Acts 17:22-31

Acts 17:22-31

[22] Then  Paul  stood  in  the midst  of Mars' hill,  and said,  Ye men  of Athens,  I perceive  that  in  all things  are too superstitious.  [23] For  as I passed by,  and  beheld  devotions,  I found  an altar  with this  inscription,  TO THE UNKNOWN  GOD.  Whom  therefore  ye ignorantly  worship,  declare  [24] 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;  [25] Neither  is worshipped  with  hands,  as though he needed  any thing,  seeing he  giveth  to all  life,  and  breath,  all things;  [26] And  hath made  of  one  all  nations  of men  for to dwell  on  all  the face  of the earth,  and hath determined  the times  and  the bounds  of their  habitation;  [27] That they should seek  if  they might feel  after him,  and  find him,  he be  not  far  from  every  one  [28] For  in  him  we live,  and  move,  and  as  certain  also  own  poets  have said,  For  also  offspring.  [29] Forasmuch then  as we are  the offspring  of God,  we ought  not  to think  that the Godhead  like  unto gold,  or  silver,  or  stone,  graven  by art  and  man's  device.  [30] And  the times  of this ignorance  God  winked at;  commandeth  all  men  every where  to repent:  [31] 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. 

What does Acts 17:22-31 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Luke probably recorded Paul"s address ( Acts 17:22-31) as a sample of his preaching to intellectual pagans (cf. Acts 13:16-41; Acts 14:15-18; Acts 20:18-35). [1] In this speech Paul began with God as Creator and brought his hearers to God as Judge.