Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

Then Paul stood up in [the] meeting[fn] 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 vvv with this inscription:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore [Him] whom[fn] 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 [the] hands of men,[fn] as if He needed anything, [because] He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything [else]. 26 From one blood[fn] 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 

The Lord [ intended that ] they would seek [Him][fn] vvv [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.’[fn] As some vvv of your [own] poets have said, We are [His] offspring.’[fn] 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, vvv He now commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For He has set a day vvv 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 vvv vvv [the Areopagus]. 34 But some joined him [and] believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others [who were] with them. 18