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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 17:27 mean?

Explanation

Acts 17:27 is a verse from the Christian New Testament, where the Apostle Paul speaks to the people of Athens about their religiosity and the unknown god they worship.

The verse states, "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:" Here, Paul is suggesting that God is not an elusive being but is close to everyone and can be discovered by those who earnestly search for Him.

The literal meaning is that humans have an inherent drive to seek out and connect with the divine, and indeed, God is accessible and near to all people.

The deeper meaning implies that the divine is present in the world and actively wants to be in a relationship with mankind, and it invites individuals to pursue a spiritual journey to find this closeness.

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.

Athens was known for its intellectual and philosophical tradition, and the citizens were famously interested in exploring new ideas and deities.

In this cultural and historical context, where there were altars to many gods including one to an "Unknown God," Paul takes the opportunity to introduce the Athenians to the Christian God.

The address was a way to connect with the Athenian audience on their terms, using their cultural practices and altar as a starting point for proclaiming the Christian message.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Acts 17:27 reflects the notion of God's omnipresence and the belief that God is accessible to all people.

This text is often discussed in the context of general revelation, which is the idea that God reveals Himself to all people in some way, versus special revelation which is specific to the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ and the Scriptures.

Different denominations may emphasize the role of human free will and intellect or divine grace in the process of seeking and finding God.

Practical Applications

In everyday life, the teachings of Acts 17:27 can encourage individuals to actively pursue a spiritual relationship with God.

This might manifest in prayer, meditation, study of sacred texts, and observance of religious practices.

For those feeling distant or disconnected from a higher power, this verse reassures them that God is near and that earnest seeking will lead to a divine encounter.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 29:13: "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Deuteronomy 4:29: "But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul."
James 4:8: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..."

Language Study

The key words in this verse, in their original Koine Greek, include:

ζητέω (zēteō): to seek, seek for, search for, desire
ψηλαφάω (psēlaphaō): to feel or grope around for something, often with the connotation of doing so in the dark
Κύριος (Kurios): meaning Lord or Master, often used as a designation for God or Jesus

Paul's choice of words like "feel after" reflects a sensory approach to spirituality; it's not purely intellectual but involves the whole self in seeking after God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea of searching for a god is found in many ancient cultures.

Greek mythology, for instance, had the concept of epiphany where a god becomes known or appears to humans.

Hinduism also embraces the idea that God is not far from the soul and can be realized through sincere spiritual practice.

Paul's speech at the Areopagus shows an understanding of these cultural ideas and uses them to bridge the gap to Christian thought.

Scientific Perspectives

While "seeking God" lies in the realm of spirituality and is outside the purview of empirical scientific research, modern psychology might study the effects of spiritual seeking on mental health and wellbeing.

Additionally, neurotheology or biotheology explores the relationship between the brain and religious experiences, showing interest in understanding what happens in the brain during "seeking" behaviors.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians provide insight into this verse:

John Calvin suggests that because humanity is made in the image of God, there is an innate sense of the divine that can guide people to seek God.
Matthew Henry comments on the universal presence of God and remarks on the accessibility of God to those who seek Him.
Adam Clarke focuses on the simplicity of God's proximity to humanity, negating the necessity for elaborate rituals or intermediaries to reach God.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:27 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 17:27 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?