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v1
Now after they ^[Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“traveled through”) which is understood as temporal] traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
v2
And as was his custom, ^[Literally “and in accordance with what he was accustomed to”] Paul went in to them and on three Sabbath days he discussed with them from the scriptures,
v3
explaining and demonstrating that it was necessary for the Christ ^[Or “Messiah”] to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.” ^[Or “Messiah”]
v4
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, and also a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few of the prominent women.
v5
But the Jews were filled with jealousy and, taking along some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace and forming a mob, threw the city into an uproar. And attacking Jason’s house, they were looking for them to bring them ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] out to the popular assembly.
v6
And when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal] did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world ^[Or “empire”] have come here also,
v7
whom Jason has entertained as guests! And these people are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus!“
v8
And they threw the crowd into confusion, and the city officials who heard these things.
v9
And after ^[Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“taking”) which is understood as temporal] taking money as security from Jason and the rest, they released them.
v10
Now the brothers sent away both Paul and Silas at once, during the night, to Berea. They ^[Literally “who” (referring to Paul and Silas)] went into the synagogue of the Jews when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal] arrived.
v11
Now these were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica. They ^[Literally “who”] accepted the message with all eagerness, examining the scriptures every day to see if these things were so.
v12
Therefore many of them believed, and not a few of the prominent Greek women and men.
v13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the message of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there too, inciting and stirring up the crowds.
v14
So then the brothers sent Paul away at once to go to the sea, and both Silas and Timothy remained there.
v15
And those who conducted Paul brought him ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] as far as Athens, and after ^[Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“receiving”) which is understood as temporal] receiving an order for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they went away.
v16
Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“observed”) which is understood as temporal] observed the city was full of idols.
v17
So he was discussing in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, ^[*Here the word “Gentiles” is not in the Greek text but is implied] and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
v18
And even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were saying, “What does this babbler want to say?” But others said, ^[*The words “others said” are not in the Greek text but are implied] “He appears to be a proclaimer of foreign deities,” because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
v19
And they took hold of him and ^[Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took hold of”) has been translated as a finite verb] brought him ^[Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] to the Areopagus, saying, “May we learn what is this new teaching being proclaimed by you?
v20
For you are bringing some astonishing things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” ^[Literally “these things want to be”]
v21
(Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who stayed there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling something or listening to something new.)
v22
So Paul stood there in the middle of the Areopagus and ^[Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood there”) has been translated as a finite verb] said, “Men of Athens, I see you are very religious in every respect. ^[Literally “with respect to all things”]
v23
For as I ^[Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was passing through”) which is understood as temporal] was passing through and observing carefully your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an unknown God.’ Therefore what you worship without knowing it, ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] this I proclaim to you—
v24
the God who made the world and all the things in it. This one, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,
v25
nor is he served by human hands as if he ^[Here “as if” is supplied as a component of the conditional adverbial participle (“needed”)] needed anything, because ^[Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“gives”) which is understood as causal] he himself gives to everyone life and breath and everything.
v26
And he made from one man every nation of humanity to live on all the face of the earth, determining their fixed times and the fixed boundaries of their habitation,
v27
to search for God, if perhaps indeed they might feel around for him and find him. ^[*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation] And indeed he is not far away from each one of us,
v28
for in him we live and move and exist, ^[Some interpreters hold that the phrase “in him we live and move and exist” is a quotation from Epimenides of Crete, but more likely it is a traditional Greek formula] as even some of your own ^[Literally “with respect to you”] poets have said: ‘For we also are his ^[Literally “of him”] offspring.’ ^[A quotation from Aratus, Phaenomena 5]
v29
Therefore, because we ^[Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as causal] are offspring of God, we ought not to think the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought.
v30
Therefore although ^[Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has overlooked”) which is understood as concessive] God has overlooked the times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,
v31
because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man who he has appointed, having provided proof to everyone by ^[Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“raising”) which is understood as means] raising him from the dead.”
v32
Now when they ^[Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard about”) which is understood as temporal] heard about the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, “We will hear you about this again also.”
v33
So Paul went out from the midst of them.
v34
But some people ^[Here the Greek term “men” is used as a generic for “people”; note the presence of of a woman (Damaris) in the group] joined him and ^[Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“joined”) has been translated as a finite verb] believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named ^[Literally “by name”] Damaris and others with them.