Paul in Athens

Title ideas:Paul talked about Jesus in [the city called] Athens.People who worship idols heard about Jesus.Mission to people who worship idols.

God’s Holy Spirit chose a man named Paul to tell people about Jesus in many countries.One day, Paul came to a big city called Athens. [Athens was in a country (called Greece) far away from Israel.]

Paul was sad to see that most people in Athens worshiped idols [statues/images/carvings made for false gods]. He talked about Jesus with [the people/tribe called] Jews in their synagogues, and he talked about Jesus with other people at their market places.

Men who had much knowledge [philosophers / teachers] argued with [spoke against] Paul.Some said, “He is an ignorant babbler [weak talker].”Others said, “He seems to be talking about gods from other countries [foreign gods].”

Some men led Paul to the place where the city council [leaders / elders] met together. There the council men said to him, “Tell us about your message [teaching], because you have been talking [for you speak] about things that we do not know.”

So Paul stood up and said, “People in Athens! I see that you have respect for many gods [you are very religious]. As I was walking in your city, I saw an altar [place of sacrifice]. Men have written on it these words: TO [FOR] AN UNKNOWN GOD.

“It is this God, whom you do not know, that I will tell you about. He is the God who created [made] the world [earth] and everything in [on] it. He is Lord [Most High God] who reigns over heaven and earth. He does not live [abide] in temples built by men.

“He gives to everyone life, breath, and everything else.He made one man to be ancestor [father] over all tribes [groups] of people who live on earth.He decided where each people group [tribe / nation] should live and for how much time [for how long] they should live there.All of us live and move and act what we do only because he enables us.

“We are God’s children, made of flesh [meat and bones], so we must not think that God is like an image made [carved] by men from gold or silver [metal] or stone [or wood].

“In the past God did not quickly punish people for what they did wrong. But now, God commands all people everywhere to turn away from [stop /cease worshipping] their idols and their evil deeds [actions] , by turning towards him [worshipping him only / alone].

“God has set a day when a judge [king], whom he has chosen, will judge [test] everyone with fairness. And God proved to everyone who this man is, when God raised [brought] him from death back to life. This man is Jesus.”

When the people heard [understood] Paul say that, some did not believe and they laughed to mock Paul. But other people were thinking seriously and wanted to hear Paul talk more about Jesus.

After Paul left the city council meeting, a few people followed him [to talk with him more] and they put their trust in [believed in] Jesus. One of these men was a city council member.