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Two days after this there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and Jesusâ mother was there. Jesus himself, too, with his disciples, was invited to the wedding. And, when the wine ran short, his mother said to him, âThey have no wine left.â
âWhat do you want with me?â answered Jesus. âMy time has not come yet.â His mother said to the servants, âDo whatever he tells you.â There were standing there six stone water-jars, in accordance with the Jewish rule of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, âFill the water-jars with water.â And, when they had filled them to the brim, he added, âNow take some out, and carry it to the Master of the feast.â The servants did so. And, when the Master of the feast had tasted the water which had now become wine, not knowing where it had come from â although the servants who had taken out the water knew â He called the groom and said to him, âEveryone puts good wine on the table first, and inferior wine afterward, when his guests have drunk freely; but you have kept back the good wine till now!â This, the first sign of his mission, Jesus gave at Cana in Galilee, and by it revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum â he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; but they stayed there only a few days.
Then, as the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple Courts he found people who were selling bullocks, sheep, and pigeons, and the money changers at their counters. So he made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the Temple Courts, and the sheep and bullocks as well; he scattered the money of the money changers, and overturned their tables, and said to the pigeon-dealers, âTake these things away. Do not turn my Fatherâs house into a market house.â His disciples remembered that scripture said â âPassion for your house will consume me.â
Then some of the religious authorities asked Jesus, âWhat sign are you going to show us, since you act in this way?â
âDestroy this temple,â was his answer, âand I will raise it in three days.â
âThis Temple,â the authorities replied, âhas been forty-six years in building, and are you going to âraise it in three daysâ?â But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple. Afterward, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the passage of scripture, and the words which Jesus had spoken.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem, during the Passover Festival, many came to trust in him, when they saw the signs of his mission that he was giving. But Jesus did not put himself in their power because he knew what was in their hearts. He did not need anyone to tell him about people because he could read what was in them. (OEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, âSpeak to the children of Israel, and tell them, âThe set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.
ââ Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.
ââ These are the set feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Yahwehâs Passover. On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to Yahweh. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.ââ
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, âSpeak to the children of Israel, and tell them, âWhen you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without defect a year old for a burnt offering to Yahweh. The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah [1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel ]of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. [A hin is about 6.5 liters or 1.7 gallons. ] You must not eat bread, or roasted grain, or fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
ââ You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. The next day after the seventh Sabbath you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to Yahweh. You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenths of an ephah [1 ephah is about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel ]of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for first fruits to Yahweh. You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their meal offering and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to Yahweh. You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest. You shall make proclamation on the same day that there shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no regular work. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
ââ When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field. You must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.ââ
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, âSpeak to the children of Israel, saying, âIn the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a solemn rest for you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.ââ
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, âHowever on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall afflict yourselves and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. You shall do no kind of work in that same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day shall be cut off from his people. Whoever does any kind of work in that same day, I will destroy that person from among his people. You shall do no kind of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.â
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, âSpeak to the children of Israel, and say, âOn the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of booths [or, feast of tents, or Succoth ]for seven days to Yahweh. On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. It is a solemn assembly; you shall do no regular work.
ââ These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, a meal offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day â in addition to the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and in addition to your gifts, and in addition to all your vows, and in addition to all your free will offerings, which you give to Yahweh.
ââ So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. You shall take on the first day the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in temporary shelters [or, booths ]for seven days. All who are native-born in Israel shall dwell in temporary shelters, [or, booths ] that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in temporary shelters [or, booths ]when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.ââ
So Moses declared to the children of Israel the appointed feasts of Yahweh. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, âRejoice!â Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Do the things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. However you did well that you shared in my affliction. You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need. Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account. But I have all things and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesarâs household.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (WEB)
Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord Always
Genesis 22:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:19; Psalm 91:11: Jehovah Jireh
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, âFallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.â
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, âCome out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you donât receive of her plagues, for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities. Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double. However much she glorified herself and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, âI sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.â Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire, for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.
The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, âWoe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.â The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and peopleâs bodies and souls. The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you. All things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying, âWoe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.â Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, âWhat is like the great city?â They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, âWoe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth !â For she is made desolate in one hour.
âRejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.â
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, âThus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you. The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.â (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
âI made a covenant with my eyes;
how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
For what is the portion from God above,
and the heritage from the Almighty on high?
Is it not calamity to the unrighteous,
and disaster to the workers of iniquity?
Doesnât he see my ways,
and count all my steps?
âIf I have walked with falsehood,
and my foot has hurried to deceit
(let me be weighed in an even balance,
that God may know my integrity);
if my step has turned out of the way,
if my heart walked after my eyes,
if any defilement has stuck to my hands,
then let me sow, and let another eat.
Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
âIf my heart has been enticed to a woman,
and I have laid wait at my neighborâs door,
then let my wife grind for another,
and let others sleep with her.
For that would be a heinous crime.
Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for it is a fire that consumes to destruction,
and would root out all my increase.
