²² Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.

¹⁹ but had certain questions against him about their own religion, and about one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

² Thus says Yahweh, "Don't learn the way of the nations, and don't be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.

³ For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

³⁸ A drought is on her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.

¹⁶ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.

³⁵ When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?