Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



and whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; but whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.



Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold there was a certain disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father. Who was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium: wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. read more.
And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.


and whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; but whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.



And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel.


And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel.


And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. Which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved. A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question. They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them. But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they. And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me. ---Simeon hath related, how God at first condescended to take out of the Gentiles a people to his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again. That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things." Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren: and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission; it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul, who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel. Being thus dispatched they came to Antioch, and when they had assembled the brethren, they delivered the epistle. And when they had read it, they rejoiced at the consolation it brought. And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted and established: the brethren by many discourses. And after some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles. But it seemed good to Silas to continue there: Paul also and Barnabas stayed at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others likewise, the word of the Lord.



And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

But he sent from Miletus to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the holy Spirit hath appointed you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among yourselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. read more.
Watch therefore, remembering that for the space of three years I ceased not by night and by day to warn every one with tears. And now, my brethren, I recommend you to God, and to the word of his grace: who is able to edify you, and to give you an inheritance among all that are sanctified.

And the next day Paul went in with us to James: and all the elders were present.

Let the elders, who preside well, be counted worthy of double honor, especially those that labour in preaching and teaching. For the scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn:" and, "The workman is worthy of his hire." Receive not an accusation against an elder, unless from two or three witnesses.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou mightest set in order what remained, and ordain elders in every city as I directed thee: to wit, if any one be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of debauchery, or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not passionate, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of sordid gain: read more.
but hospitable, benevolent, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word, according as he hath been taught, that he may be able both to instruct in sound doctrine, and to convince gainsayers.

for by it the ancients obtained an honorable testimony.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The elders that are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory which shall be revealed; feed the flock of God that is among you, taking the episcopal charge of it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for shameful lucre, but with a ready mind: nor as lording it over the people, but being examples to the flock. read more.
And when the sovereign Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an unfading crown of glory. Likewise ye younger, be subject to the elder; and all of you behaving with due submission one to another, be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, but sheweth favor to the humble.

The elder unto the excellent Lady, and her children, whom I love in truth: and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.


and whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; but whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.



Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold there was a certain disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father. Who was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium: wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. read more.
And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.


