17:22 |
But Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are rather superstitious. |
17:23 |
For as I was passing by and noticing your idols, I also found an altar, on which was written: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this is what I am preaching to you: |
17:24 |
the God who made the world and all that is in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth, who does not live in temples made with hands. |
17:25 |
Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else. |
17:26 |
And he has made, out of one, every family of man: to live upon the face of the entire earth, determining the appointed seasons and the limits of their habitation, |
17:27 |
so as to seek God, if perhaps they may consider him or find him, though he is not far from each one of us. |
17:28 |
‘For in him we live, and move, and exist.’ Just as some of your own poets have said. ‘For we are also of his family.’ |
17:29 |
Therefore, since we are of the family of God, we must not consider gold or silver or precious stones, or the engravings of art and of the imagination of man, to be a representation of what is Divine. |
17:30 |
And indeed, God, having looked down to see the ignorance of these times, has now announced to men that everyone everywhere should do penance. |
17:31 |
For he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in equity, through the man whom he has appointed, offering faith to all, by raising him from the dead.” |
17:32 |
And when they had heard about the Resurrection of the dead, indeed, some were derisive, while others said, “We will listen to you about this again.” |
17:33 |
So Paul departed from their midst. |
17:34 |
Yet truly, certain men, adhering to him, did believe. Among these were also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. |