âIf I have despised the cause of my male servant
or of my female servant,
when they contended with me,
what then will I do when God rises up?
When he visits, what will I answer him?
Didnât he who made me in the womb make him?
Didnât one fashion us in the womb?
âIf I have withheld the poor from their desire,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it
(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
I have guided her from my motherâs womb);
if I have seen any perish for want of clothing,
or that the needy had no covering;
if his heart hasnât blessed me,
if he hasnât been warmed with my sheepâs fleece;
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate;
then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade,
and my arm be broken from the bone.
For calamity from God is a terror to me.
Because of his majesty, I can do nothing.
âIf I have made gold my hope,
and have said to the fine gold, âYou are my confidence ;â
If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
and because my hand had gotten much;
if I have seen the sun when it shined,
or the moon moving in splendor,
and my heart has been secretly enticed,
and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth;
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have denied the God who is above.
âIf I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
or lifted up myself when evil found him
(I have certainly not allowed my mouth to sin
by asking his life with a curse);
if the men of my tent have not said,
âWho can find one who has not been filled with his meat?â
(the foreigner has not camped in the street,
but I have opened my doors to the traveler);
if like Adam I have covered my transgressions,
by hiding my iniquity in my heart,
because I feared the great multitude,
and the contempt of families terrified me,
so that I kept silence, and didnât go out of the door â
oh that I had one to hear me!
Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!
Let the accuser write my indictment!
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
and I would bind it to me as a crown.
I would declare to him the number of my steps.
I would go near to him like a prince.
If my land cries out against me,
and its furrows weep together;
if I have eaten its fruits without money,
or have caused its owners to lose their life,
let briers grow instead of wheat,
and stinkweed instead of barley.â
The words of Job are ended. (WEB)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
Hear my cry, O God,
be attentive to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call
unto you, when my heart is faint:
lead me to the rock
that is high above me.
For you are a refuge to me,
a strong tower in face of the foe.
O to be guest in your tent forever,
hiding beneath your sheltering wings! Selah
For you, O God, do hear my vows,
and grant the desires of those who fear you.
Add many days to the life of the king;
may his years endure throughout all generations.
In the presence of God be he throned forever;
may kindness and faithfulness watch over him.
And I will sing praise to your name forever,
paying my vows day after day.
(OEB)
This content pulled from bible.org.
The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: O my son, O son of my womb,O son of my vows, do not give your strength to women,nor your ways to that which ruins kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel,it is not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to crave strong drink, lest they drink and forget what is decreedand remove from all the poor their legal rights. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing and wine to those who are bitterly distressed; let them drink and forget their poverty,and remember their misery no more. Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. Her husbandâs heart has trusted her,and he does not lack the dividends. She has rewarded him with good and not harm all the days of her life. She sought out wool and flax,then worked happily with her hands. She was like the merchant ships; she would bring in her food from afar. Then she rose while it was still night,and provided food for her household and a portion to her female servants. She considered a field and bought it;from her own income she planted a vineyard. She clothed herself in might,and she strengthened her arms. She perceived that her merchandise was good.Her lamp would not go out in the night. She extended her hands to the spool,and her hands grasped the spindle. She opened her hand to the poor,and extended her hands to the needy. She would not fear for her household in winter, because all her household were clothed with scarlet, because she had made coverings for herself; and because her clothing was fine linen and purple. Her husband is well known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land. She made linen garments then sold themand traded belts to the merchants; her clothing was strong and splendid;and she laughed at the time to come. She has opened her mouth with wisdom,with loving instruction on her tongue. Watching over the ways of her household,she would not eat the bread of idleness. Her children have risen and called her blessed;her husband also has praised her: âMany daughters have done valiantly, but you have surpassed them all!â Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting. A woman who fears the Lordâshe makes herself praiseworthy. Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
(NET)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years. He did that which was evil in Yahwehâs sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didnât depart from it. Yahwehâs anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually. Jehoahaz begged Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. (Yahweh gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before. Nevertheless they didnât depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria .) For he didnât leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them and made them like the dust in threshing. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, arenât they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.
In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years. He did that which was evil in Yahwehâs sight. He didnât depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin; but he walked in them. Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, arenât they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Now Elisha became sick with the illness of which he died; and Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over him, and said, âMy father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!â
Elisha said to him, âTake bow and arrows;â and he took bow and arrows for himself. He said to the king of Israel, âPut your hand on the bow;â and he put his hand on it. Elisha laid his hands on the kingâs hands. He said, âOpen the window eastward;â and he opened it. Then Elisha said, âShoot!â and he shot. He said, âYahwehâs arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for you will strike the Syrians in Aphek until you have consumed them.â
He said, âTake the arrows;â and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, âStrike the ground;â and he struck three times, and stopped. The man of God was angry with him, and said, âYou should have struck five or six times. Then you would have struck Syria until you had consumed it, but now you will strike Syria just three times.â
Elisha died, and they buried him.
Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elishaâs tomb. As soon as the man touched Elishaâs bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them and he didnât cast them from his presence as yet.
Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place. Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel. (WEB)
This content from World English Bible (public domain)
The Lord Yahwehâs Spirit is on me,
because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble.
He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to those who are bound, [LXX and DSS add: recovery of sight to the blind ]
to proclaim the year of Yahwehâs favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
to provide for those who mourn in Zion,
to give to them a garland for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness,
that they may be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of Yahweh,
that he may be glorified.
They will rebuild the old ruins.
They will raise up the former devastated places.
They will repair the ruined cities
that have been devastated for many generations.
Strangers will stand and feed your flocks.
Foreigners will work your fields and your vineyards.
But you will be called Yahwehâs priests.
Men will call you the servants of our God.
You will eat the wealth of the nations.
You will boast in their glory.
Instead of your shame you will have double.
Instead of dishonor, they will rejoice in their portion.
Therefore in their land they will possess double.
Everlasting joy will be to them.
âFor I, Yahweh, love justice.
I hate robbery and iniquity.
I will give them their reward in truth
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring will be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge them,
that they are the offspring which Yahweh has blessed.â
I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh!
My soul will be joyful in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth produces its bud,
and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. (WEB)
Isaiah 61:3: B83. Beauty For Ashes
Isaiah 61:10: Isaiah 61:10 (For He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation)
This content from OpenEnglishBible (public domain)
After passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica. Here the Jews had a synagogue; and, following his usual custom, Paul joined them, and for three Sabbaths addressed them, drawing his arguments from the scriptures. He laid before them and explained that the Christ must undergo suffering and rise from the dead; and âIt is this man,â he declared, âwho is the Christ â this Jesus about whom I am telling you.â
Some of the people were convinced, and threw in their lot with Paul and Silas, as did also a large body of Greeks who were accustomed to join in the Jewish services, and a great number of leading women. But the Jewish leaders, becoming jealous, engaged some worthless fellows from the streets, and, getting a mob together, kept the city in an uproar. They attacked Jasonâs house, with the intention of bringing Paul and Silas before the Popular Assembly; and, not finding them there, they proceeded to drag Jason and some of the Lordâs followers before the city magistrates, shouting out,
âThese men, who have turned the world upside down, have now come here, and have been harbored by Jason! They are all defying the decrees of the Emperor. They say that someone else is king â a man called Jesus!â
On hearing this, the people and the city magistrates were much concerned; and, before letting them go, they took bail from Jason and the others. That very night the followers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and on reaching that place, they went to the Jewish synagogue. These Jews of Beroea were better disposed than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message with great readiness, and daily examined the scriptures to see if what was said was true. As a consequence, many of them became believers in Christ, besides a considerable number of Greek women of position, and of men also. But, when the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica found out that Godâs message had been delivered by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, exciting and disturbing the minds of the people. The followers immediately arranged for Paul to go away to the coast, but both Silas and Timothy stayed behind in Beroea. The friends who escorted Paul took him as far as Athens, and, after receiving a message for Silas and Timothy to join him as quickly as possible, they started on their return.
While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his heart was stirred at seeing the whole city full of idols. So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who joined in their worship, as well as daily in the public Square with those who happened to be there. Among others, some Epicurean and Stoic Philosophers joined issue with him. Some asked âWhat is this prater wanting to make out?â, while others said âHe seems to be a preacher of foreign Deities.â (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection). So they laid hold of him and took him to the Court of Areopagus.
âMay we hear,â they asked, âwhat new teaching this is which you are giving? For you are bringing some strange things to our notice, and we should like to know what they mean.â (All Athenians and the foreigners staying in the city found no time for anything else but telling, or listening to, the last new thing.)
So Paul took his stand in the middle of the Court, and said â âPeople of Athens, on every hand I see signs of your being very devout. For as I was going about, looking at your sacred shrines, I came upon an altar with this inscription â âTo an Unknown God.â What, therefore, you worship in ignorance, that I am now proclaiming to you. The God who made the world and all things that are in it â he, Lord as he is of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hands, neither do human hands minister to his wants, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives, to all, life, and breath, and all things. He made all races of the earthâs surface â fixing a time for their rise and fall, and the limits of their settlements â That they might search for God, if by any means they might feel their way to him and find him. And yet he is not really far from any one of us; for in him we live and move and are. To use the words of some of your own poets â
âHis offspring, too, are we.â
Therefore, as the offspring of God, we must not think that the Deity has any resemblance to anything made of gold, or silver, or stone â a work of human art and imagination. True, God looked with indulgence on the days of peopleâs ignorance, but now he is announcing to everyone everywhere the need for repentance, because he has fixed a day on which he intends to judge the world with justice, by a man whom he has appointed â and of this he has given all people a pledge by raising this man from the dead.â
On hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some began jeering, but others said that they wanted to hear what he had to say about that another time. And so Paul left the Court. There were, however, some people who joined him, and became believers in Christ. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and several others. (OEB)