1:27
  49. ^ Jos 22:22; Ps 50:1; Is 46:9
  50. ^ De 5:8; Is 37:19; 40:18; 46:5; Ac 19:26
  51. ^ Ac 14:16; Ro 3:25; 5:13; Eph 4:18
  52. ^ Lu 24:47
  53. ^ Ps 96:13; 98:9; Is 2:4; Jn 5:22; Ac 10:42
  54. ^ Jn 11:25; Ac 2:24; 13:33; Ro 6:5
  55. ^ 1Co 1:23
  56. ^ Ac 17:19

Read Acts Chapter 17 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

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    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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