Aratus
(῎Αρατος), the author of two astronomical poems in Greek, about B.C. 270, fragments and Latin translations of which are alone extant (Fabric.
Bibl. Grave. 4:87; Schaubach, Gesch. d. griech. Astronomic, p. 215; Delambre, Hist. de l'Astron. Ancienne). (For an account of his works and their editions, see Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v.) From the opening of one of these poems, entitled Phaenomena (Φαινόμενα), the Apostle Paul is thought to have made the quotation indicated in his speech at Athens (Ac 17:28), "As certain also of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring;' "since the words precisely agree (Τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμέν). Others, however (see Kuinol, Comment. in loc.), adduce similar sentiments from Cleanthes (ἐκ σοῦ γαρ γένος ἐσμέν, Hymn. in Jovem, 5) and Pindar (ἕν θεῶν γένος, Nem. 6). A few brief and casual quotations of this kind have been made the foundation of the hasty conclusion that Paul was well read in classic poetry; but this, from his Jewish education, is extremely improbable. SEE PAUL. In this, the most direct instance, he appears rather to refer to the general sentiment of the Greek mythology, of which the passages adduced (alluded to in a general way by Paul, as if taken second-hand and 'by recollection merely) are the frequent expression (note the plur. "poets"). See Schmid, De Arato (Jen. 1691).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More