And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are. And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark. But Paul did not think proper to take him with them, who left them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. read more.
And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold there was a certain disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father. Who was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium: wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily. And when they had passed through Phrygia and Galatia, being forbidden by the holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, they came to Mysia, and endeavoured to go to Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. So they passed by Mysia, and came down to Troas. And Paul saw a vision in the night, There stood a certain man of Macedonia, intreating him and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And as soon as he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to depart into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore we set sail from Troas, and came in a direct course to Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. And we staid some time in this city. And on the sabbath-day we went out of the city to a river-side, where there used to be prayer: and we sat down and preached to the women that resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a purple-seller of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things that were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized and her family, she requested us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and lodge there. And she constrained us. Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. She following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who shew us the way of salvation. And this she did for many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that instant. And when her masters saw, that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the court to the magistrates. And when they brought them to the governors, they said, These men cause great disturbance in our city, for they are Jews, and teach customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive, nor practise, who are Romans. And the populace rose up together against them: and the officers stripped off their clothes, and ordered them to be scourged. And when they had given them many stripes, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now in the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. And on a sudden there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. The jailor waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword and was going to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners were fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for lights, and sprang in, and being in a tremor fell down before Paul and Silas: and bringing them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all in his family. And he took them at that very time of the night, and bathed their stripes: and was baptized, he and all his immediately after. And he brought them into his house, and spread a table for them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his household. And when it was the day the governors sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the jailor told these words to Paul, saying, the governors have sent orders, that you should be discharged; now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants reported these words to the governors: and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and intreated them, and when they had brought them out, they desired them to leave the city. And when they were come out of the prison, they went into the house of Lydia: and seeing the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to his custom Paul went in among them, and for three sabbath-days discoursed to them from the scriptures; opening them and shewing, that the Messiah was to suffer and rise again from the dead: and that this is the Christ even, Jesus, whom, said he, I preach unto you. And some of them believed and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the devout Greeks, and of the women of distinction not a few. But the unbelieving Jews being filled with envy, collected some loose profligate fellows, and making a tumult set all the city in an uproar: and assaulting Jason's house, they sought for them in order to bring them out to the populace. But not finding them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, these men that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also, and Jason has privately received them. And they all act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying, there is another king, one Jesus. And they alarmed the people, and the rulers of the city upon hearing these things: but they taking security of Jason and the rest, let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more ingenuous than those at Thessalonica; for they received the word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. And therefore many of them believed: and of the Grecian women of quality, and of men likewise not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, to stir up the people. Then the brethren immediately sent away Paul towards the sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there. And they that conducted Paul attended him to Athens: and receiving an order to Silas and Timothy, to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his Spirit was greatly moved, when he saw the city wholly given up to idolatry. He therefore disputed in the synagogue with the Jews and other devout persons on the sabbath-day, and with whomsoever he met in public every day. But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him; and some said, What would this babler say? and others, He seemeth to be a proclaimer of foreign deities: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest? For thou bringest strange things to our ears; we would therefore know what these things mean. (Now all the Athenians, and strangers sojourning among them, spent their time in nothing else, but to tell or to hear something new.) Then Paul stood up in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that you are indeed over-much religious: for as I was passing along, and looking at what ye worshipped, I found an altar on which there was inscribed, "To the unknown God." Whom therefore ye worship unknown, Him do I declare unto you. The God that made the world and all things therein, being lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands: nor is He served by the hands of men, as needing any thing: for He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the seasons before-appointed them, and the bounds of their habitation; that they might seek the Lord, if possibly they might trace Him, and find Him: though indeed He is not far from every one of us. For in Him we live and move, and exist; as some also of your own poets have said, "For we his offspring are." Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to imagine that the Deity is like to gold, or silver, or stone, carved by the art and device of man. Wherefore though God overlooked the times of this ignorance, He now requireth all men every where to repent. Because He hath fixed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath appointed thereto; having given assurance of it to all men, by raising Him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some laughed at it: and others said, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. So Paul went out of the assembly. Some however adhered to him, and believed: among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And finding there a certain Jew, named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who was lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, (because Claudius Cesar had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome,) he went to them; and as he was of the same trade, he staid and worked with them: for they were tent-makers. And he discoursed in the synagogue every sabbath-day, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was very urgent in spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But as they opposed and blasphemed, he shook his garment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clear of it: from henceforth I will go to the Gentiles. And departing thence, he went to the house of one named Justus, who worshipped God, whose house was contiguous to the synagogue. But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house: and many of the Corinthians hearing the word believed, and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, "Fear not, but speak: and be not silent: for I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city." And he staid a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him to the seat of justice, saying, this fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was going to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were indeed an act of injustice, or some wicked crime, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you. But if it be a question about words, and names, and your law, settle it yourselves; for I will be no judge of these matters. And he ordered them away from the tribunal. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him even before the tribunal: but Gallio did not concern himself about the matter. And after Paul had staid there yet a considerable time, he took leave of the brethren, and sailed from thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head at Cenchrea; for he had a vow. And he came to Esphesus, and left them there: but before his departure he himself went into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. Though when they desired him to stay longer with them, he did not consent: but took his leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem; but I will return to you again, God willing. So he sailed from Ephesus; and landing at Cesarea, went up to Jerusalem, and after he had saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.


Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold there was a certain disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father. Who was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium: wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. read more.
And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.


