Thematic Bible: Debates


Thematic Bible



While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him to see the city given to worshipping of images. Then he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons; And in the market daily with them that came unto him. Certain Philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, disputed with him. And some there were which said, "What will this babbler say?" Others said, "He seemeth to be a tidings-bringer of new devils," because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. read more.
And they took him, and brought him into Mars Street, saying, "May we not know what is this new doctrine whereof thou speakest? For thou bringest strange tidings to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean." For all the Athenians and strangers which were there gave themselves to nothing else, but either to tell or to hear new tidings. Paul stood in the midst of Mars Street and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld the manner how ye worship your gods, I found an altar wherein was written, Unto the unknown God. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him show I unto you: God, that made the world, and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed of any thing. Seeing he himself giveth life and breath to all men everywhere, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation. That they should seek God, if they might feel and find him: though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, move, and have our being, as certain of your own poets said. For we are also his generation. Forasmuch then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, silver, or stone, graven by craft and imagination of man. And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but now he biddeth all men everywhere to repent, because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world according to righteousness, by that man, whom he hath appointed, and hath offered faith to all men, after that he had raised him from death." When they heard of the resurrection from death, some mocked, and others said, "We will hear thee again of this matter." So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit, certain men clave unto Paul and believed, among the which was Dionysius a senator, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.