PrevActs 17:29Next

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 17:29 mean?

Explanation

Acts 17:29 offers a caution against idolatry, reminding believers that since humanity is created by God, it's inappropriate to conceive of the deity in terms of lifeless materials such as gold, silver, or stone, which are shaped by human craftsmanship and design.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul seeks to emphasize the distinction between the creator and the created.

The "Godhead" in this context refers to the divine nature or essence of God.

The deeper meaning of this verse also points towards the spiritual and transcendent nature of God, which cannot be reduced to or represented by physical objects or images created by human beings.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The historical setting for Acts 17:29 is Paul's visit to Athens, which is recorded in Acts 17:16-34.

Athens was known for its intellectual and cultural achievements and was also renowned for its many idols and temples dedicated to various gods of the Greek pantheon.

Paul was addressing the Areopagus, a council of philosophers and city leaders.

His words were a response to the pervasive idol worship he encountered in the city.

The verse serves as part of his speech introducing Athenians to the concept of the unknown God that they worshipped without understanding.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Acts 17:29 echoes the commandment against idolatry found in the Ten Commandments. It aligns with the understanding of God as spirit, which is a central tenet in Christian theological thought.

This verse also underlines the concept of humans being created in the image of God (imago Dei), which implies that God's essence cannot be captured in material form.

Different denominations may place varying emphasis on this verse.

For example, historically, Protestant reformers have used this to criticize the use of religious images in worship, while other traditions may interpret it more metaphorically.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, this verse can remind individuals to seek an authentic relationship with the divine that goes beyond the physical and material aspects of religion.

It may encourage believers to focus on the spiritual nature of worship, to abstain from idolizing worldly possessions or statuses, and to recognize the limitations of human imagination in conceiving of God's nature.

Cross-References

Isaiah 40:18: "To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?"
Deuteronomy 4:15-18: "Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; ...

Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,"

Isaiah 44:9-20: Describes the folly of idol craftsmanship, emphasizing that God cannot be represented by an image made by human hands.

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Acts 17:29, key terms include:

"Godhead" (θεῖον, theion): Referring to the divine nature or the deity.
"Offspring" (γένος, genos): Denoting lineage or descent, indicating that humans are created by God.
"Think" (νομίζω, nomizō): To suppose or consider, which in this verse is a caution against holding certain beliefs about God's nature.
"Graven" (χαράγματι, charagmati): Signifies something that is engraved or sculpted, such as an idol.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the wider Greco-Roman world, polytheism was prevalent, and making images of gods was common practice. Comparatively, the Hebrew tradition, from which Christianity emerged, strongly prohibited idolatry.

The concept of an incorporeal and incomprehensible God in Acts 17:29 contrasts with the anthropomorphic deities of ancient myths, like those of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian pantheons.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it discusses the nature of God and idolatry.

However, it does engage with the human inclination to create physical representations of complex concepts, which might be explained by psychological and sociological research into how humans relate to the divine and abstract ideas.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

John Calvin observed that Paul was addressing people steeped in idolatry and sought to redirect their religious instincts towards the true God.
Matthew Henry highlighted this verse as a call to recognize God's true essence, fostered by true religion as opposed to superstition and the worship of false idols.
More contemporary scholars view this verse within the context of Paul's missionary strategy, acknowledging his approach to engage with the Athenians' religious beliefs while guiding them toward a Christian understanding of God.

Acts 17

Acts 17

What does Acts 17:29 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 17:29 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?