Focused Passage

Acts 17:22-31

The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations

Paul reasons from Scripture in Thessalonica, the Bereans examine the message eagerly, opposition follows the mission, and Paul proclaims the unknown God as Creator, Lord, Judge, and the one who raised Jesus from the dead.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

22 Then Paul stood up in the meeting 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 with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what 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 human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

26 From one man 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 God intended that they would seek Him 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.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

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, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

31 For He has set a day 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.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular stood up Σταθεὶς G2476 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the] meeting μέσῳ G3319 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Areopagus Ἀρείου G697 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular . . . Πάγου G697 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [and] said ἔφη G5346 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Men Ἄνδρες G435 Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural [of] Athens Ἀθηναῖοι G117 Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural I see θεωρῶ G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular that ὡς G5613 Adverb in κατὰ G2596 Preposition every way πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural you [are] ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural very religious δεισιδαιμονεστέρους G1174 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural - Comparative

BSB notes

  • Literally in the middle
Verse 23

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction as I walked around διερχόμενος G1330 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction examined ἀναθεωρῶν G333 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural objects of worship σεβάσματα G4574 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural I even found εὗρον G2147 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction an altar βωμὸν G1041 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition with G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular this inscription ἐπεγέγραπτο G1924 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular TO AN UNKNOWN ΑΓΝΩΣΤΩ G57 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular GOD ΘΕΩ G2316 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you worship εὐσεβεῖτε G2151 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural as something unknown ἀγνοοῦντες G50 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular [now] proclaim καταγγέλλω G2605 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 24

Original words

The G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular made ποιήσας G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition it αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ὑπάρχων G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [the] Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of heaven οὐρανοῦ G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [and] {does} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb live κατοικεῖ G2730 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition temples ναοῖς G3485 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural made by [human] hands χειροποιήτοις G5499 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Verse 25

Original words

Nor οὐδὲ G3761 Conjunction is He served θεραπεύεται G2323 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition human ἀνθρωπίνων G442 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural hands χειρῶν G5495 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural as if He needed προσδεόμενός G4326 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular anything τινος G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular [because] He Himself αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular gives διδοὺς G1325 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular everyone πᾶσι G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural life ζωὴν G2222 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction breath πνοὴν G4157 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural everything [else] πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 26

Original words

- τε G5037 Conjunction From ἐξ G1537 Preposition one [man] ἑνὸς G1520 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular He made ἐποίησέν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular every πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular nation ἔθνος G1484 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular of men ἀνθρώπων G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural that they should inhabit κατοικεῖν G2730 Verb - Present Infinitive Active . . . ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the whole παντὸς G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular . . . προσώπου G4383 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and He determined ὁρίσας G3724 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [their] appointed προστεταγμένους G4367 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural times καιροὺς G2540 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction the τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural boundaries ὁροθεσίας G3734 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural of their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular lands κατοικίας G2733 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally From one; BYZ and TR From one blood
Verse 27

Original words

[ God intended that ] they would seek ζητεῖν G2212 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular [Him] Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular vvv εἰ G1487 Conjunction [and] perhaps ἄρα G687 Conjunction - γε G1065 Particle reach out for ψηλαφήσειαν G5584 Verb - Aorist Optative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction find [Him] εὕροιεν G2147 Verb - Aorist Optative Active - 3rd Person Plural though καί G2532 Conjunction . . . γε G1065 Particle He is ὑπάρχοντα G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb far μακρὰν G3112 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition each ἑκάστου G1538 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular one ἑνὸς G1520 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular of us ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Verse 28

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction in Ἐν G1722 Preposition Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular we live ζῶμεν G2198 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction move κινούμεθα G2795 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction have our being ἐσμέν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural As ὡς G5613 Adverb - καί G2532 Conjunction some τινες G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv καθ’ G2596 Preposition of your ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural [own] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural poets ποιητῶν G4163 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural have said εἰρήκασιν G2046 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction We are ἐσμέν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [His] Τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular offspring γένος G1085 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • This is probably a quote from the Cretan philosopher Epimenides of Knossos.
  • This is probably a quote from the poem “Phainomena” by the Cilician philosopher Aratus.
Verse 29

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction being ὑπάρχοντες G5225 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural offspring γένος G1085 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular we should ὀφείλομεν G3784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural not οὐκ G3756 Adverb think νομίζειν G3543 Verb - Present Infinitive Active that the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular Divine Being Θεῖον G2304 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular is εἶναι G1510 Verb - Present Infinitive Active like ὅμοιον G3664 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular gold χρυσῷ G5557 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction silver ἀργύρῳ G696 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular or G2228 Conjunction stone λίθῳ G3037 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular an image formed χαράγματι G5480 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular by man’s ἀνθρώπου G444 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular skill τέχνης G5078 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction imagination ἐνθυμήσεως G1761 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 30

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction Although μὲν G3303 Particle - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular overlooked ὑπεριδὼν G5237 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular ignorance ἀγνοίας G52 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of Τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural [earlier] times χρόνους G5550 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural vvv νῦν G3568 Adverb He now commands παραγγέλλει* G3853 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular all πάντας G3956 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural people ἀνθρώποις G444 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural everywhere πανταχοῦ G3837 Adverb to repent μετανοεῖν G3340 Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Verse 31

Original words

For καθότι G2530 Adverb He has set ἔστησεν G2476 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a day ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition when G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular He will μέλλει G3195 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular judge κρίνειν G2919 Verb - Present Infinitive Active the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular world οἰκουμένην G3625 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular with ἐν G1722 Preposition justice δικαιοσύνῃ G1343 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular by ἐν G1722 Preposition the Man ἀνδρὶ G435 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular He has appointed ὥρισεν G3724 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular He has given παρασχὼν G3930 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular proof [of this] πίστιν G4102 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular to everyone πᾶσιν G3956 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural by raising ἀναστήσας G450 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition [the] dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.