11. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
13. But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
14. Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there.
15. Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.
16. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.
17. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present.
18. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"-because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
19. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?
20. For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean."
21. (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)
22. So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.
23. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
25. nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;