Acts 17
Wycliffe's Bible
1And when they had passed by Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of (the) Jews. 2And by custom Paul entered to them, and by three sabbaths he declared to them of the scriptures, (And as was his custom, Paul went to them, and on three Sabbaths he declared the Scriptures to them,) 3and opened, and showed that it behooved Christ to suffer, and rise again from death [to suffer, and rise again from (the) dead], and that this is Jesus Christ, whom I tell to you. (and expounded upon them, and showed that it behooved the Messiah to suffer, and to rise again from the dead, and that this is Jesus Christ, about whom I tell you.) 4And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and to Silas; and a great multitude of heathen men worshipped God, and noble women not a few. 5But the Jews had envy, and took of the common people some evil men, and when they had made a company, they moved the city. And they came to Jason's house, and sought to bring them forth among the people, (or out to the people). 6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and some brethren to the princes of the city, and cried, That these it be, that moved the world, and hither they came, (And when they found them not, they drew Jason and some of the brothers to the leaders of the city, and cried, These it be, who moved the world, and they came here,) 7whom Jason received. And these all do against the commandments of the emperor, (or against the commandments of Caesar), and say, that Jesus is another king. 8And they moved the people, and the princes of the city, hearing these things. (And they excited the people, and the leaders of the city, when they heard these things.) 9And when satisfaction was taken of Jason, and of others, they let Paul and Silas go.

10And anon by night, (the) brethren let [Paul and] Silas go into Berea [(the) brethren sent Paul and Silas into Berea] (And at once in the night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea). And when they came thither, they entered into the synagogue of the Jews. 11But these were the worthier of them, (or the nobler of them), that be at Thessalonica, which received the word with all desire, each day seeking [the] scriptures, if these things had them so. 12And many of them believed, and of heathen women honest and men not a few. [And soothly many of them believed, and of honest heathen women and men not (a) few.] 13But when the Jews in Thessalonica had known, that also at Berea the word of God was preached of Paul (that also at Berea the word of God was preached by Paul), they came thither, moving and disturbing, (or distroubling), the multitude. 14And then anon (the) brethren delivered, (or dismissed), Paul, that he should go to the sea; but Silas and Timothy dwelt there. (And then at once the brothers sent off Paul, so that he could go down to the seacoast; but Silas and Timothy remained there.) 15And they that led forth Paul, led him to Athens. And when they had taken a commandment of him to Silas and Timothy (And when they had received an order from him for Silas and Timothy), that full hieingly they should come to him, they went forth.

16And while Paul abode them at Athens (And while Paul waited for them in Athens), his spirit was moved in him, for he saw the city given to idolatry. 17Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with men that worshipped God, and in the doom place, (or in the chapping), by all days to them that heard. (And so he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the men who worshipped God, and also in the city square, or at the market, everyday with all those who would listen.) 18And some Epicureans, and Stoics, and philosophers disputed with him. And some said, What will this sower of words say? And others said, He seemeth to be a teller of new fiends; for he told to them (of) Jesus, and (of) the again-rising (for he told them about Jesus, and about the resurrection). 19And they took, and led him to Areopagus, (that is, a common school), and said, May we know, what is this new doctrine, that is said of thee? 20For thou bringest in some new things to our ears; therefore we will know, what these things will be. 21For all men of Athens and comelings, (or newcomers), harboured (there), gave attention to none other thing, but either to say, either to hear, some new thing.

22And Paul stood in the middle of Areopagus, and said, Men of Athens, by all things I see you as vain, (or as futile), worshippers. 23For I passed (by), and saw your maumets, (or your simulacra) (and I saw your idols), and found an altar, in which was written, To the unknown God. Therefore which thing ye unknowing worship, this thing I (shall) show to you. 24God that made the world and all things that be in it, this, for he is (the) Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hand [dwelleth not in temples made by hand], 25neither is worshipped by man's hands, neither hath need of anything, for he giveth life to all men, and breathing, and all things; 26and made of one all the kind of men to inhabit on all the face of the earth, determining times ordained, and (the) terms of the dwelling, (or of the habitation), of them, 27to seek God, if peradventure they feel him, either find (him), though he be not far from each of you. 28For in him we live, and move, and be. As also some of your poets said, And we be also the kind, (or the kin), of him. 29Therefore since we be the kind, (or the kin), of God, we shall not deem, (or shall not guess), that (a) godly thing is like gold, and silver, either stone, either to (en)graving of craft and thought of man. 30For God despiseth the times of this unknowing, and now showeth to men, that all everywhere do penance (so that everyone everywhere shall repent); 31for that he hath ordained a day, in which he shall deem the world in equity (on which he shall judge the world with fairness), in a man in which he ordained, and gave faith to all men, and raised him from death [raising him from (the) dead].

32And when they had heard (of) the again-rising of dead men [Soothly when they had heard (of) the again-rising of (the) dead] (And when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead), some scorned, and some said, We shall hear thee again of this thing. 33So Paul went out of the middle of them. (And then Paul went away from their midst.) 34But some men drew to him, (or cleaved to him), and believed. Among which Dionysius Areopagite was, and a woman, by name Damaris, and other men with them.

WYCLIFFE’S BIBLE

Comprising of
Wycliffe’s Old Testament

and

Wycliffe’s New Testament
(Revised Edition)


Translated by

JOHN WYCLIFFE
and JOHN PURVEY


A modern-spelling edition of their
14TH century Middle English translation,
the first complete English vernacular version,
with an Introduction by

TERENCE P. NOBLE

Used by Permission

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