And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are. And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark. But Paul did not think proper to take him with them, who left them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. read more.
And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches. Then he came to Derbe and Lystra: and behold there was a certain disciple there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, but of a Grecian father. Who was well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium: wherefore Paul was desirous that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek. And as they passed through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees that had been made by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. And so the churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily. And when they had passed through Phrygia and Galatia, being forbidden by the holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, they came to Mysia, and endeavoured to go to Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. So they passed by Mysia, and came down to Troas. And Paul saw a vision in the night, There stood a certain man of Macedonia, intreating him and saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. And as soon as he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to depart into Macedonia, concluding that the Lord called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore we set sail from Troas, and came in a direct course to Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis; and from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a Roman colony. And we staid some time in this city. And on the sabbath-day we went out of the city to a river-side, where there used to be prayer: and we sat down and preached to the women that resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a purple-seller of the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to the things that were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized and her family, she requested us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and lodge there. And she constrained us. Now as we were going to the place of prayer, there met us a young woman that had a spirit of divination, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. She following Paul and us, cried out, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, who shew us the way of salvation. And this she did for many days. But Paul being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that instant. And when her masters saw, that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the court to the magistrates. And when they brought them to the governors, they said, These men cause great disturbance in our city, for they are Jews, and teach customs, which it is not lawful for us to receive, nor practise, who are Romans. And the populace rose up together against them: and the officers stripped off their clothes, and ordered them to be scourged. And when they had given them many stripes, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely. Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now in the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and the prisoners heard them. And on a sudden there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bonds were loosed. The jailor waking, and seeing the prison-doors open, drew his sword and was going to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners were fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for lights, and sprang in, and being in a tremor fell down before Paul and Silas: and bringing them out, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all in his family. And he took them at that very time of the night, and bathed their stripes: and was baptized, he and all his immediately after. And he brought them into his house, and spread a table for them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his household. And when it was the day the governors sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the jailor told these words to Paul, saying, the governors have sent orders, that you should be discharged; now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have publicly beaten us, uncondemned, and Romans, and cast us into prison, and do they now turn us out privately? No verily, let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants reported these words to the governors: and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and intreated them, and when they had brought them out, they desired them to leave the city. And when they were come out of the prison, they went into the house of Lydia: and seeing the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to his custom Paul went in among them, and for three sabbath-days discoursed to them from the scriptures; opening them and shewing, that the Messiah was to suffer and rise again from the dead: and that this is the Christ even, Jesus, whom, said he, I preach unto you. And some of them believed and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the devout Greeks, and of the women of distinction not a few. But the unbelieving Jews being filled with envy, collected some loose profligate fellows, and making a tumult set all the city in an uproar: and assaulting Jason's house, they sought for them in order to bring them out to the populace. But not finding them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, these men that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also, and Jason has privately received them. And they all act contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying, there is another king, one Jesus. And they alarmed the people, and the rulers of the city upon hearing these things: but they taking security of Jason and the rest, let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who, when they were come thither, went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more ingenuous than those at Thessalonica; for they received the word with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. And therefore many of them believed: and of the Grecian women of quality, and of men likewise not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came thither also, to stir up the people. Then the brethren immediately sent away Paul towards the sea: but Silas and Timothy remained there. And they that conducted Paul attended him to Athens: and receiving an order to Silas and Timothy, to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his Spirit was greatly moved, when he saw the city wholly given up to idolatry. He therefore disputed in the synagogue with the Jews and other devout persons on the sabbath-day, and with whomsoever he met in public every day. But some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him; and some said, What would this babler say? and others, He seemeth to be a proclaimer of foreign deities: because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest? For thou bringest strange things to our ears; we would therefore know what these things mean. (Now all the Athenians, and strangers sojourning among them, spent their time in nothing else, but to tell or to hear something new.) Then Paul stood up in the midst of the Areopagus and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that you are indeed over-much religious: for as I was passing along, and looking at what ye worshipped, I found an altar on which there was inscribed, "To the unknown God." Whom therefore ye worship unknown, Him do I declare unto you. The God that made the world and all things therein, being lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands: nor is He served by the hands of men, as needing any thing: for He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined the seasons before-appointed them, and the bounds of their habitation; that they might seek the Lord, if possibly they might trace Him, and find Him: though indeed He is not far from every one of us. For in Him we live and move, and exist; as some also of your own poets have said, "For we his offspring are." Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to imagine that the Deity is like to gold, or silver, or stone, carved by the art and device of man. Wherefore though God overlooked the times of this ignorance, He now requireth all men every where to repent. Because He hath fixed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath appointed thereto; having given assurance of it to all men, by raising Him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some laughed at it: and others said, We will hear thee again concerning this matter. So Paul went out of the assembly. Some however adhered to him, and believed: among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. And finding there a certain Jew, named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who was lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, (because Claudius Cesar had ordered all the Jews to depart from Rome,) he went to them; and as he was of the same trade, he staid and worked with them: for they were tent-makers. And he discoursed in the synagogue every sabbath-day, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was very urgent in spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But as they opposed and blasphemed, he shook his garment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clear of it: from henceforth I will go to the Gentiles. And departing thence, he went to the house of one named Justus, who worshipped God, whose house was contiguous to the synagogue. But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house: and many of the Corinthians hearing the word believed, and were baptized. And the Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, "Fear not, but speak: and be not silent: for I am with thee, and no man shall lay hands on thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city." And he staid a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him to the seat of justice, saying, this fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was going to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were indeed an act of injustice, or some wicked crime, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you. But if it be a question about words, and names, and your law, settle it yourselves; for I will be no judge of these matters. And he ordered them away from the tribunal. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him even before the tribunal: but Gallio did not concern himself about the matter. And after Paul had staid there yet a considerable time, he took leave of the brethren, and sailed from thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head at Cenchrea; for he had a vow. And he came to Esphesus, and left them there: but before his departure he himself went into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. Though when they desired him to stay longer with them, he did not consent: but took his leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem; but I will return to you again, God willing. So he sailed from Ephesus; and landing at Cesarea, went up to Jerusalem, and after he had saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.