16. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols.
17. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.
18. Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say? ”Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities” — because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.
19. They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of?
20. For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.”
21. Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.
22. Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect.
23. For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.
24. The God who made the world and everything in it — He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands.