Acts 17:25-28 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 17:22-31

We have here St. Paul's sermon at Athens. Divers sermons we have had, which the apostles preached to the Jews, or such Gentiles as had an acquaintance with and veneration for the Old Testament, and were worshippers of the true and living God; and all they had to do with them was to open and allege that Jesus is the Christ; but here we have a sermon to heathens, that worshipped false gods, and were without the true God in the world, and to them the scope of their discourse was quite different... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 17:22-31

17:22-31 Paul stood up in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I see that in all things you are as superstitious as possible. As I came through your city and as I saw the objects of your worship. I found amongst them an altar with the inscription, 'To the Unknown God.' So then, what you worship and do not know, this I preach to you. God, who made the universe and everything in it, this God is Lord of heaven and earth and does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:25

Neither is worshipped with men's hands ,.... Or "served" with them; or "ministered unto" by them, as the Syriac version renders it: and the sense is, that men by worshipping God do not give anything to him, that can be of any use or service to him; he, being God all sufficient, stands in need of nothing; for external worship is not here intended by worshipping with men's hands, in distinction from, and opposition to, internal worship, or to the worship of God with the heart; but that whether... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:26

And hath made of one blood ,.... That is, of one man's blood; the Vulgate Latin version reads, "of one"; and the Arabic version of De Dieu reads, "of one man"; of Adam, the first parent of all mankind, and who had the blood of all men in his veins: hence the Jews F21 Caphtor, fol. 37. 2. say, "the first man was דמו של עולם , "the blood of the world";' and this by propagation has been derived from him, and communicated to all mankind. They also say F23 T. Hieros.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:27

That they should seek the Lord ,.... Or "God", as the Alexandrian copy and others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read; their Creator, and kind Benefactor, and who has appointed their time of life, and their habitations for them; and this should engage them to seek to know him, who has done all this for them, and to fear and serve him, and to glorify his name: if haply they might feel after him, and find him ; which shows, that though it is possible for men, by a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being ,.... The natural life which men live is from God; and they are supported in it by him; and from him they have all the comforts and blessings of life; and all motions, whether external or internal, of body or of mind, are of God, and none of them are without the concourse of his providence, and strength assistance from him; though the disorder and irregularity of these motions, whereby they become sinful, are of themselves, or of the devil;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:25

Neither is worshiped with men's hands - This is an indirect stroke against making of images, and offering of sacrifices: he is not worshipped with human hands, as if he needed any thing, or required to be represented under a particular form or attitude; nor has he required victims for his support; for it is impossible that he should need any thing who himself gives being, form, and life, to all creatures. Giveth - life, and breath, and all things - These words are elegantly introduced by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:26

Hath made of one blood - In AB, some others, with the Coptic, Ethiopic, Vulgate, Itala, Clement, and Bede, the word αἱματος , blood, is omitted. He hath made of one (meaning Adam) all nations of men; but αἱμα , blood, is often used by the best writers for race, stock, kindred: so Homer, Iliad, vi. ver. 211: Ταυτης τοι γενεης τε και αἱματος ευχομαι ειναι . I glory in being of that same race and blood. So Virgil, Aen. viii. ver. 142, says; Sic genus amborum scindit se... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:27

That they should seek the Lord - This is a conclusion drawn from the preceding statement. God, who is infinitely great and self-sufficient, has manifested himself as the maker of the world, the creator, preserver, and governor of men. He has assigned them their portion, and dispensed to them their habitations, and the various blessings of his providence, to the end that they should seek him in all his works. Feel after him - Ψηλαφησειαν αυτον , That they might grope after him, as a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being - He is the very source of our existence: the principle of life comes from him: the principle of motion, also, comes from him; one of the most difficult things in nature to be properly apprehended; and a strong proof of the continual presence and energy of the Deity. And have our being - Και εσμεν , And we are: we live in him, move in him, and are in him. Without him we not only can do nothing, but without him we are nothing. We are,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 17:22-31

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 17:22-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 17:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:25

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:26

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:27

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 17:28

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