Acts 17:28

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 17:28

Even for also, A.V. For in him, etc. This is the proof that we have not far to go to find God, Our very life and being, every movement we make as living persons, is a proof that God is near, nay, more than near, that he is with us and round about us, quickening us with his own life, upholding us by his own power, sustaining the being that we derive from him (comp. Psalms 139:7 , etc.; Psalms 23:4 ). Certain even of your own poets ; viz. Arstus of Tarsus, who has the exact words... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 17:28

Man in God. "In him we live, and move, and have our being." The greatness and humility of the apostle—an illustration of the nature and method of Christianity. Over all the glory of Athens the pall of spiritual death. An unknown God amongst them. The pride of the ancient world still clung to empty superstitions, only half, if at all, believed in. Boldness of the messenger. Polytheism is false. The human heart is claimed for God. From their own altar to the Christian announcement of coming... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 17:28-29

God's offspring. "For we are also his offspring." The source whence St. Patti derived this quotation is given in the Exegetical portion of this Commentary. It may be well to point out how such a classical quotation would secure the sustained attention of his audience. Dean Plumptre suggestively remarks, "The method of St. Paul's teaching is one from which modern preachers might well learn a lesson. He does not begin by telling men that they have thought too highly of themselves, that they... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 17:28

For in him we live - The expression “in him” evidently means by him; by his originally forming us, and continually sustaining us. No words can better express our constant dependence on God. He is the original fountain of life, and he upholds us each moment. A similar sentiment is found in Plautus (5, 4,14): “O Jupiter, who dost cherish and nourish the race of man; by whom we live, and with whom is the hope of the life of all men” (Kuinoel). It does not appear, however, that Paul designed this... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 17:27-28

Acts 17:27-28. That they should seek, &c. As if he had said, This most wise and free government of the nations of men, God carries on through all ages for this purpose, that they may be led to seek the Lord That is, to seek the knowledge, fear, and love of him; to seek his favour, his Spirit, and communion with him: if haply The way is open; God is ready to be found; but he will lay no force upon any man; they might feel after him Feeling is the lowest and grossest of all our... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 17:16-34

Paul in Athens (17:16-34)Athens was in the province of Achaia, the southern part of present-day Greece. It was the chief centre of learning in the Roman Empire, a place where philosophy, religion and politics were taught and discussed freely. When some local philosophers heard Paul preaching in the public places of the city, they invited him to give an account of his religion to the council of philosophers known as the Areopagus. This was an ancient council that exercised control over those who... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 17:28

in = by. Greek. en. App-104 . have our being = are. your own poets = the poets with (Greek. kata. App-104 .) you. He refers to Aratus, who -was a native of Cilicia (about 270 B. C). Cleanthes (about 300 B.C.) has almost the same words. App-107 . also His offsprings = His offspring also. offspring . Greek. genos. Translated kind, race, nation. kindred, &c. Offspring only here, Acts 17:29 , and Revelation 22:16 . Adam was by creation son of God. Genesis 1:27 ; Genesis 2:7 . See App-99... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 17:28

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.The nearness of God to all, the fact of every man's being "in him" as the basis even of physical life, and the truth that men are God's offspring (in the spiritual sense) - all these things reveal conclusively that the earliest Christian conception of God was that of his being invisible, eternal, spiritual, omnipotent, omniscient, and ubiquitous. Therefore the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 17:28

Acts 17:28. For in him we live, and move, &c.— No words can better express that continued and necessary dependance of all derived beings, in their existence, and all their operations, on their first and almighty Cause, which the truest philosophy as well as theology teaches. The thought, in words just like these is found in an old Greek poet:—but St. Paul not mentioning it as a quotation, the reader perhaps may be inclined to think with Le Clerc, that the poet borrowed it from this passage.... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 17:28

28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being—(or, more briefly, "exist").—This means, not merely, "Without Him we have no life, nor that motion which every inanimate nature displays, nor even existence itself" [MEYER], but that God is the living, immanent Principle of all these in men. as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring—the first half of the fifth line, word for word, of an astronomical poem of Aratus, a Greek countryman of the apostle, and his... read more

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