Be friends with people who are wise, and you will become wise. But if you choose fools to be your friends, then you will have trouble.
Acts 17:4 - Easy To Read Version Some of the Jews there believed Paul and Silas and decided to join them. Also, there were some Greek men who worshiped the true God and some important women. A large group of the men and many of the women joined Paul and Silas. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And some of them [accordingly] were induced to believe and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. American Standard Version (1901) And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. Common English Bible Some were convinced and joined Paul and Silas, including a larger number of Greek God-worshippers and quite a few prominent women. Catholic Public Domain Version And some of them believed and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of these were from the worshipers and the Gentiles, and not a few were noble women. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And some of them believed, and were associated to Paul and Silas; and of those that served God, and of the Gentiles a great multitude, and of noble women not a few. |
Be friends with people who are wise, and you will become wise. But if you choose fools to be your friends, then you will have trouble.
Leave your old, foolish ways, and you will have life. Follow the way of understanding.”
At that time, people from many nations\par will come to me.\par They will become my people.\par And I will live in your city.”\par And then you will know\par that the Lord All-Powerful sent me.\par
These Jews said to each other, “Where will this man go that we cannot find him? Will he go to the Greek cities where our people live? Will he teach the Greek people there?
After the meeting, many of the Jews followed Paul and Barnabas from that place. With the Jews there were many converts {\cf2\super [275]} to the Jewish religion. These converts also worshiped the true God. Paul and Barnabas were persuading them to continue trusting in God’s grace (kindness).
But the Jews caused some of the important religious women and the leaders of the city to become angry and to be against Paul and Barnabas. These people did things against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of town.
Paul and Barnabas went to the city of Iconium. They entered the Jewish synagogue. {\cf2\super [282]} (This is what they did in every city.) They spoke to the people there. Paul and Barnabas spoke so well that many Jews and Greeks (non-Jews) believed what they said.
But some of the people in the city agreed with the Jews. Other people in the city believed Paul and Barnabas. So the city was divided.
The apostles, {\cf2\super [315]} the elders, {\cf2\super [316]} and the whole church (group of believers) wanted to send some men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The group decided to choose some of their own men. They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. These men were respected by the brothers \{in Jerusalem\}.
So we have sent Judas and Silas with them. They will tell you the same things.
Judas and Silas were also prophets. {\cf2\super [321]} They said many things to help the brothers (believers) and make them stronger.
Paul chose Silas to go with him. The brothers \{in Antioch\} put Paul into the Lord’s care and sent him out.
Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him. But all the Jews living in that area knew that Timothy’s father was Greek (not Jewish). So Paul circumcised {\cf2\super [327]} Timothy to please the Jews.
That same night the believers sent Paul and Silas to another city named Berea. In Berea, Paul and Silas went to the Jewish synagogue. {\cf2\super [349]}
Many of these Jews believed. Many important Greek men and Greek women also believed.
So the believers sent Paul away quickly to the sea. But Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea.
In the synagogue, {\cf2\super [352]} Paul talked with the Jews and the Greeks who worshiped the true God. Paul also talked with some people in the business area of the city. Paul did this every day.
But some of the people believed Paul and joined him. One of the people that believed was Dionysius. He was a member of the Areopagus council. {\cf2\super [357]} Another person who believed was a woman named Damaris. There were also some other people that believed.
Every Sabbath day {\cf2\super [359]} Paul talked with the Jews and Greeks in the synagogue. {\cf2\super [360]} Paul tried to persuade these people \{to believe in Jesus\}.
Paul did this for two years. Because of this work, every Jew and Greek (non-Jew) in the country of Asia {\cf2\super [385]} heard the word of the Lord.
They shouted, “You Jewish men, help us! This is the man who is teaching things that are against the law of Moses, against our people, and against this place (the temple). This man is teaching these things to all people everywhere. And now he has brought some Greek (non-Jewish) men into the temple yard! He has made this holy place unclean!”
Some of the Jews believed the things Paul said, but others did not believe.
Peter and John left the meeting of Jewish leaders and went to their own group. They told the group everything that the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders had said to them.
And they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the Lord and to us before \{they gave their money\}. This is what God wants.