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Acts 17

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

So Paul departed from among them.

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

What does Acts 17:24 mean?

Explanation

Acts 17:24 contains a declaration made by the Apostle Paul regarding the nature of God and His relationship to the material world.

This verse emphasizes the transcendence of God, stating that He is the creator of "the world and all things therein" and is sovereign over all creation, including heaven and earth.

It also underscores the immanence of God in that, though He is transcendent, He does not dwell in man-made temples, but is present throughout all creation.

This challenges the common ancient belief that deities were localized to specific places and needed to be housed in temples.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of Paul's speech at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) in Athens, as recorded in Acts 17:22–31.

During this time, Athens was a center of philosophy, art, and religion, with a myriad of deities worshiped in various temples.

Paul engages with the Athenians' religious and philosophical culture, using their altar to an "unknown god" as a starting point to proclaim the Christian God.

His audience would have been familiar with gods having specific temples, so his statement was revolutionary in presenting a God who was not confined to such spaces.

Theological Insights

From a Christian perspective, Acts 17:24 asserts God's omnipresence and independence from physical structures.

This separates the Christian God from pagan deities and serves to elevate God above any human construction or limitation.

The theological implications are significant; God cannot be contained or controlled by human effort, and He is accessible to believers without the need for a physical temple or intermediary.

Practical Applications

Practically speaking, this verse encourages believers to seek God beyond physical structures and to recognize that worship and communion with God are not confined to a specific place.

The notion that God is everywhere can empower believers to practice their faith in all areas of life, understanding that every environment can be a place of worship and interaction with God.

Cross-References

1 Kings 8:27: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?"
Isa 66:1-2: "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?"
John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key phrases include:

"God that made" (ὁ ποιήσας) emphasizes the creative act of God.
"all things therein" (τὰ πάντα) includes the totality of creation.
"Lord" (κύριος) reflects authority and ownership.
"heaven and earth" (οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς) delineates the entirety of the cosmos.
"dwell" (κατοικεῖ) has the sense of settling or residing.
"temples made with hands" (ναοῖς χειροποιήτοις) contrasts the works of God with human constructions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Paul's declaration contrasts with the Greco-Roman and many other ancient religious practices, where gods were often associated with specific localities and temples. In those cultures, a deity's power and presence were thought to be tied to their temple.

Christianity presents a God who is not bound by geographical or man-made confines, distinguishing it from many contemporary religions and mythologies.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse is theological in nature, it can intersect with science by acknowledging the vastness of creation, which includes not just the physical world but also the cosmos.

Modern scientific understandies of the universe's immensity echo the Biblical portrayal of God as being greater than any human construct can accommodate or any specific location can contain.

commentaries

Commentators often focus on the radical nature of Paul's speech to the Athenians. They point out that he redefined the concept of God for the Greeks, contrasting the omnipresent Creator with the limited deities of their pantheon.

Many emphasize that Paul was seeking to correct misconceptions about God, stressing His independence from human-made structures and rituals, and encouraging pure, spiritual worship.

This perspective is discussed by theologians such as John Stott and Matthew Henry, who highlight the universality and accessibility of God as presented in this passage.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 17:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?